iPad3 – Is This The Definitive MMJ Tool?

iPad HD or iPad3 or whatever they want to call it….

Two nights ago, we had Melissa Flemming, from the UN over to dinner.

We have been talking to her about training and empowering her staff to create their own videos and tell their own stories online.

Of course, it makes sense.  It makes sense for the UN. It makes sense for anyone, in fact.

The question becomes: What kind of equipment do they need?  In fact, what is the optimal equipment package for any MMJ.

MMJ – I hate this term, but it’s out there. Multi Media Journalist – that is, a journalist who is expected to produce video, stills and text for a website.

We were recently working with a major broadcaster in the UK, teaching their staff to be VJs.  They did a great job. Then, one of their VJs came to visit us in NY with her equipment. She had on a backpack that could have been used for a lunar landing.  “What’s in the packpack”?  Camera, batteries, charger, cables, laptop, charger, cables, digital camera”.  Well, it certainly is all that you need, but by the time you have all this crap strapped to your back, do you really want to do anything?

Then, I saw the iPad3, which they are not calling it. They are calling it iPad New… or something like that.

In any event, this looks like a real game changer for field production for the web.

Then, to add to this, Ian Wagdin, The BBC’s super tech guy at their new digital facility in Manchester showed me his neat use your fingers to move stuff editing software on his iPad.  Cool.

I have not gotten my hands on an iPad3 yet.. gimme a few days, but I have read about it to see that it could be the Holy Grail of digital journalism.

HD video camera
1080 P video
Apparently enough memory to shoot 2 hours of video (yet to be confirmed)
HD stills camera
iPhoto
HD video editing software with touchscreen (!).
Text and word processing
Instand upload ability from source
Nice graphics package

Looks good, no?

One tool does all. I mean, what else do you really need? And it’s all self-contained.

Of course, shooting with an iPad may prove to be a bit weird, or something to get used to – I will let you know.. but it’s really interesting.

Maybe we can replace that giant backpack with one iPad (in a cool sleeve or something).

Could be a real game-changer.

Stand by…

Michael Rosenblum

For more than 35 years, Michael Rosenblum has been on the cutting edge of the digital video journalism revolution. During this time, he has lead a drive for video literacy, and the complete rethinking of how television is made and controlled. His work has included: The complete transitioning of The BBC's national network (UK) to a VJ-driven model, starting in 2002. The complete conversion of The Voice of America, the United State's Government's broadcasting agency, (and the largest broadcaster in the world), from short wave radio to television broadcasting and webcasting using the VJ paradigm (1998-present). The construction of NYT Television, a New York Times Company, and the largest producer of non-fiction television in the US. Rosenblum was both the founder and President of NYT TV, (all based on this paradigm (1996-1998). The President and Founder of Video News International, a global VJ-driven newsgathering company, with more than 100 journalists around the world. (1993-1996). Other clients include Spectrum News, Verizon and CBS News.