Mobile Journalism- a new trend in reporting
May 9, 2010
CGnet Swara, mobile phone-based information system is connecting the central Indian remote jungles of Chhattisgarh and the urban technology- savvy node of Bangalore together. The CGnet Swara (Chhattisgarh Net Voice) is a brainchild of Shubhranshu Choudhary who is at the same time a freelance journalist by his profession. He formerly worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation, and Bill Thies, and graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) working at Microsoft in Bangalore, which is basically internet-radio-cum- website system, sponsored by MIT, Microsoft and the U.S.-based Knight International Journalism, of which Choudhary is an associate.
This service facilitates the mobile users listening to the current news on the line, by dialing the Bangalore number – 080 6693 2500. He can also record his own report or comment on a particular news item. Once a news item is recorded, it is displayed immediately on the website as a link, which is moderated. The moderator then checks the content by opening the link, edits and then approves the story and puts it out.
