A secondary-school journalism contest in which each entrant reports a story using only a mobile phone, judged on journalism practice, accuracy and broadcast quality rather than on the device.
Mobile Journalism, often shortened to MoJo, is an individual item in which the entrant gathers, writes, records and edits a news report with a smartphone as the main tool. It is judged as journalism first and as video or audio production second: a well-checked, clearly told story beats a slick clip with a weak story behind it.
In the Philippine national schools press circuit in the data it is the newest of the individual contests. It was added in 2024 as an official contest for Secondary level only (Grades 7 to 12), so unlike the writing items it has no Elementary version. It runs in English and Filipino, with one contestant per school, and is marked out of 100.
The printed score table splits the marks across three families: use of mobile journalism principles (shooting, recording, writing and editing), accuracy (fact-checking and sources, cross-verification, contextual understanding, transparency and editorial standards) and broadcast quality (technical standards, production values, adherence to style guidelines, and engagement and audience experience). The exact brief, time allowed and delivery format are announced by the organiser, so confirm them before the day.
Organisers run it because it brings the way many people now receive news into a school journalism programme, and it teaches students that verification and ethics matter as much on a phone as in a newsroom.
Where Mobile Journalism is run
The clearest use in the data is a national schools press conference in the Philippines, where Mobile Journalism is one of the individual contests held at each tier from school to national. Mobile or smartphone reporting categories also appear in student media festivals and journalism workshops elsewhere, though the brief, time and delivery format differ from event to event.
- Philippines
Key facts
- Individual entry, open to boys and girls alike.
- Secondary level only (Grades 7 to 12); there is no Elementary version in the template.
- Marked out of 100 across 13 printed criteria in three groups: journalism principles 40, accuracy 40, broadcast quality 20.
- Runs in English and Filipino, the language of the report.
- The template sets no stage time limit, so working time and report length are for the organiser to announce.
- Idea (not a rule): a short local-issue report, such as a school or community story, filmed, recorded and edited entirely on one phone.
On eTalenter, Mobile Journalism is filed under Multimedia and typically scored with Marks. It appears in 1 ready-made event templates — each one can adjust its time limit, age-group assignment and scoring setup independently.
Across the templates that use it, Mobile Journalism is most often entered as an Individual competition, typically scored out of 100.
The scoring method the templates attach to this item, and what that scale means. The category this competition is filed under when a template is installed. Others in this category: Animation, Video, Computer Graphics, Website Design, Digital Photography, Multimedia Presentation eTalenter matches an item to its criteria on the words in its name, and creates exactly these when the template is installed. No criteria match this name, so none are created automatically — judges score it on the event’s own criteria instead. Each organiser scores this competition on its own criteria. These are the ones the ready-made templates carry.How it is scored
Where it sits
Judging criteria installed for it
How organisers judge it
DepEd National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) - Individual Contests
What judges look at in Mobile Journalism
What a Mobile Journalism panel is actually weighing up, and where the marks are usually won or lost:
- Journalism principles, 40 marks: the shooting, recording, writing and editing are each scored, so a steady, well-framed shot, clean audio, tight script and purposeful edit all count.
- Fact-checking and sources: every claim should come from a named or clearly identified source, and the report should show who was asked.
- Cross-verification and context: a story checked against a second source and set in its background scores above a single-voice account.
- Transparency and editorial standards: being open about sources and keeping to fair, ethical reporting, with no staged facts or unfair framing.
- Broadcast quality: technical standards (steady picture, clear sound), production values, adherence to the style guidelines and how well the report holds a viewer’s attention.
Treat these as the judging focus, not a fixed rubric: publish your own weighted criteria for Mobile Journalism under Scoring Setup, or start from the judge scoring and tabulation guide.
How to prepare for Mobile Journalism
How entrants and their teachers usually get Mobile Journalism right on the day:
- Practise with the phone you will use: lock focus and exposure, clean the lens and clear storage before the day.
- Plan the story in one sentence first, then list the shots and the two or more sources you need before you start recording.
- Record audio close to the speaker or use a simple clip-on microphone, since poor sound loses technical marks quickly.
- Hold the phone steady with both hands or a small stand, and shoot a mix of wide, medium and close shots so the edit has variety.
- Write the script in short spoken sentences, read it aloud, and check every name, number and quote against your notes.
- Learn one editing app well enough to trim, add captions and balance sound without hunting through menus.
- Rehearse the whole path against a timer, from idea to finished report, so you can finish comfortably within whatever time the organiser sets.
- After a lost round, check which of the three areas let you down: weak sourcing, shaky technique or a flat, unengaging story.
Events that run this (1)
Ready-made templates that already include this competition. Installing one sets it up for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mobile Journalism judged individually or as a team?
Across eTalenter’s templates it’s most often run as an Individual entry, though an organiser can set either participation type when assigning the item to an age group.
Does Mobile Journalism have to be shot on a phone?
Yes, the item is built around mobile reporting, so the phone is the main tool. The organiser’s brief confirms which apps, extra equipment and delivery format are allowed.
Is there an Elementary version of Mobile Journalism?
Not in the template. It was added as a Secondary-only official contest, so it runs for Grades 7 to 12.
How is Mobile Journalism marked?
Out of 100, using 13 printed criteria: journalism principles 40, accuracy 40 and broadcast quality 20.
Is it judged individually or as a team?
Individually. Each school sends one contestant per language.
Similar competitions
Items whose names share a word with this one — usually the same discipline in another form.
Want the full judging picture? Read the judge scoring and tabulation guide, or browse every multimedia competition item.
Try Mobile Journalism in eTalenter
See every ready-made template that runs Mobile Journalism, and install one as a live event — age groups, rules and scoring included.
