5 iOS apps for creative mobile storytelling

Credit: Image by Pexels

Choosing which smartphone apps to use on the go can be difficult, as the number of apps on the market helping journalists to shoot, edit and produce content on their devices is constantly growing.

Some are, undeniably, more advanced than others, and here at Journalism.co.uk, we're constantly searching for the ones that'll be most useful to reporters out in the field.

Speaking at newsrewired last week (7 March), Marc Settle, smartphone trainer, BBC Academy, explained that it's often worth ditching your morning coffee in favour of spending those few pounds on a quality app.

Filmic Pro

This Android and iOS app effectively turns your phone into a DSLR, enabling users to have more manual control over features such as the focus, white balance, aperture and variable speed zoom.

Although it comes with a one-off cost of £14, the app is far more effective for professional videographers than the native camera app of your mobile device, and has been used to shoot high-quality footage for television news packages, social media stories, and even documentaries.

Handy for reporters in different countries, the app allows users to shoot at 24 or 48 fps for a cinematic effect, 25 or 50 fps for European broadcast, or 30 or 60 fps for US broadcast.

LumaFusion

Once you've shot your video, work on it in LumaFusion (£19.99) for precision control over your edit. Settle explained it's the closest app you'll get to Final Cut Pro on your mobile phone.

This app supports multi-track editing, video key-framing and audio mixing among other features, including being able to export your projects into different formats such as square, portrait and rectangular, for broadcast and social media.

To make life a little easier, Settle recommended downloading LumaFusion on an iPad if possible, so that you've got a larger screen to edit on.

VideoScribe

Use free app VideoScribe to create whiteboard animations, just like the ones you may be used to paying for from professional designers or animators.

This is a useful tool if you're looking to create an effect that's a little different, as you can add images, text and voiceovers to your creation among other features, adding a professional finish in a short space of time.

The app has video tutorials in it, taking the user step by step through how to produce their on sketches in a matter of minutes.

Settle explained that having read all the terms and conditions, the content is available for commercial use. 

intoLive

Who doesn’t enjoy a good animated video? With this free app you can turn your favourite video or GIF into a Live Photo, to be viewed, shared or set as wallpaper on your mobile phone's lock screen.

Journalists can share live photos on social media, so that when audiences tap on them, they will reveal the moving images underneath, which they can use to tease their next story, for example.

Fontise

Settle said this app does something he's not encountered before – it allows users to put their own fonts, that they have produce themselves, onto their own videos.

Fontise is all about personalisation, and can also be used across multiple apps such as iMessage, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, Word, Excel & Powerpoint. Who said calligraphy was outdated?

For more tips and advice on mobile journalism, check out our #mojomonday series.

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).