With the fast-paced growth of the Internet and online news, journalists have found themselves pulled in a myriad of directions. These days, it’s not enough to be an expert in your niche. To really stand out with readers and become a source they can rely on, journalists need to excel in several areas: expertise, connections, writing style, staying on top of online trends and tools, and more.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Journalists
- Scrivener
Grammar Checking A Book
Scrivener has the ability to organize and access research material that makes it ideal for journalists
Originally designed for book and novel writers, Scrivener can also be helpful for journalists. Its popular corkboard feature lets writers easily track ideas and move those ideas around an outline to create their finished article.
Pricing
Scrivener costs $49 for Mac and Windows, $80 for a bundle of the two platforms, and $19.99 for the iOS device app. An educational license for students and teachers is available for $41.65.
Best Use
Scrivener’s ability to organize and access research material makes it ideal for journalists who regularly write longer pieces and perform interviews.
Pros
Compiles all note-taking and outlining into an organized, customizable document using the binder feature
Stores reference and research material alongside the writing
Can reference interview notes, websites, images, videos, and more all in the same word processor where you write your articles
Has project targets to help keep writers on-task
Cons
Works best as a Windows or Mac desktop app and does not have an Android option for mobile journalism
Designed for book writers, so it may have more features than you need
Has no free version
Can be cumbersome to learn
- Grammarly
Grammarly
Grammarly is a useful app to check grammar before publication
This popular grammar checker is helpful with digital journalism because it checks work on the go, offering both a web-based checker and a plugin to download to the browser. Writers can use it to call all of their work for grammar and spelling mistakes
Pricing
Has a free version and a paid version which starts at $12 a month, depending on the plan you choose.
Best Use
Grammarly is a robust grammar checker, and as such is a useful app to check grammar before publication.
Pros
Offers an effective grammar checker with the free version
Has a Microsoft Word and browser plugin to use the app without necessarily going to the web page.
Identifies and offers suggestions to correct spelling mistakes, grammatical errors and syntactic errors to clean up the writing.
Cons
Offers few features beyond the grammar checker
Is not foolproof and writers will still need to proofread their work
Does not integrate with all platforms, such as Google Docs and MS Teams
Best Grammar Checker
Grammarly
$30
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- ProWritingAid
ProwritingAid grammar checker
ProWritingAid helps with spelling and grammar errors as well as readability and wordiness
ProWritingAid is another grammar checker that offers help with a readability as well. Journalists can load this onto their computer, iPhone, or Android device and instantly check their writing as they go. This helps them deliver more accurate writing on time.
Pricing
ProWritingAid has a yearly fee of $70, but you can save if you pay for two or more years at once. The service is $100 for two years, $140 for three years, and $240 for a lifetime membership.
Best Use
This robust grammar checking software helps with spelling and grammar errors as well as readability and wordiness.
Pros
Gives an accurate, powerful grammar checking program
Is an easy-to-use and understand program
Provides an affordable option for editing and grammar checking
Cons
Has a strict 500-word limit on the free version
Does not edit large chunks well in Google Docs
Lacks plug-in for Apple applications
Best Grammarly Alternative
ProWritingAid
$79
ProWritingAid is a powerful, accurate grammar checker and style editor. It’s suitable for non-fiction and fiction writers and doesn’t require a monthly subscription.
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- Rev
Rev.com editor
Rev helps transcribe audio recordings into text to more easily integrate into articles
Rev is a transcription service that comes human transcribers with a powerful AI to quickly and effectively transcribe audio taking with a voice recorder into text. This helps journalists have a faster workflow because they can read the text instead of having to spend time listening to the full audio file.
Pricing
Rev allows you to transcribe or caption for a cost of $1.25 a minute.
Best Use
Journalists who regularly perform interviews can send their audio recordings of those interviews and phone calls to rev to have it transcribed into text to more easily integrate into articles.
Pros
Gives journalists affordable pricing on high-quality transcribing service
Offers a fast turnaround for journalists working on strict deadlines
Returns projects ahead of deadlines quite often
Cons
Struggles to transcribe technical words
Lacks the ability to record audio files in the app itself
Cannot always identify different speakers with automated transcript service
- Dragon Dictate
Dragon Dictate
Dragon’s dictation programs work well for journalists who need to capture text while on the road
Dragon Dictate is a well-known app for journalists. It allows them to transcribe their spoken words into typed text easily, so they can make real-time notes on the fly. It is also an excellent program to capture voice memos.
Pricing
Dragon has many products but its mobile app, Dragon Anywhere, is available for $150 a year.
Best Use
Dragon’s dictation programs work well for journalists who need to capture text while on the road and want to use dictation to do so.
Pros
Provides fast dictation with a high recognition accuracy to help journalists with their work.
Adds unlimited amounts of dictation to the cloud
Gives users an app that syncs well with desktop products
Cons
Can be difficult to learn to format using vocal commands
Loses its training at times and forgets how the user says a particular word
Requires a lot of memory to run, especially with computer component
- Evernote
Evernote graphical user interface
Journalists can on their ideas and thoughts into Evernote when they have them
Journalists need to take notes quickly, and Evernote lets them do this. It is a simple app that loads onto a mobile device to jot notes down as they go.
Evernote can capture just about anything, as it has an image capture, video memo option, and website clip saving feature for breaking news stories a writer may find.
Pricing
Evernote has a free version, a personal version for $7.99 a month, and a professional version for $9.99 a month.
Best Use
Journalists can on their ideas and thoughts into Evernote when they have them, then splice those together for an article later.
Pros
Gives journalists a mobile note-taking option
Has a user-friendly, simple design
Allows for collaboration with journalism teams
Has a browser extension for web-based work
Cons
Requires paid version for the most features.
Can be hard to organize large numbers of notes using the folders and tags
Cannot copy and paste images from Evernote to another platform easily
- TapeACall
TapeACall
Journalists use TapeACall to record their phone interviews easily and accurately
TapeACall is a popular choice for recording phone calls to listen to later. The call recorder works with both Android and iPhone.
Pricing
TapeACall costs $10.99 a year.
Best Use
Journalists use TapeACall to record their phone interviews easily and accurately.
Pros
Record Zoom conference calls
Integrates with Dropbox, Google Drive and other popular sharing platforms
Offers secure, unlimited storage
Share recordings easily on social media and via SMS
Cons
Requires three-way calling from the mobile service provider
Has no free version
Does not work well on a conference bridge line, as it causes a buzzing sound
Why Are These The Must-Have Apps For Journalists?
As you look over this list, you will notice a variety of products. Some are grammar checkers, while others focus on recording and organizing notes and interviews. So why was each one chosen?
Each of these apps was chosen because it offers:
Reliability: The apps do what they say they will do.
Affordability: For the service provided, the apps are affordable, and some even offer free versions or trials.
Mobility: These products allow journalists to use them while out in the field talking to people and gathering facts for their work.
Functionality: These apps perform an important function that journalists need to streamline their workflows.
A Final Word On The Best Apps For Journalists
Journalists must manage a lot of facts in order to write cohesive articles. Sometimes those facts, which might include interviews, video files, and images, are hard to track and organize.
The best apps for journalists make that task easier. They allow journalists to take their story ideas and organize them into a logical fashion, or they allow journalists to capture information quickly to retrieve later.
If you are considering a career in journalism, you will want to add some of these apps to your toolbox.
FAQs On The Best Apps For Journalists
What Apps Do Journalists Use?
Journalists use a range of apps to help them capture information and keep it organized. Some to consider include:
- Grammarly
- ProWritingAid
- Rev
- Evernote
- TapeACall
- Dragon Dictate
- Scrivener
What Is The Best App For Writers?
The best app for writers is one that helps them capture information, organize it, and write it with accurate grammar. While you cannot name one app as the best for writers, several offer these functions to help streamline the writing process. Scrivener, Grammarly, and ProWritingAid are all popular options.
Mobile journalism apps
PHOTOGRAPHY
Filmic First Light (iOS / Android): This app will transform your mobile photography. It features advanced manual controls, a wide range of filters, and the ability to add film grain. If you pay for a subscription, you can also shoot in RAW. Here is a tutorial.
Adobe Lightroom (iOS / Android): Another excellent camera app with full manual controls, a robust automatic camera, and the ability to shoot in RAW. Lightroom also has a powerful in-app editor, including retouching, colour adjustments, perspective adjustments, and the ability to create pre-sets. You can also import a watermark to protect your work. Links to tutorials are here.
Halide Mark II (iOS): This app is for serious photographers, with high-end computational photography features. The app comes with an in-app training course to help newcomers learn how to use it. The app offers a 7-day trial so you can try before you buy. Here is a tutorial.
Pro Camera: (iOS): An outstanding app for shooting high quality photos and recording video in a wide range of frame-rates. The app’s website includes links to a user manual and video tutorials.
Snapseed (iOS / Android): A free professional photo editing app owned by Google with a tremendous range of options, filters and effects, including text for adding captions and photographer’s details. Tips for using it are here.
ProShot (iOS / Android): This photography app provides Auto, Program, Manual, and two fully configurable custom modes, giving you a high level of control of exposure, ISO, shutter speed and white balance. You can shoot in jpeg and RAW, and film 4K and time-lapse videos. Here is a complete list of all features and an online tutorial.
VSCO (iOS / Android): Another excellent photography and editing app with a good range of controls over features normally found in a DSLR. The app’s many filters may interest feature and art photographers. Here is a tutorial.
VIDEO RECORDING
Filmic Pro (iOS / Android): The most advanced app for filming video on a smartphone, with full control over focus, exposure, white balance and audio levels. You can also film in LOG mode, and choose which microphone on your phone is being used to record sound. The app’s YouTube channel is packed with tutorials by the app’s developer and user community. The app has a one-off charge for use.
Beastcam (iOS only): Beastcam is a little cheaper than Filmic Pro, and is a great alternative for iPhone users. It combines photography and video capture in one app, and allows you to adjust focus, exposure, zoom, and white balance within the app. It recognizes external microphones, and allows you to adjust audio format, gain and sample rates. Here is a tutorial.
Open Camera (Android only): Open Camera is a free, open source app for Android phones. It combines photography and video in a single app, and offers control over focus, white balance, focus and exposure. It can also overcome an issue for some Android phone cameras, by forcing the phone to recognise an external microphone when it is plugged in. Watch here a Tutorial for Open Camera.
Cinema 4K (Android only): A powerful Android-only app with manual control of focus, exposure, white balance and other important features. An online tutorial is available here.
Cinema FV-5 (Android only): This app gives you control over focus, exposure, ISO, white balance and other core filming functions.
Skyflow (iOS only) is a professional time-lapse video camera with advanced features including the ability to choose video resolution and format, motion blur, light trail effects, HDR and panning motion. You can change the playback speed after you have filmed your video, too. Here is a tutorial.
Lapse it (iOS / Android): One of the best time lapse video capture apps, with the ability to film up to 1080p on the Pro version. No restrictions for capture length or frames.
MULTI-TRACK VIDEO EDITING
LumaFusion (iOS only): The most advanced video editing app currently available, designed to mimic most of the functions of professional desktop editors including multi-track editing, key-framing, colour adjustment, and support for branded fonts and graphics. Export at multiple frame-rates makes it suited to PAL and NTSC countries for television journalism. The app developers have a wide range of tutorials on their YouTube channel and there’s also a regularly updated searchable online reference guide with video tutorials throughout.
KineMaster (iOS / Android): Most advanced multi-track video editing app for Android phones. Supports audio editing, addition of captions, titles and logo, and export at 25fps and 30fps, making it suitable for television journalism in both NTSC and PAL countries. To remove the watermark requires a subscription payment. Visit the KineMaster website for user guides, and for tutorials, visit the KineMaster YouTube channel.
PowerDirector (Android only): Reliable alternative to KineMaster on Android phones. The app can be used for free, but to remove the watermark and access professional features including custom transitions and the ability to export in HD and above, you will need to purchase a subscription. The app developers have an up-to-date range of tutorials on their YouTube channel.
Alight Motion (iOS / Android): A full-featured motion graphics, video compositing and animation app for Android phones. The app is also available for Mac computers (you will need Apple Silicon for this). Further information about the app is available on the Alight Creative website, and tutorials are available on the app developer’s YouTube channel.
iMovie (iOS only): A free video editing app for iPhones which integrates with the more powerful desktop version of iMovie for Mac. The app had an update in 2019 to support green-screen editing. Exports at 30fps only. There are tutorial’s on Apple’s iMovie website, and here is a tutorial for iMovie.
SIMPLE SOCIAL VIDEO EDITING APPS
Spark Camera and Video Editor (iOS): Spark is an iPhone only app that combines video filming and editing – including the ability to add captions, titles, music and a voiceover – in a single app. It is intuitive to use and is targeted at vloggers and social media influencers rather than journalists You can learn more about Spark on the developer’s website and user guide.
GoPro Quik (iOS / Android): The well-established Quik app got a makeover and a new name in 2021. It also introduced a charge for some ‘premium’ features. Quik offers square, portrait and landcape settings, a wide range of royalty-free music, and the ability to add titles and captions. There is a guide to using GoPro Quik here and a dedicated tutorial channel on YouTube.
Animoto (iOS): You can add photos or video clips from your Camera Roll, iCloud, or Facebook account, select a preset video style, choose a song from the built-in music library or upload your own, add captions and text slides. There is a free version, with additional features available via subscription. Tutorials are available on the app developer’s YouTube channel.
Apple Clips (iOS): This superb app from Apple offers pre-made title cards, fun filters, speech-to-text captions and many more features for producing elegant social videos quickly. Here’s Apple’s User Guide to Clips.
Enlight VideoLeap (iOS): This app offers a wide range of high-end functions for creating videos from images, video and text. These include masking and blending, key framing and chroma key compositing. Tutorials are available on the app developer’s YouTube channel.
CuteCut (iOS / Android): CuteCut is a powerful video editor with the ability to add text, voiceover, music and logo. Their YouTube channel has a tutorials section.
Vlogit (iOS / Android): A great free app for editing two-track video, plus voiceover. The app does not offer 25fps, but if you film at 25fps this is preserved when editing. For HD export, you will need t0 set up an account. More information is available on the developer’s website.
VideoShop (iOS / Android): Great for simple edits – with video trimming options, the ability to add music and subtitles. There is more information on the developer’s website.
AUDIO RECORDING AND EDITING
Voice Record Pro (iOS / Android): A powerful audio recording app that saves high quality WAV files and offers basic trimming tools. The iOS version of the app offers more features (including Wifi transfer and an automatic transcription tool) than the Android version. Voice Record Pro is not an audio editing app, but you can trim the beginning and end of your recordings. Here is a short tutorial for using the app.
Ferrite (iOS): This app records audio, and also offers a fully-functional audio multitrack editor. It is widely used by radio reporters. Their YouTube channel has a range of tutorials.
AudioEvolution Mobile Studio (Android): The closest Android equivalent of Ferrite, although it is aimed more at musicians than journalists. An IOS version is now available, and a playlist of tutorials is available on the developer’s YouTube channel.
n-Track (Android): Another Android-only editing app with similar functions and options to AudioEvolution. Watch here Tutorials for n-Track.
360°
Google Street View (iOS / Android): A perfect starter into 360° photos. The free app allows you not only to search and view 360° photography but to record your own 360° photos. These can be shared or embedded into websites.
ANIMATION
Adobe Spark Post (iOS/ Android): Adds text and applies design filters to your photos and creates graphics to share on social platforms. In 2019 the app got an update that allows you to add animated text and graphics to your videos as well. Watch here a tutorial for Adobe Spark Post.
TypeArt (iOS): Excellent alternative to Adobe Spark Post. Creates animated text and effects.
Legend (Android): This app is a fast, low-cost tool for adding animated text to photos and videos.
Wizibel (iOS): This app creates an animated wave form to add to a single image or slide show. You can see all the possible themes here, and view a short tutorial here.
Headliner (iOS / Android): Headliner is available both as an app, and a desktop tool. It has a number of features, including adding an animated wave form to images and videos, audio transcription for captions and titles, and the ability to generate a short, auto-transcribed video from a podcast. Headliner has an excellent information section on its website where you can discover all its features.
VERTICAL STORYTELLING
Unfold (iOS / Android): An outstanding app for creating vertical montages of videos and photos. There are 25 free templates, and dozens more as in-app purchases. Visit the developer’s website for more information.
Mojo (iOS): A superb app for creating vertical stories for Facebook Stories, Instagram Stories and Snapchat. The app offers a wide range of customisable templates and fonts, and the ability to add a logo. Visit the developer’s website for more information.
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