Follow Friday: Mobile-First Journalist Nico Piro

With over 30 years of journalism experience, Nico Piro has forged a reporting career on the front lines of crises that drives an innovative approach. Currently, a correspondent for Italy’s state-owned Tg3 or Rai Tre television channel, his journey has garnered numerous awards and made him a leading international figure in mobile journalism.

His independent short documentary “Today I Will Live,” chronicling consequences of modern warfare recently won awards from the Dublin Smartphone Film Festival, MobileMovieMaking, and Mobile Journalism Awards.

Piro’s early interest in photography led him to be a television reporter. While he often worked with a crew early in his career, he frequently had his own camera and engaged independent projects in addition to his reporting. The combination of the camera’s charm and his innate curiosity in the technological advancements naturally drew him to mobile journalism.

He shot this piece about refugees in Calais, France, five years ago with a iPhone 6.

His experience in crises and war zones made him particularly adept in dealing with the brought about by the pandemic. He was one of the first reporters to gain access to a coronavirus hospital las spring. Working with a mobile phone allowed him to work discreetly in difficult circumstances.

Nell’ospedale allestito alla fiera di Bergamo lavorano anche i medici di @emergency_ong, che dopo aver combattuto l’ebola adesso danno il loro contributo per curare i malati da coronavirus pic.twitter.com/Jm3efbtHA0

— Tg3 (@Tg3web) April 20, 2020

Similarly when he covered Trump rallies during the US Presidential election, working with a phone allowed him to work despite facing unexpected obstacles and blend into the crowd with greater access.

When your press credentials are denied for no reason, it is election time and democracy is at stake, as a journalist you have to report by any means necessary.
This is when a #smartphone is more precious than gold #mojo #mobilejournalism #trump #shotoniphone with @FiLMiCPro pic.twitter.com/Z0MNgUTlQT

— Nico Piro (@_Nico_Piro_) November 25, 2020

Piro’s is also the creator and director of MOJO ITALIA, Italy’s first mobile journalism festival, and coauthored “Mobile Journalism,” the first Italian mojo manual.

His work provides no shortage of great models for students working with mobile phones, but the Italian regularly shares his experience. Speaking at conferences and doing interviews about his work, Piro continues a commitment to advancing the field.

To learn more, follow Nico Piro on the following platforms.

Twitter – @_Nico_Piro_
Instagram – @_nico_piro_
Vimeo – vimeo.com/nicopiro
Facebook – @tashakornicopiro

MoJo, short for mobile journalism, is redefining the news industry across the globe as journalists increasingly leverage the power, creativity, and technology available with the smartphone to produce and publish media storytelling for distribution across a range of platforms.

This series will highlight reporters leading the field of mobile journalists.