Alastair Reid of First Draft explores how journalists can use WhatsApp to find and distribute stories.
"The messaging app’s potential as a broadcast platform was quickly seized upon by news organisations eager to tap into the user base, whether to deliver top stories and traffic news to readers on their commute, give an audience updates to an ongoing story, or act as a platform for public service announcements in times of national crisis.
But relatively little attention has been paid to how WhatsApp could be used in newsgathering, beyond publishing a contact number and inviting audiences to submit tips. Surely, with so many people using the app, the opportunities to find sources and stories should be overflowing?"
