A backpack journalist is someone who goes on assignments, usually in remote locations, and is responsible for not only writing or delivering a story, but also acting as a cameraman, producer, and editor. To get to remote locations where newsworthy events are taking place, the backpack journalist is likely to use a variety of transportation methods, including walking. This person frequently carries a laptop computer, as well as a digital camera capable of still and video photography and a satellite phone.
Backpack journalists may find themselves in dangerous situations that regular reporters and camera crews are unable to access. The backpack journalist is likely to cover war zones or other areas of unrest, and in many cases, the journalist will have to travel over difficult terrain to reach a story. When he or she covers a story, he or she is in charge of all aspects of the reporting, from the story’s writing to its delivery to a news outlet. Because the backpack journalist will not have access to an editor or producer who would otherwise guide the story, this usually means the backpack journalist has a lot of control over the story.
Because of the types of travel required of a backpack journalist, he or she frequently tries to travel light. Cameras and audio equipment will be kept small and to a minimum, and satellite phones will also need to be compact and lightweight when carried in a backpack. Any items carried by the journalist must fit into as little luggage as possible, and the luggage must be lightweight and easy to transport and store.
For many reporters, becoming a backpack journalist can be a beneficial career move. This style of reporting is often preferred by television news stations because it gives them a ratings advantage over competitors, particularly in Internet-based reporting. In the long run, hiring such a journalist may save the news organization money because separate employees will not be required to operate cameras, produce the news segment, edit the story, and so on. The disadvantage of hiring such employees could be liability concerns; in some situations, this type of journalism can be extremely dangerous, and the news organization must rely on the judgment of one person rather than several to produce quality reporting.