Top 5 Must-Have Tools for Professional Journalists

Remember the time when the only tools a journalist needed were a pencil and a notepad? 

Capturing a story is challenging. Newshounds have to take into consideration multiple moving pieces before they can publish an article. Luckily, it’s not 1940 anymore, and today’s journalists have a slew of apps, tools, and sites that make the job easier. 

Whether you need a tool to help with brainstorming, security, organization, research, or visuals, here are five journalism tools you won’t want to be without.

1. Pocket

The Pocket App makes saving articles, videos, and content from other publications, web pages, and apps simple. Think of it as your personal reading list. If you don’t have time to read an article as soon as you come across it or watch a video clip, save it for later. Pocket is available on iOS and Android devices, plus the base app is free!

2. Trustwire

Part of being a journalist is sharing and receiving sensitive information online. Cyber threats are at an all-time high. Share documents securely with Trustwire. Trustwire allows a reporter or source to send and collect information safely, even in high-risk environments. All files shared via Trustwire are encrypted, meaning only the file owner and the rightful recipient will be able to see it.

3. Representation Matters

As a journalist, visuals are likely a huge part of your day job. You may be familiar with other stock image libraries like Pixabay, Shutterstock, or Pexels. While those are all great tools to source images, Representation Matters is an all-inclusive stock image library. They focus on diverse and inclusive photos with themes, including body positivity, disabilities, LGBT, and more.

4. Echosec

Echosec is a free online app that allows users to generate location-based social media data from the most popular social networks. If you work at a local level, this tool can help fill your pages or create website copy as you get info from events as they unfold in real-time. For example, Echosec allows users to concentrate on an area on a map where it will then provide you with a list of Tweets (or other social media posts) that have been made from that area. The free version offers Twitter data, but if you invest in the premium version, you get results from other platforms like Instagram and YouTube.

5. Hemingway

Part of being a great journalist is captivating an audience with words. The Hemingway App makes your writing bold and clear. This tool highlights common errors, complex sentences, and lengthy or hard-to-understand sentences in your typing. The text is color-coded to make things as simple as possible. If a sentence is highlighted in yellow, it’s too long, and if it has a red highlight, it’s too hard to read. Journalists can appeal to a broader audience with high-quality, user-friendly text. This online app is free, but a paid premium version is also available.

How to Share Files Securely and Protect Your Device

If you own a business where your client's information is at risk, surely you are concerned with the safety of your customer's sensitive info being leaked, stolen, or breached. It's a fear among most business owners in the US, especially small business owners like private doctors, journalists, small enterprise owners, and lawyers. Cybersecurity is a problem that business owners decades ago never had to encounter, but in 2019 we are in the midst of the digital revolution. The days of storing your client's records in a filing cabinet are over. While going digital has had massive benefits for businesses worldwide, along with it has come an immense influx of cyberattacks. Many are left wondering what the best way to share files securely is?

Secure File Sharing - What To Do And What Not To Do

• Don't: Send sensitive documents over email

While sending an email may feel private, keep in mind the recipient may not have a protected server and may download your file from an unencrypted HTTP connection. If they're doing so from a public wi-fi network, the chances of a security breach are much higher.  

• Do: Safeguard your computer

A cybersecurity measure you should always take it safeguarding all of your devices. Always install anti-virus programs, never leave computers unattended, and conduct software updates on the regular. When choosing passwords, go for ones that are not easily guessed and back up your files regularly.  

• Don't: Rely Solely on Cloud Storage

Cloud storage providers like Dropbox and Google Drive are among the most popular. However, note that both of these services can gain full access to your files at any given time, meaning if there is a security breach, your data could be affected. These large companies may even look at your information for marketing purposes.  

• Do: Use an encrypted file-sharing service

Many file-sharing services offer encrypted transmission for file sharing. Trustwire uses only trusted and verified open-source cryptography libraries to ensure your files are protected. Trustwire guarantees never to sell or give away data and gives its users full control over their records.  

Secure File Sharing With Trustwire

While there are plenty of ways to share files online, most of those methods are not reliable. Many existing software platforms may offer features like document password protection, but that doesn't mean it applies to every file or folder. Plus, hackers today are smarter and more ruthless than ever before. The only way to ensure the files you wish to share remain private is with some form of end-to-end encryption. Trustwire uses real end-to-end encryption to guarantee that only the owner of the file can access and share the contents. Trustwire can not decrypt its user's files, making it the most secure file sharing service available. With cybersecurity breaches on the rise, be sure your devised are protected from malicious hackers with Trustwire.

Trustwire has unparalleled ease of use, meaning that your employees can quickly adjust to working with it. Furthermore, Trustwire is available on any device, anywhere in the world. Earn more about how your business can begin protecting its valuable intellectual property with Trustwire.

The future will run on 5G - How will the new era impact cybersecurity?

The fifth-generation cellular network technology, 5G, will launch a new era of wireless connections, completely changing the way we consume content. With faster speeds, more reliable connections, and lower latency, businesses need to begin supporting this explosive rate of new tech innovation. Projections show that the number of 5G users will climb to over a billion by 2023. Better cybersecurity will be part of the demands businesses must undergo to be part of the new evolution. Will the evolutionary 5G network implement new privacy challenges?

The security risk of 5G:

When we make the transition into a 5G world, several things will happen:  

• Exponentially faster speeds, higher capacity, and more flexible service delivery.
• Organizations will provide better content and offer an excellent user experience.
• Greater edge-based computing. 5G servers will have the intelligence to act as application servers.

5G will enable new technology that isn’t yet available today, and the world at large should expect substantial potential benefits. However, the implementation of 5G technology will also create new opportunities for those who wish to exploit it. 5G will disrupt the traditional relationships between networks, computing resources, and end-users, causing a notable impact on cybersecurity.  

5G and your privacy:

Challenges such as access to local info, health and lifestyle data, and leakage of personal voice are very real privacy concerns when it comes to 5G security. Remember, adequate 5G protection will not be a one-size-fits-all approach. With the upcoming different 5G entities, each will require different security needs.

5G and end-to-encryption:

When it comes to secure file sharing, end-to-end encryption has been the go-to for the past decade. How will you ensure your sensitive info is safe when we make the change to 5G? Cybersecurity solutions will have the challenge of deciphering which web traffic contaminated and conclude if any traffic is malicious. One way people are choosing to keep their sites safe is through Encrypted Traffic Analytics. ETA uses advanced algorithms to detect malicious traffic patterns of encrypted traffic. The technology can identify potential threats hiding in encrypted traffic. Exploring the potential benefits of ETA may be the key to keeping your website secure when 5G is in full swing.

What can you do?

Whether you’re ready or not, 5G is on its way, and it’s best to prepare as soon as possible.

Three steps to preparing for 5G

1. Cybersecurity technologies are a must. Don’t look at them as an added cost; instead, see them as strategies to ensure your organization remains safe during the changing times.

2. Don’t let security woes ruin the opportunity for your organization to reap the benefits of 5G.

3. Start preparing now, so when the time comes, you will be ready. Don’t wait until you deploy 5G to implement a better security strategy. Start using cybersecurity technology now to stay ahead of the game.

Trustwire has unparalleled ease of use, meaning that your employees can quickly adjust to working with it. Furthermore, Trustwire is available on any device, anywhere in the world. Earn more about how your business can begin protecting its valuable intellectual property with Trustwire.