Today’s journalists are seeing a change in the way they collect information to report quickly. Assignment Editor Bill Decker and Assistant News Director Eric Nazarenus at WGAL-TV, News 8, in Lancaster shared evolving tools reporters can use to enhance stories. Crime and fire scanners Mobile site

• Broadcastify – live police, fire, EMS, aircraft and railroad scanner. News stations can record audio directly from  the site in any state and county.

Mobile apps

• Police Scanner+ & 5-0 Radio Police Scanner – free mobile apps giving reporters access to the same information as box police scanners.

“Even when you’re in the car, you should be gathering news.” -Bill Decker

On social media Facebook and Twitter

• Take advantage of police and fire departments’ posts, photos and press releases.
• Search for municipalities’ social media platforms to find specific posts about times, dates and places where incidents occur.

Photo and video converters

• clipconverter.cc & downvids.net – free websites that help reporters convert public YouTube clips and Facebook posts for easier on-air use.  Prevents reporters from having to take a video off a computer screen.
• sendthisfile.com – a video converter to send videos from one location to another; eliminates the need for satellite trucks during on-site reporting

 “This makes every journalist a mobile newsroom now.” -Eric Nazarenus

Court documents and criminal records

• LexisNexis – Paid website allowing users to search for anything from property and criminal records to items citizens have purchased.
• ujsportal.pacourts.us – Free website providing specifics on criminal cases, including charges, where trials are held, the judge on the trial and case status