A short article-“Mobile reporting has great potential, but where are the journalists?”--offers a concise and helpful overview of smartphone video’s growing value in journalism. The piece, by Belgian journalist Nicolas Becquet, was published in Journalism.co.uk.

In addition to outlining the uses of smartphone news video, the article urges  journalistic outlets to do more with the new medium. While agreeing, we do question one statement: Becquet writes: “A smartphone will never replace a professional camera nor the expertise of a seasoned video journalist.”

In many instances, smartphones have already replaced traditional cameras. And besides, any camera becomes “professional” if it’s used by a professional. The author needs to be specific here about the relative deficiencies of smartphone video. One issue might be the lack of effective zoom lenses. But that shortcoming will likely be overcome soon.

As for the idea that a smartphone would replace “the expertise of a seasoned video journalist,” what does that mean? No camera replaces a journalist’s expertise. The camera is but a tool. As Becquet himself argues, it is a very important tool.