CNN will not modify its content or train its journalists for mobile phones in the near future, according to an announcement from Laurel Chamberlain, director of digital media for news at Turner Media, at the DNA 2008 conference.

"There are always ways of looking at how we can condense what we put onto mobile, but at this stage I don't think its necessary," Chamberlain said.

CNN also ruled the possibility experimenting even preliminarily with mobile news. "Maybe in another five years when we are only thinking about the mobile space," Chamberlain said.

Other news organizations around the world have begun experimenting with mobile news, including the Manchester Evening News and the China-based China Daily. Reuters too has struck a business deal with Nokia for its mobile journalism ventures.

Moreover News International is currently developing a system to measure mobile content traffic. The Sun, The Times, and News of the World are among the publications participating in the Leadership in Mobile plan, which aims to implement the measurement system, and provide media organizations with accurate mobile traffic figures.

Certainly mobile phones are becoming better equipped to handle mobile content, but the jury is still out if 3G capabilities will actually translate to widespread viewing of mobile content.

Mobile news has its proponents, with some arguing that it is the future of news. Other media organizations, however, are not so sure. CNN clearly doesn't view mobile news as necessity. The Daily Mirror gave it a go, and opted in January to pull its mobile site.

At this juncture, its unclear if mobile news advocates are wasting their time, or if its critics are missing the boat. Only time will tell if mobile news becomes the next big trend, or goes the way of virtual newspapers.

Source: Journalism.co.uk (here and here)