By Leigh Dana, WBNG, Binghamton NY

The Blackberry: I recently discovered how wonderful this piece of technology is just a few months ago when I needed to replace my broken cell phone.  My friends feared I’d become obsessed with my new smart phone with all that you can do on it. While I’m not completely a “crackberry addict,” it has changed my abilities as a field reporter more than I even imagined.

As the senior reporter for my station, I am constantly covering court trials, where a smart phone is a reporter’s best friend. When a jury comes back with a verdict, you don’t have to leave the courtroom to make a phone call back to the newsroom and miss all the action. Instead, a quick email alerts the newsroom with their decision.

There are some defendants who try as hard as they can to dodge news reporters as they enter and leave the courthouse. If you’re a one-man-band reporter like me, carrying a camera certainly makes you stand out. But, if you leave the camera in your news vehicle and just whip out your phone when the timing’s right, you might be able to snap a photo.

No video camera, no problem. A smart phone can also be a great tool during a breaking or spot news scene if applications like Skype or video recording are available.  Many news stations rely on the community to capture scenes using their phones. When they air, it’s labeled as “amateur video.” But as a reporter out in the community on your days off or out of town, smart phones come in handy. Last May, I was in New York City seeing a Broadway show with my family. It was the same night as the attempted Times Square bomber. I didn’t have my Blackberry at the time, but if I did, I could have recorded a “look live” from the scene and sent it back to the station.

Perhaps one of the most obvious uses of a smart phone is its internet capabilities. I no longer have to call up our assignment editor or producers asking them to look up information for me. I can now access the web through my phone. This is extremely helpful if you’re covering a story that needs more depth with facts or statistics.

So, if you have a smart phone, don’t just go on Facebook and BBM your friends, use it for every penny it’s worth. Who knows, one day when you least expect it, the exclusive will come through by technology that fits in the palm of your hand.