5 note-taking apps for journalists

While apps like Evernote and Scrivener have become popular in this niche market, there are still a number of apps specifically designed for journalists. Here are five note-taking apps that can help journalists in their work:

5 useful note-taking apps for journalists (image 1) — Photo: Shutterstock

Dynalist can help journalists get started on a story. On this app, users can organize notes together and link them to each other. The app automatically groups similar ideas, which is especially helpful in the initial research phase of a story.

Dynalist also allows users to easily upload images and other files to their notes, and enables easy synchronization between multiple phones and computers.

Dynalist is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux with various plans, from a free basic plan to a paid premium plan starting at $7.99 per month.

With its sleek design in both function and form, Craft Docs allows journalists to create articles and easily share them with their team, making collaboration easier. The app lets journalists create a “space” where they can assign tasks to team members and share feedback.

Craft Docs not only contains text but also files such as images, audio, and video . It's also a good tool for experimenting and organizing ideas. Craft Docs is available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, with basic plans free and premium plans starting at $5/month.

For journalists, including sensitive information in an application requires careful consideration, and Joplin prioritizes security through end-to-end encryption on documents.

5 useful note-taking apps for journalists (image 2) — Joplin app interface. Photo: Joplin

Journalists might appreciate the alarm feature. This can be applied to a note or to-do list to notify users when a project is due. This makes Joplin a good option for tracking multiple projects simultaneously.

Joplin overcomes the storage limitations that some other note-taking tools may encounter, as it allows saving both locally and on Joplin Cloud, and is also end-to-end encrypted. The app also syncs with other storage services such as Dropbox and OneDrive.

Joplin is available on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. The app is mostly free, with some paid options for Joplin Cloud.

Obsidian is a versatile tool, perfect for journalists who want to personalize their note-taking process as much as possible.

Obsidian offers Content Maps (MOCs): Virtual maps that link two or more ideas together. At its simplest level, an MOC can be presented as a list of hyperlinks, much like a webpage. An MOC acts as an index or list of hyperlinked notes on specific topics or points.

Obsidian's core strength lies in helping journalists make connections through a detailed, customizable website. It's worth noting that the app is also quite memory-intensive. However, if you can dedicate the time to exploring all of its features, Obsidian can change the way you take notes.

Obsidian is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. The app is free, with some features requiring a fee.

The appeal of this software lies in its name; from file functionality to storage, Simplenote offers a simple, hassle-free writing experience, allowing you to easily add tags and synchronize across multiple devices.

5 useful note-taking apps for journalists (image 3) — Simplenote is easy to use and free. Image: Simplenote

One drawback is the time users need to learn how to best utilize the features. The application works best for simple projects or medium-sized collaborative projects.

Simplenote is available on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac, and it's free.

Hoang Ton (According to IJN)

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