This paper discusses applied research as a perspective of methodological innovation in journalism by reporting the process of crafting a Doctor's Degree research about mobile journalism. For this, we relate innovation and crisis in journalism and address aspects related to applied research in the field. We also highlight the methodological processes developed in the thesis, reflecting on the articulation of what we call the theoretical, empirical and experimental dimensions of applied research. We approach the theoretical-methodological experimentation in this type of investigation, the role of the academy for conducting applied research and the limitations and potential of this research perspective for journalism. This paper discusse...