Move Over Katie, YouTube Has Citizen News
We’ve already seen it happen in several instances; events happen and the first video from that event isn’t from a network news sources, but from people who are there experiencing it and want to show the rest of the world. We’ve seen this when video has been posted to YouTube of rioting in Tibet or from disasters anywhere in the world.
The change that is occurring in some of these “reports” is that they are no longer just random video that’s posted, but something that looks much more like a “news package.” A stand-up is given by a “reporter” or even someone at a desk is giving a their version of a newscast – to make sure the world knows this information, to show their passion for subject, or to give notice that a subject is under-reported.
YouTube has taken notice and announced that they have pulled together a channel for this information called Citizen News. In a rather roughly presented introduction to the channel the new News Manager at YouTube, Olivia M. (Sorry I couldn’t make out the last name.), tells us about some of the people contributing content. Her first business expense does need to be a better video editing program, even if the amateur look of it is to make people feel anyone can do it. YouTube’s Olivia congratulates the “citizen journalists” and asks viewers to help them shape the Citizen News channel.
Now sure there will be a percentage of this material that many of us won’t want to pay attention to because it doesn’t concern us… and at times it will be a large percentage of the material. But think about what’s at the root of all of this; someone feeling socially responsible and wants to share what they feel is important. This is not a bad thing. So often the apathy just seems to be everywhere and we know when people are motivated like this it invokes change and sometimes even a sort of enlightenment. Also, we know it works when we see governments blocking internet access to this information.
In March at the Digital News Affairs conference in Brussels, Chris Press of CNN was announcing their new iReport.com site and said, “In many ways it’s a lot like YouTube, but with a focus on personal reporting.” Well Mr. Press, I believe YouTube heard you.
See the channel:
