In order to make the most of this ever growing phenomenon, Goggle’s video sharing Web site, YouTube, is teaming up with NPR, Politico, The Huffington Post, and The San Francisco Chronicle to launch YouTube Direct, a tool to allow 'citizen journalists' to submit clips to news media companies and PR firms.
When the users visit the aforesaid sites, they will be able to upload content on YouTube for the media organizations to highlight.
“We’re trying to connect media organizations with citizen reporters on YouTube,” said Steve Grove, the Web site’s head of news and politics.
YouTube, an ally to media organizations
YouTube Direct can be tweaked to meet the specific requirements of each news organization. The editors can seek contact numbers of the users submitting news clips in order to contact them for more information.
As news organizations are indulging in layoffs to reduce costs amid declining revenue during recession, the latest tool will help them expand video coverage without increasing costs.
YouTube Direct will allow the “news organizations to control their experience with users while tapping into the community where that activity is taking place, which is YouTube,” Grove added.
Reinforcing YouTube’s status as a source for citizen journalism videos
YouTube has already become a prime outlet for citizen journalism and offers video clips from news breaking events. It had recently offered videos of the latest political crisis in Iran during the elections this year.
But with as many as 20 hours of videos posted to the site every minute, it makes it difficult to find interesting news clips while the news is still hot.
YouTube believes that with its latest tool, finding most interesting news clips will not be difficult anymore as news videos will become more prominent when endorsed by professional editors.
The latest move will not only reinforce YouTube’s status as a source for citizen journalism videos but will also help the Web site emerge as a potential contender to the existing citizen journalism like iReport on CNN.
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