CNN famously made its mark during the first Gulf War, as its 24-hour, on-the-spot reporting brought that conflict into people’s homes in a way never done before, marking a revolution in TV news. A story in today’s Washington Post suggests that the current Lebanon war may mark another revolution in how people get information However, this time the change isn’t coming from a news organization, but from videos posted by countless individuals on youtube.com
Up till now, youtube has been known mostly as a place to watch home videos shot by others, and perhaps the odd Jon Stewart clip. But, the Post reports, in recent days it has taken on a more serious role. As the Post explains it: “In a matter of weeks, YouTube has become a video Dumpster for a global audience to share first-hand reports, military strategies, propaganda videos and personal commentary about a violent conflict as it unfolds.”
While not likely to replace professional journalism, the amateur posts on youtube have a substantial audience. According to Robert Niles of USC’s Online Journalism Review: “in real numbers, I think any broadcast executive would consider it a huge audience–it’s just dispersed around the globe. It would probably challenge hourly ratings at NBC or CNN.”
A trend worth watching.
The Technology Liberation Front is the tech policy blog dedicated to keeping politicians' hands off the 'net and everything else related to technology.
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