Over the weekend, YouTube launched a new channel dubbed Reporters’ Center, which it hopes will prove to be a good way to educate existing and aspiring citizen journalists on how to report news in ‘the digital age’. The new resource will feature a host of top journalists and media experts sharing instructional videos with tips and advice for better reporting.
So far, there are 34 videos uploaded to the channel, featuring people like Facebook Marketing Director Randi Zuckerberg providing 8 tips on how to maximize distribution of your YouTube video on the social network her brother famously co-created, and folks like CBS News’ Katie Couric and legendary Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward explaining how to conduct a good interview and how to be an investigative reporter, respectively.
The idea is sound and some of the content is rather good, and I’m sure it will provide a helpful resource for citizen reporters across the globe. Of course, it serves YouTube’s interests as well when more and more people take up the habit of filming whatever happens in their neighborhood and upload the videos to the wildly popular sharing site afterwards.
If you have any tips to share, you can also upload your own videos to the channel.
(Hat tip to NewTeeVee)
Good idea on you tube’s part. But doesn’t Katie Couric just read the teleprompter?
Right. The UGC news masses are making her look bad so YT is jumping into the fray by attempting to establish a new orthodoxy for online newsrecorders.
Katie Couric and Sister of Facebook have what, exactly, to do with reporting? Ugh. Here comes the generation that will spell the end of any sort of collective critical thinking.
I have not followed the link but if I do I sincerely hope there is a “How to hold the frickin camera steady” video because I am sick of the idiots who thing that stupid angles, rapid pans, fast zooms are good.
Many interesting new product videos are unwatchable due to the above vomit inducing traits.
Sounds a little like CurrentTV territory.
very informative.
I really like this idea when CNN launched iReport almost two years ago.