YouTube to Help Sites Gather News Clips

Brian Stelter

November 17, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/business/media/17youtube.html?ref=technology

Google's YouTube has signed up a deal with NPR, Politico, The Huffington Post and San Francisco Chronicle for YouTube Direct, which is a new approach for handling video submission from the user end. This new factor is to make it easier for YouTube users to post clips that news media companies can select for highlights. The purpose of YouTube Direct is trying to establish a connection with citizen reporters with media organizations. This could also strengthen the site's status for Citizen's journalism video. YouTube also foresee status beyond daily's video news clips. A blog site hinted that business can use this new method to solicit endorsements and that politician could “ask for user-generated political commercials.”

I must say, YouTube came a long way from broadcasting yourself in which users can upload and share videos. This opens another door of wide possibilities for individual journalism as the article says. Many mobile phones are equipped with video recording and have the ability to upload via WIFI. This is really the matter of how quick news can reach people.

Microbloggers, Meet the Microvideo

Jenna Worthham

September 21, 2009

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/21/microbloggers-meet-the-microvideo/?ref=technology

This article is about a company called Particle who designed video software that can be posted as a status update in Facebook and Twitter.  The concept is originally aimed for digital calling card online that holds data about someone’s identity on the web. However, the idea becomes a thriving trend for social networking users who like to broadcast every single detail of their lives online.

This is another good example of information design as people always find a new way to communicate by posting microvideos in their Facebook and Twitter accounts. Both sites are web based text and pictures so by adding videos, the online socializing just become more interesting and lively. Microvideos is just another interface. It maybe a short video but it is without doubt an engaging trend because you are not just reading text or looking at pictures with tag lines but you are hearing sounds and watching movements.