After reviewing the different readings this week about YouTube and citizen journalism, I think YouTube can be a valuable tool if used properly. Media companies can create their own YouTube channel and post videos that highlight popular news stories, or can even spread a not-so-popular TV video that can become a viral hit online.
I think YouTube can best benefit the aspiring journalist -- someone who hasn't made it to the big leagues yet but is actively pursuing that as a career. A video story done by an aspiring journalist and YouTube user can become an overnight sensation and spread valuable information across the state, country, or even the world depending on the news story. YouTube also provides a channel for these hopeful journalist professionals to upload and store their previous work. If you create a channel under your own name, it can act as a virtual portfolio showing off your journalistic talent and even your technical skills.
YouTube also created a Citizen News channel where they feature news pieces done by citizen journalists in an effort to promote strong journalism talent. In addition, they created a Pulitzer Contest to encourage aspiring journalists post their work on YouTube.
YouTube is certainly not perfect and some questions came up during the presidential campaign, specifically during the CNN-YouTube presidential debate. If used properly and carefully, YouTube can be a great asset for journalists and the media they work for.
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Intriguing. I'm going to use this post in a colloquium I'm giving to the faculty and grad students here today on how to use blogs for teaching...
ReplyDeleteHope all is going well on the story front for you. Keep up the good work on the independent study.