The future of journalism is pretty damn cool.
I love, love, love internet video. What? You’ve never seen my videos? Oh yeah, that’s because I don’t have any (yet). ;p But that doesn’t mean that I don’t think that video is hot. I do. I think vlogging will be just as big as blogging is.
But what’s REALLY darn cool is how live streaming video - a la Justin.tv - will change how we consume our news. Right now, we rely upon a handful of major corporations to dole out what’s important and what isn’t. That’s how we get our video information (for the most part). Sure, YouTube has done some major market corrections there because we can seek out things that interest us, but it’s not the same as watching a live news broadcast.
Not anymore. 
It’s now easy for just about anyone to make a live, streaming broadcast from anywhere and post in on the web. Just check out ustream.tv.
What’s more, is that you can actually put together a bunch of different tools to create a total, overwhelming, new communication experience.
Hot, hot, hot. Does anyone else get excited by this?
News companies, are you listening? Find yourself some willing people who are active in all different aspects of society and hook ‘em up with a camera. Perhaps I can’t make it to that web conference in CA, but I sure would like to watch like I was there (yay for Robert!). Or what about the Virginia Tech memorials? I want to feel like I am there, taking it all in. (Apparently, Chris Pirillo did just that.)
There are millions of events around the world that aren’t filmed like major sporting events are, but those events are important to a LOT of people. So let them see it!
The cameras and other required gear for streaming live video will only get smaller and smaller. Now’s the time to put your hat in the ring and do something. Imagine a giant network of citizen journalists sharing constant experiences in various cultures and situations (see sites like this here). Forget what Fox or CNN want to show us - if we want what’s REALLY happening in the world, you should be able to decide for yourself what’s important to you.
How cool would it be to give more exposure to volunteer activities - like Habitat for Humanity or people who volunteer in soup kitchens helping the poor and indigent? Perhaps if more people saw what was possible, more people would step up as well.
I look forward to this with just a few reservations.
There is always the concern about credibility and accuracy. The citizen journalist must be able to supply this - not that I would not trust you. I have seen many cases of political hate spam (Netscape has had bouts of this) pretty much clogging up things and where wild conspiracy theories are assumed real truth.
On the other hand, the same can almost be said about the major networks, so no loss there I guess.
There is room for someone to take this and create a first true internet news network and do something like you mentioned. I think it would be interesting.
James
April 20th, 2007 at 5:44pm
I agree with James however credibility can be criticized within all major media outlets. Considering that they are affiliated with certain industrial and political factions most American media at least (if not all) is biased and publishes only half truths and “what some people are saying” they never cite actual sources it’s always ambiguous.
I do look forward to the future of journalism, as it allows for more content to be distributed to more people and would provide much needed exposure for events which simply aren’t profitable enough for mass media at current to cover. This however does pose more of a problem as media will become saturated with “do it yourself” reporting and the already dubious credibility of reporting can only go down hill as people will simply put their own spin on events, and hyperbowl can only become more prolific. Yes there will be more news available for people to consume, however whether the quality of reporting will degrade is yet to be seen…
Simon
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:34am