I am waaay behind on this one – and a little surprised there hasn’t been more
coverage of this online but there you have it.
YouTube
have launched a service for broadcasters whereby they can manage content
submitted by the average Joe’s and Jane’s out there.
I
am sure this was greatly inspired by the use of YouTube during events such as
the Tsunami in 2006 and monks protests in Myanmar. The usual broadcasters couldn’t
get good enough footage at the scene, something which is essential for
effective broadcasting today, but were able to use footage uploaded on YouTube
by people on the ground to great affect (and I am sure the citizens involved
were sufficiently rewarded for their work).
You
can read more about the management tool on the official site here, (to the untrained eye it looks
like a very simple submissions manager) but what I am more interested in is the
way in which it allows ordinary citizens to become a more efficient broadcaster.
Of
course, the tagline for YouTube already is ‘Broadcast Yourself’. It is a place
for people and organisations (and moronic individuals) to upload and share video
content. But it never evoved into the social revolutionary platform it could
have because the tools it provides are limited.
With
YouTube Direct, you have a way of managing a ridiculous amount of potentially
quality video footage from around the world to give your own version of events.
Sounds like a small thing at first but when you think about it is really does
have the potential to be revolutionary.
Now
anyone sitting at home can do more than upload content – they have the
potential to become and actual real time broadcaster – similar to the BBC or
CNN.
Of
course it is merely a simple management tool right now, but it is a huge step
in the right direction and we cant wait to see what emerges from this.
Please help us by providing feedback
YouTube Direct - Broadcast Yourself for real! 
© 2009 Crewger