Another Time Warner outlet is trying for a video splash this week as CNN launches CNN Exchange for user-gen video and audio. CNN has been soliciting and using viewer contributions for some time so that’s nothing new. The differences are a less scattershot approach for what are being called “I-reports” and an organized central locale with the usual social media/user gen tools. The greatest difference between what CNN is doing and other user-gen sites appears to be the level of vetting; editors go through the tips and uploads. It does not look as though video can be uploaded and shared without an intermediary. The come hither: “CNN Exchange invites YOU to connect with the news: Share your stories, your pictures, your videos wherever you see the I-Report logo.”
Rafat: Forbes.com had a good story last week about other news outlets trying to use user-gen video: This month ABC NewsNow launched a weekly program that incorporates video clips sent in from viewers who want to comment on the top news and entertainment stories of the week. And last week, WCAU-TV 10, a Philly station owned and operated by NBC, launched an online video sharing service on its website.
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