Bridge Collapse: Relying on “citizen journalism”
Broadcasting & Cable’s John Eggerton writes about the role of “citizen journalism” in the coverage of the bridge collapse disaster…
Both Fox and CNN are tapping into user-generated accounts and pictures to help get some early boots on the ground and information on the air. CNN says it has received more than 45,000 such reports in its first year.
In both it is a case of “you report, we decide,” with the networks vetting the content before putting it on the air.
CNN’s coverage was frequently thrown to a voice over the cell phone, including resident Mark LaCroix, who said he saw the last moments of the collapse.
Fox says its Web site got over 16.8 million page views for its Minneapolis coverage at last count.
I guess these news outfits are planning to dump all their high paid anchors and just get the news from us or other everyday Joe’s and Josephine’s around the globe. Look at the bucks saved. FNC can get “Hooters Girls” to sit around all the anchor desks in tight blouses and short skirts saying “Take a look at the photos on the screan and the crawls at the bottom for a sec.” Oh I’ll be thinking about bottoms alright…just not TV screen bottoms. Those gals can be scooped up a dime a dozen just to be “dis-covered” by the male (and some female) revved up viewers. “oolala!”
Comment by Roger C. — August 4, 2007 @ 10:46 am
I’ve written a comprehensive account of the role citizen journalism and media played in the coverage of the Minneapolis bridge collapse. You can read it here: http://www.e-strategyblog.com/2007/08/minneapolis-bri.html - Minneapolis Bridge Collapse & Citizen Journalism.
Comment by David Erickson — August 5, 2007 @ 11:50 pm