YouTube vs. Network News
YouTube is a great platform for many people to get their messages out into the public eye. Weather you need a laugh, tech support, or a news update, you can find it on YouTube 24/7. One of the latest trends seems to be that of public addresses on critical topics.
After reading the article “The YouTube Presidency” from the New York Times
, I have found myself giving YouTube much thought. It brings the question to the table; why and how has using this medium been so well received by the posters as well as the viewers?
First, let me start with the posters. There are many benefits to having this sort of venue. A person or group that is jockeying for your support can strategically bombard you with multiple messages and propaganda at virtually zero cost opposed to a network television campaign. These messages can be crafted privately and edited until it is exactly what the poster wants it to be, opposed to a live public presentation. Programmers such as CNN or FOX News are not going to take the content they capture and sit down in an editing station to construct a piece that suits your needs. Many times, they are looking to exploit or spin what you have said to meet their stations political views. With the use of self-produced media, they are able to pre-consider all of the potential pitfalls and pick their battles.
Viewers, on the other hand, see a message that feels less ceremonial and mainstream media driven. I feel, currently, people get more of a “real life” sense from the “homemade” video then they do from a full-fledged network production. Another huge benefit is that the viewer can access the content any time they want.
I really feel that the use of new media tools like YouTube, allows the content provider to reach and persuade a much younger generation then ever before. This is just the beginning for the use of current mediums to be the conduit of influential messages to the masses.
