A new partnership between a regional publisher and a video news social network company will see citizen journalists paid if their content is used.
Northcliffe Digital has joined forced with Newsflare in a deal which will see people submit their news related videos to the site and get paid for their efforts if used.
Newsflare will initially be supporting the gathering of video content for five of Northcliffe’s regional thisis sites, including thisiskent.
Journalists on the titles will be able to use Newsflare to source breaking video content captured by the site’s members and request specific content from users.
Northcliffe Digital general manager Lee Williams said: “We are excited to be working with an innovative company like Newsflare, to drive the video revolution and reward quality citizen journalism.
“Our thisis regional portals and our hyperlocal community websites LocalPeople.co.uk already include more than 100,000 contributions each month from our users. We have a number of initiatives to drive great local video content.”
Managing director of Newsflare Jon Cornwell added: “The Newsflare platform has been designed specifically to meet the video needs of news organisations such as Northcliffe Digital.
“We are very excited about engaging our community of reporters to provide Northcliffe with cost-effective video for their publications.”
The service, which is entirely free for those who submit clips, is supported by a fully featured web platform and iPhone App.
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So ‘citizen journalists’ are to be paid for items used but the essential detail is missing here: How much?
Is is a flat rate or does it depend on whether it’s good enough to be flogged on? Does the sender forfeit the right for any fees/royalties?
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“Proper” journalists who were doing this lost the job. I believe they were paid about £700 per month. What Northcliffe wants is people wandering the streets taking vids of things we don’t really want to see. We are becoming a nation of illiterate voyeurs.
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“Staff to be paid fair wage” would be more newsworthy.
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@Curious Depends on demand and how good it is. If it’s just a 1-minute clip from someone’s mobile phone, not much. But that is still more than what they’d be paid if they uploaded it to YouTube.
@Lurker Not wandering the streets, but covering local events attended by communities.
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Marc appears to be in the know… So how much is ‘not much’? Why the reticence to spell it out in pounds, shillings and pence? I’ve got a one-minute clip on my mobile phone. How much?
Plus, what about resale rights from anything that is sold on? Does the camera-person get a percentage of resale revenue – and if so, how many per cent is it? Or is it zilch?
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Great. Video shot by reporters is usually bad enough, but allowing citizen ‘journalists’ even more exposure can only lower quality further. Why not just let them write copy and do their own subbing while they’re at it?
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Tog – That’s the idea of Northcliffe’s Local People websites isn’t it?
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So unedited footage, no voiceover, no piece to camera, no cutaways, blown highlights when it’s bright, masses of db gain when it’s dark and audio levels peaking red.
I bet the BBC local sites are quaking in their boots. Not.
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The “Local People” website I read has had exactly one posting since the journalist left. Absolutely riveting.
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