How many of your members are walking around with a camera phone or a
Flip in their pockets? Think of it as your organization’s own pool of
“citizen journalists,” many of them happy to grab a few shots of
on-the-spot video in aid of their favorite cause.
Now, imagine an easy way for your supporters to submit their
up-to-the-minute video content to your organization — and for you to
preview and moderate those videos, then add them to a custom playlist
to display on your website — just like the big mainstream news media websites!
Introducing YouTube Direct
YouTube Direct is a new tool that allows media organizations to
request, review and rebroadcast YouTube clips directly from YouTube
users. Built from our APIs, this open source application lets media
organizations enable customized versions of YouTube’s upload platform
on their own websites. Users can upload videos directly into this
application, which also enables the hosting organization to easily
review video submissions and select the best ones to broadcast on-air
and on their websites. As always, these videos also live on YouTube, so
users can reach their own audience while also getting broader exposure
and editorial validation for the videos they create.
YouTube seems to be pitching its new YouTube Direct service at broadcast news services primarily— an angle which has led PCWorld’s Tony Bradley,
for one, to predict another nail in the coffin of “traditional news as
we know it” — but it seems to me there may be real potential here for
nonprofits. Just imagine the (low-cost) possibilities!
YouTube Direct allows you to embed the upload functionality of
YouTube directly into your own site, enabling your organization to
request, review, and re-broadcast user-submitted videos with ease. News
organizations can ask for citizen reporting; nonprofits can call-out
for support videos around social campaigns; businesses can ask users to
submit promotional videos about your brand. With YouTube Direct, the
opportunities to connect directly with the YouTube community are
endless.
Here’s a quick overview of how the YouTube Direct platform works:
Check out the FAQ and other information at www.YouTube.com/direct,
see what you think…
How could your nonprofit use YouTube Direct to actively
engage your members and supporters, and add some video oomph to your website?