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Mapping User-Generated Media Part II: Location, Location, Location

email   discuss Posted by Jessica Clark on May 10, 2008 at 9:34 PM

Here’s the latest in a series of media maps we’re featuring in the run up to the June 17 conference, Beyond Broadcast: Mapping Public Media:

Linking to more than 700 sites, this map from the Knight Citizen News Network demonstrates the boom in user-generated online community news. From mtpolitics.net (“Conservative views on the goings-on in Montana”), to Blog San Diego (“Music, art and politics from California”), to MyMaineToday (a network of 470 town blogs that encourages residents to post news, events and photos), the sites mingle the personal and the public in ways that might make traditional newspaper editors wince.

They’ll have to get used to it—and the Citizen News Network can help. Offering how-tos and research on this growing field, the site is aimed at both new media makers and traditional outlets looking to harness some user-generated energy. “We think citizen media sites will become an enduring part of the emerging newscape,” writes Jan Schaffer, Executive Director of J-Lab, which hosts the network site. “While we think many individual sites will collapse as their founders burn out, others will arise to take their place.” Schaffer will be joining us at Beyond Broadcast to offer highlights from recent case studies of citizen media projects.

While the map above ties mission to location, others locate user-generated media with little regard for content or intent. Take Twittervision, a real-time world map featuring “tweets”—140 character utterances answering a simple question: “What are you doing?” Watching Twittervision evokes feelings of both familiarity and fragmentation, as contributors from around the world weigh in with daily details. Other media maps feature user-submitted photos, vlogs and other online videos; there’s even a real-time screensaver that serves up blogging activity around the globe.

These maps are intriguing, but location isn’t always the key factor in generating effective user-generated public media. Twitter in particular is turning into a powerhouse tool for reporters covering fast-moving topics and events. On the ReadWriteWeb site, Marshall Kirkpatrick catalogues a number of examples of how users are experimenting with Twitter to break news, conduct live public interviews, gather quick corrections, and promote stories. We’ve set up our own Twitter feed for Beyond Broadcast, which we’re currently using to feature definitions of “public media” submitted by members of the conference social network.

Mapping user-generated media will only become easier as more users create and post content via GPS-enabled mobile devices. The question will be: When does mapping media matter?


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Linking to more than 700 sites, this map from the Knight Citizen News Network demonstrates the boom in user-generated online community news. From mtpolitics.net ("Conservative views on the goings-on in Montana"), to Blog San Diego ("Music, art and politics from California"), to MyMaineToday (a network of 470 town blogs that encourages residents to post news, events and photos), the sites mingle the personal and the public in ways that might make traditional newspaper editors wince. They'll have to get used to it--and the Citizen News Network can help. Offering how-tos and research on this growing field, the site is aimed at both new media makers and traditional outlets looking to harness some user-generated energy. "We think citizen media sites will become an enduring part of the emerging newscape," writes Jan Schaffer, Executive Director of J-Lab, which hosts the network site. "While we think many individual sites will collapse as their founders burn out, others will arise to take their place." Schaffer will be joining us at Beyond Broadcast to offer highlights from recent case studies of citizen media projects. While the map above ties mission to location, others locate user-generated media with little regard for content or intent. Take Twittervision, a real-time world map featuring "tweets"—140 character utterances answering a simple question: "What are you doing?" Watching Twittervision evokes feelings of both familiarity and fragmentation, as contributors from around the world weigh in with daily details. Other media maps feature user-submitted photos, vlogs and other online videos; there's even a real-time screensaver that serves up blogging activity around the globe. These maps are intriguing, but location isn't always the key factor in generating effective user-generated public media. Twitter in particular is turning into a powerhouse tool for reporters covering fast-moving topics and events. On the ReadWriteWeb site, Marshall Kirkpatrick catalogues a number of examples of how users are experimenting with Twitter to break news, conduct live public interviews, gather quick corrections, and promote stories. We've set up our own Twitter feed for Beyond Broadcast, which we're currently using to feature definitions of "public media" submitted by members of the conference social network. Mapping user-generated media will only become easier as more users create and post content via GPS-enabled mobile devices. The question will be: When does mapping media matter? http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/blogs/beyond_broadcast/1017/ ' />

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