When Web 2.0 Doesn’t Quite Work
On paper, it sounds like a great idea: an old, mainline news organization, looking to push the boundaries of news and news reporting, gives away a free iPhone app so that concerned “citizen journalists” can upload breaking news to its brand-new user-generated news site. But as the old saw goes, be careful for what you ask.
That breaking news just might not be safe for work.
According to Advertising Age, that’s just what happened to venerable news giant CBS and CBSeyemobile.com, its user-generated news site. Rather than becoming a repository for man-on-the-street breaking news, as was intended, the site has become a home for content that borders on not-safe-for-work (NSFW), such as scantily-clad prospective female models looking for agents, and bikini-clad beach volleyball players—albeit those from the US Olympic volleyball team. Other times, however, the site has hosted video of three women having sex.
“This seems to be a classic case of nobody paying attention to whether any of the materials are newsworthy or not,” said Karl Johnson, CEO of Brand Content, as quoted in Advertising Age. A CBS spokesman, however, maintains that the site does have a moderator, and that the offensive content was removed promptly.
User-generated content is the latest trend among TV news networks. Besides CBS, Fox News, CNN, and the Associated Press all allow iPhone users to submit video of breaking news via an iPhone app.
Just be sure your boss isn’t looking over your shoulder when you check out the latest breaking “news.”
By Robert Pothier
