The users are revolting!
Rob Glaser of Real Networks, Lisa Gansky of Ofoto and Shane Robison of HP
are talking about "user-generated content" here at PC Forum, in a panel
moderated by Hank Barry of Napster fame. There's lots of talk about
monetizing content and tools and rights (including some slaps at Steve Jobs
for keeping ITunes and the IPod a closed system), but I think they're all
missing the point. Newsweek's Steven Levy asked, "Are we going to enter a
renaissance of alternatives to the media with homegrown stuff, or is it
going to be more of an 'American Idol' kind of thing?" He didn't get much
of an answer.
Glaser talked about a "shortage of narrative storytelling skills" and a
"dearth of creative talent" when it comes to users creating longer-form
video content. Technically, perhaps he's right. But so what?
"User-generated content" isn't about creating some sort of big farm team
for the pros. The long-term value of "user-generated content" isn't in the
businesses -- not necessarily those on this panel --that no doubt will
figure out how ways to generate revenue from it. The value is to
individuals, and society, in the sheer number of previously silent voices
that will sound, in the previously unheard stories that will be told, to
whatever size audience. We're slowly but steadily increasing the breadth of
human experience and expression that is recorded and available to others.
Next to that sort of social good, somehow the implementation details of
different business models seem trivial.
(These issues have been hashed out for years at the Digital Storytelling Festival.)
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