user generated content

Life in a Day: 6 Billion Perspectives, What's Yours?

by Kari Dunn Saratovsky on 23 Jul 2010 1
LG전자, 글로벌 다큐멘터리 영화 제작 후원

Tomorrow is July 24, and with the exception of a few notable events -- the return of Apollo 11 to Earth; the day the Supreme Court ordered Nixon to surrender the Watergate Tapes; or the day Lance Armstrong "retired" after winning his 7th Tour de France in 2005-- it's an otherwise unremarkable day in the history books. However, July 24, 2010 marks what could amount to be a fascinating and unprecedented day in the land of user generated video content.

A new experiment hosted by YouTube, “Life in a Day,” will attempt to document one day, as seen through the eyes of the 6.7 billion people spread out across our globe, each of whom have a unique story and perspective to share.  From the mundane to the extraordinary, over the course of the next 24 hours professional film makers and amateurs alike will attempt to capture a snapshot of their lives from sunrise to sunset.

Kevin Macdonald, the Oscar-winning director of The Last King of Scotland, will then edit the most compelling footage into a feature documentary film, to be executive-produced by Ridley Scott, the director behind films like Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, and Thelma & Louise.  The film will premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and if your footage makes it into the final cut, you’ll be credited as a co-director and may be one of 20 contributors selected to attend the premiere.

Want to take part and learn more? Here’s what you need to do.

1. Visit the “Life in a Day” channel and learn more about the project. Be sure to read through the steps you need to take to participate and the guidelines for creating your video(s). Also check out some of the sample videos for inspirational ideas.

2. On July 24, capture your day on camera.

3. Upload your footage to the “Life in a Day” channel any time before July 31.

Regardless of whether your footage makes it into the final film, your video(s) will live on in the “Life in a Day” channel as a time capsule that will tell future generations what it was like to be alive on July 24, 2010.

If you participate, we’d love to see what you capture – please share a link to your video in the comments below.

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What Does the Explosion of User Generated Content Mean for Nonprofits?

by Kari Dunn Saratovsky on 19 Feb 2009 1
what do t hey say about too many cooks?

From entertainment to communications, consumers are increasingly taking charge of the creation, distribution and of course the consumption of digital media. We upload videos, download podcasts, we blog, vlog, rank, rate and tweet – and we’re doing it rates that are unprecedented in the history of media. That is according to eMarketer and their recent User-Generated Content report which analyzes a trend that promises not only to transform the face of the Internet, but also radically alter the distribution of all media.

eMarketer estimates there were nearly 116 million US user-generated content consumers in 2008, along with 82.5 million content creators. Both numbers are set to climb significantly by 2013. Perhaps it shouldn't have been a surprise that this year’s favorite SuperBowl commercial wasn't made by a high paid Madison Avenue marketing firm, but instead by two guys from Indiana who entered their video into a contest and surprised everyone, maybe even themselves when it received such a positive response. So, what does all of this user generated stuff mean for nonprofit organizations?
 
Last summer I spoke to a group of nonprofit leaders, and in an effort to get to know the audience, I asked a series of quick questions.  Which of your organizations are on Facebook? Which of you are using online fundraising tools? Are any of you blogging? Are you engaging your donors and volunteers in online discussions? You get the idea. I was surprised when a woman I met just before the session from a prominent nonprofit in a large city in Florida (and, I’m protecting the innocent here) didn’t raise her hand. I said "surely your organization in Broward County has a presence on Facebook, let's check it out."  And right there, I brought up the Facebook page of her organization - with her logo, and a community of about 200 plus members who were writing on the wall, talking about their experiences, and using the space as a place for conversation.  Her reaction went something like this...."WHAT?!?! That's my logo, and I didn't authorize anyone to use it for Facebook." Welcome to Web 2.0.
 
If you’re thinking about venturing down the road of opening up and embracing user generated content here are some things to consider.
 
There can never be too many cooks in the kitchen. Don't forget to ask your users/constituents/members/donors to tell their story, and get your staff involved too. This could be in the form of video, photos, or blogging -- just make sure to open up the line of communication, you might be surprised by who shows up. 
 
Don't worry about relinquishing some of the control.  Your donors and volunteers can be your biggest advocates, largest sources of stories and your most valuable asset. Relinquishing some of that control can feel risky, but in the end let the community speak for itself.  If you’re doing things right, one bad apple won’t ruin the discussion, instead your community will take control and set him straight. Which leads me to my next point...
 
It's ok if things are a little messy. An authentic voice, even if it's not exactly on message can speak volumes about a program, and can inspire people in ways that a slick brochure or fancy website cannot.
 
Have any good stories about your experience with user generated content? Please let us know - and share other tips and tricks for those who are about to take the leap.
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