YouTube Launches Instructional Service to Improve Quality of User-Generated News Videos

In a posting on its corporate blog Sunday Night, YouTube announced the launch of a new service that is intended to improve the quality of the user-generated video news reports that are frequently uploaded to its video-sharing service. Dubbed the YouTube Reporters' Center, the new service offers citizen journalists instructional videos from a range of their establishment counterparts: "Learn how to prepare for an interview from CBS News' Katie Couric; how to be an investigative reporter from the legendary Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, or why it's important for citizens to participate in the news-gathering process from Arianna Huffington," the blog posting stated. "And definitely don't miss out on New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof's video on how to report from a crisis area without getting shot." The service also offers, among other things, videos on how to fact-check stories, how to avoid breaking the law while reporting, and how to adhere to journalistic principles.

YouTube stresses that the new service is "not meant to be a one-way conversation," and is encouraging citizen journalists to upload their own how-to videos and tips for inclusion on the service. The YouTube Reporters' Center is located at youtube.com/reporterscenter.