July 29, 2009
Use of Videosharing Sites Surges
Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project study shows that as the audience for online video continues to grow, a leading edge of internet users are migrating their viewing from their computer screens to their TV screens. At the same time, more cell phone users are opting for the convenience of watching video on smaller screens via their handheld devices. One in three internet users watch television shows or movies online; 23% of these viewers have watched online video on their TV.
Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project study shows that 62% of adult internet users have watched video on sites such as YouTube. That’s a jump of 33% since December 2006. See the full report for details.
Comments
In the past six months of editorial meetings in my newsroom (former newsroom, since I resigned as of Aug. 10), the question has been raised over and over again, “Why are we doing video?”
After losing our local editor and being incorporated into the management of the regional newspaper more than a year ago, several innovations that had substantially boosted our online numbers were discontinued. The question of “why do video” became the top question and repeated mantra by management.
This is the same question that I, as the Web Editor, was forced to address numerous times over the past several years (our Web site has tried our hand at video for more than three years without buy-in from upper management).
The answers to the question seemed obvious to me:
In 2006-07, our small daily paper did a show on public access TV titled, “The Editorial Page,” featuring myself, the City Editor and the Editor of our paper. The show was so popular, we were asked to do a second season in ‘07 at no cost. The show purposefully directed audiences to our Web site, where audiences could weigh in on upcoming issues before we published our editorials that week on the Opinion Page. The show was an easy way of marketing our site, establishing our newspaper brand over a broad region and increasing unique visitors to our Web site. The local public access TV station was happy to work with us on our schedule.
Although our in-newsroom video productions left a lot to be desired, we were learning a lot on our own, which provided much-needed time to become proficient at a skill before it became standard, expected and even demanded. Over the past three years, our Time Spent On Site increased to rival (even surpass) metrics at our much larger sister paper.
Videos do not push the page views numbers skyward like photo galleries. But they provide a unique tool and TV-like element that becomes an opportunity for additional advertising revenues, plus video boost the all-important Time Spent On Site by audiences.
In 2007, I announced (much to the chagrin of my newsroom) that newspapers would be competing directly with TV news online. That was before the New York Times hired a TV producer for its online newsroom. The FREEP and San Jose Mercury News then subsequently did something never before achieved in the history of newspapers ... both won Emmys for online video, demonstrating that newspapers were cementing a foundation within the realm of video news coverage and competing directly with TV news, which opened doors for additional ad revenue opportunities.
More online news readers today are watching video online as well. They just watch it elsewhere because newspapers are slow to integrate social media opportunities and invite local Youtube-like video submissions. CNN led the way with its iReport.com, which invites users to submit videos of anything or answer targeted questions and issues. CNN sweetens the pot by using iReport.com videos in its main broadcast, thus encouraging more participation. Newspapers can do the same thing with local audiences. By publishing video stills and a caption that directs readers to online videos submitted by local readers, newspapers capture the Youtubers in the local area, which increases user-generated content, user participation, Time Spent On Site and Unique Visitors.
Video adds an important element to the domination by newspapers online. But if newspapers wait, like they did with everything else online (blogs and social media come immediately to mind), then when they figure out audiences want more online video, they will have to partner with companies who understand that and are doing it right now ... like the Hulus of the future.
My parting gift to my newsroom was an established partnership with a local video production company that is now producing A&E and other video channel feeds to our landing pages. That company will also produce our in-newsroom mini concerts (Tidings Cafe) and even provide on-deadline news and news features.
It is important to note that the argument that highlights the lack of funds and personnel doesn’t wash. Our Web Department has a grand total of one person. One of the page designers was trained as a backup. There is a grand total of ZERO dollars. That’s right ... not one dollar. Budget = NOTHING. No personnel. No budget.
In July, we received Best Web Site in the state of Oregon from the Oregon Newspapers Publishers Association (ONPA).
The only thing my newsroom had that appears to be lacking in many newsrooms throughout the industry is a “can do” attitude.
By Mike Green, 08/12/09 at 6:23 pm
Videos are what the new generation want - preferably of cats doing silly things (with or withut speech bubbles), so I suggest all news articles should be read by cats then maybe people under 30 would listen to them - hell even Warren Buffett is doing videos and he doesn’t even know how to use a mobile phone !
By Citywise, 10/01/09 at 4:54 pm
No doubt one day, the trend will move towards using computers not only for references but for entertainment as well. With advent technologies which makes accessibility become easier I believe in just a matter of few years to come, computers will be the mainstream news feed for all.
By KennyGee, 10/09/09 at 11:59 pm
Without a doubt the video sharing is one of the best things what people are searching for. Because it give visual information what gives to viewer better understanding.
By Klods, 10/13/09 at 9:06 am
Video sharing most important in internet marketing.
By nilantha, 10/25/09 at 8:17 pm
Internet is attracting people in aspect of daily life matters, like buying online products, taking online lectures, selling your services and now watching your favorite TV show or movie. Youtube is a popular videosharing site and its users increasing day by day. This move towards videosharing site is due to behavioral change of the visitors i-e they don’t want to use any other device to watch movies or TV shows. Thanks
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By beaso, 11/22/10 at 1:14 pm
I myself find videos much nicer than just purely reading. Watching a written novel as a movie is more amusing than reading it. Well, there are some disadvantages of course but for present generation that news can be accessed anywhere, a video presentation is much more effective than just purely reading articles.
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By mercy, 12/05/10 at 5:57 am
I agree that the trend will move towards using computers not only for references but for entertainment as well.
By diagnose, 12/12/10 at 10:36 am
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By way2earns, 01/04/11 at 10:00 pm
People nowadays would prefer to watch online videos on their portable devices. While others wanna watch it in big screens. You Tube has gained a lot of viewers in a very small span of time. - Jonathan Budd
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Your post will be rather good, and I’m sure some will find it interesting because it’s about a topic that’s as widely discussed as others. Some may even find it useful.Thanks so much for your post.
By mediahuset, 01/14/11 at 1:29 am
Yes i am always watch video for learning by doing 
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By romanzick, 01/19/11 at 5:50 am
Youtube is a greatest video sharing nowadays, you can learn many thing from this site like cooking, massaging…
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