Readers are undoubtedly linking to CNN and Google News right now to find out more about the details.
A gunman opened fire in a dorm and classroom at Virginia Tech today, killing 21 people. Of course my condolences go out to all the family members of the student victims.
I’m watching CNN right now, and (without exaggeration) its entire coverage to this point has revolved around interviews with “I-Reporters”… essentially students at Virginia Tech who caught footage on video cameras (presumably cell phone ones).
The incorporation of user genered videos for News is not novel by any means. That is after all citizen journalism. But what astounds me is how quickly major news media like CNN have tapped into “CJ” this time around. Video footage provided by students from Virginia Tech appeared “on-air” within mere hours.
One student, named Jamal Al-Barghouti, shot some of the earliest video on scene. He’s being interviewed for the fourth time as I write.
Jamal Al-Barghouti’s cell phone cam filled in nicely for CNN’s betacam crew. Check out this webcast on how VA Tech students told their stories online even as the tragedy unfolded.VT Tragedy: The Online Rxn
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