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.)
Post Revisions:
There are no revisions for this post.