CNN creates user-generated news forum

by Hayley Pinkerfield, Revolution UK 14-Feb-08, 10:30

LONDON - CNN has launched iReport, a user-generated online community enabling users to share and discuss news content.

Scheduled for a full launch in May, iReport.com provides users with an open forum and tools to upload and comment on news with each other.

The site builds on the network's iReport initiative, which has generated nearly 100,000 video, photo and text submissions to CNN.com since its launch 18 months ago.

User contributions, including mobile clips of major events such as the Virginia Tech shootings, have been added to CNN daily reports and for ‘Headline News'' News to Me, on CNN US, the first user-generated television programme on cable news.

After extensive vetting, only 10 per cent of the iReports received have appeared on-air or CNN.com, but all submissions to iReport.com will be instantly available to view. Material submitted to iReport.com may - once vetted and approved - appear on a CNN network or CNN.com.

Users don't need to register to view content. In a move that echoes other social networking sites, they can create their own profile pages to submit audio, photos, video and text.

Simple tools allow users to connecting iReport to broader social media, such as Facebook, Digg, del.icio.us, reddit and StumbleUpon.

Content on iReport.com will not be censored or screened. Site users will determine the content and can flag material for review by an independent, third-party moderator.

Last September, Google added interactivity to its US news service, allowing the subjects of news stories to comment on articles.