CNN.com Creates User Submissions Section

[Omaha Steve]

Full story: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060731/D8J762M80.html

CNN.com Creates User Submissions Section
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Jul 31, 3:59 PM (ET)

By ANICK JESDANUN

NEW YORK (AP) - With camera phones and other gadgets a greater part of everyday life, CNN wants to make it easier for viewers to submit images they happen to capture as they witness news in the making.

CNN and other news organizations have long accepted submissions from the public, but until now the tools at CNN's Web site have been made available in response to specific stories or events.

"It was much more ad hoc," CNN spokeswoman Jennifer Martin said Monday. "We haven't had a formal place for people to submit any type of user-generated content."

CNN is creating a permanent place, at CNN.com/exchange, where so-called citizen journalists can submit any photos, graphics, audio and video. It is also accepting submissions via e-mail.

Contributors will not be paid, however.

Visitors to the site can view other people's submissions, including ones that CNN does not use on television or elsewhere.

The initiative comes amid the growing popularity of video-sharing sites, particularly YouTube.com.

[Journeyman]

1. Will CNN defend you if you get arrested by overzealous cops? . . .

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=226&topic_id=4856

Man Arrested For Shooting Photo Of Police Activity

PHILADELPHIA -- A Philadelphia family said they are outraged over the arrest of one of their family members.

The family of Neftaly Cruz said police had no right to come onto their property and arrest their 21-year-old son simply because he was using his cell phone's camera. They told their story to Harry Hairston and the NBC 10 Investigators.

<snip>

Cruz said that when he heard a commotion, he walked out of his back door with his cell phone to see what was happening. He said that when he saw the street lined with police cars, he decided to take a picture of the scene.

<snip>

"He opened up the gate and Neffy was coming down and he went up to Neffy, pulled him down, had Neffy on the car and was telling him, 'You should have just went in the house and minded your own business instead of trying to take pictures off your picture phone,'" said Gerrell Martin.

Cruz said police told him that he broke a new law that prohibits people from taking pictures of police with cell phones.

"They threatened to charge me with conspiracy, impeding an investigation, obstruction of an investigation. … They said, 'You were impeding this investigation.' (I asked,) "By doing what?' (The officer said,) 'By taking a picture of the police officers with a camera phone,'" Cruz said.

More:
http://www.nbc10.com/news/9574663/detail.html

[ecoalex]

2. Illegal to take a picture of police scene?

Who is afraid of the truth? Police State . Move Fire in Philly.