Comments on: Piling On: Google Wants to Do Hyperlocal News, Too

By: Google’s Hyperlocal Video Thing – A Yawner : HyperlocalBlogger

Google’s Hyperlocal Video Thing – A Yawner : HyperlocalBlogger — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:20:37 +0000

[...] }); }I joined in the excited buzz last month when word spread that Google was doing some kind of hyperlocal video/news project in the San Francisco [...]

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:17:47 +0000

I just updated the post above with a link to AllThingsD, an article that plays down the idea that Google is moving into local news/video:

http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20100618/youtubes-secret-news-experiment-explained-warning-not-really-that-secret/

By: Ben Buchwalter

Ben Buchwalter — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:06:18 +0000

Sounds like a pretty promising idea. Perhaps I’m being too skeptical, but I can’t help but wonder if the independent bloggers will get as much out of this as Google and YouTube will. From Eve Batey’s account, it sounds like Google is almost trying to “strong arm” local bloggers by saying it is on track to save the journalism industry… so bloggers should get on board or accept the slow and painful death of journalism.

Matt, I think we’ll continue to see nationwide media organizations — ranging from Google to the New York Times or the Washington Post — moving into your lane, as you put it, to advocate for hyperlocal news. As more and more local newspapers go under, it seems to be simply the only way local news can continue to thrive.

By: TR

TR — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:24:52 +0000

Why can’t they just be like all the other rich kids and find a way to aggregate what’s already being done? Everybody is trying to recreate the “network” concept that eventually weakened TV (my alma mater) … national umbrella, local participation … in the end, it was all 7 pm game shows and other entertainment. I am a Google fan myself (despite accusations of disloyalty from local MSFT employees who say that if we’re Seattle-ites, we should be Bing-ing) but I am also suspicious of all the attempts to networkize the neighborhood-news movement. Maybe it’s possible to do this WITHOUT weakening the concept of people building strong local online communities – and it’s not an either-or … Anyway, back to putting on my tin-foil hat now.

By: David

David — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:12:14 +0000

That is brilliant – I’ve always been a Google Fanboy and they are now engaging local people which is absolutely spot on. I think this is pretty correct and if not will be

I run a local portal here in Plymouth, England and am forever loading photos and videos to Panaramio and YouTube.

I really want an invite!