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A clip from RocketBoom |
From Blog to Vlog
The blog (or weblog) phenomenon was indeed intense. After it stirred the online world last year, prompting everyone to write web diaries and transforming individuals into “citizen journalists,” blogs paved the way for the emergence of podcasts—an audio version of web journals and radio shows.
In 2005, podcasts surged and rapidly evolved from being an unfamiliar concept to becoming the “keyword of the year,” a technology familiar to many. With podcasts, anyone can become a “talking journalist” and broadcaster, creating countless radio programs they can imagine.
Now, as humanity prepares to step into 2006, the latest variant of blogs has appeared. Logically, it is video blogging—web journals in visual format with video clips.
Never before has it been easier and more convenient to create a vlog, thanks to a new generation of affordable camcorders, simple editing software, and widespread broadband connections that facilitate video downloads.
“Authentic” Television
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Steve Garfield’s vlog |
For a long time, the media has dreamed of a form of “television” that is this authentic. “People want to see real images of real people, the hidden corners of life. Realistic, candid, and close to the bone. They are tired of the polished, glamorous content that appears on television every day,” said Amanda Congdon, co-writer and host of “Rocketboom,” a highly successful vlog in the United States.
In a recent broadcast on another vlog, “The Carol & Steve Show,” producer Steve Garfield wandered through the snow-covered streets of Boston, discussing the newly birthed vlog culture with… his wife.
“Sometimes people say video blogs can’t compete with professional television. But please remember, we’re not trying to make a TV show. We’re just trying to capture the most ordinary moments in everyone’s life,” Steve remarked.
The Convergence of Television and the Internet
The emergence of vlogs inevitably leads one to think of a near future when the Internet and television will finally converge. There will come a day when a television program is broadcast in a package format for viewers to download from the Web, rather than what channels want to air as they please today.
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Even well-known media companies—both print and broadcast—recognize this trend. They have begun to integrate podcasts, videocasts, and news video clips into their websites, alongside written articles.
Last October, Apple launched a new product: the video-capable iPod. This can be seen as a significant precursor for vlogs to take off—remembering how this very type of MP3 player paved the way for the robust development of podcasts in 2005. Short, simple, and compact vlog clips are especially suited for the tiny screens of devices like the iPod and mobile phones.
In fact, vlogs began to emerge after the tsunami disaster in South Asia exactly one year ago. During that time, videos filmed by tourists were broadcast by all major television channels and uploaded to the web. Similarly, in August, when Hurricane Katrina struck the United States, amateur “television reporters” also contributed incredibly valuable footage.
Free or Paid?
It is unclear how many people around the world are currently creating vlogs, but it is known that vlogs are flourishing in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, and are starting to make inroads into Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Among these, Rocketboom seems to be the most popular and is the “dream partner” for all vloggers. It is a mixed potpourri, blending news, gossip, and entertainment programs—broadcast five days a week.
Launched in 2004, this site now has about 100,000 downloads per day and has compelled advertisers to pay attention to the potential of vlogs. And of course, it does not require millions of dollars in investment to broadcast like traditional television.
Currently, all vlog sites are free. Their revenue primarily comes from advertising and the sale of related products, but in the future, some unique content may become subscription-based.
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