No, We Can't. President Obama Retakes Oath, Excluding TV and Media

Not ten minutes into the Obama administration and there's controversy. Chief Justice John Roberts "screwed up" a line in the oath of office of the President of the United States when swearing in President Barack Obama this past Tuesday. President Obama retook the oath as an "abundance of precaution," as White House counsel Greg Craig described, Wednesday night in the privacy of the White House. No reporters or media were allowed.

That last line's the kicker. CNN had a hullabaloo last night over the fact that media were not permitted inside to broadcast or record the event. It was unfathomable to some of CNN's evening crew that they were not invited to document the not-quite-so-historic second oath (it's happened twice before with Presidents Coolidge and Arthur). Only a White House photographer was permitted.

It's just the opinion of this writer, but this should not be a big deal. Is it not enough to report the news? Must we have television footage and rolling tape to qualify a report as "news"? There was a time when people read the newspaper - and nothing else - to get information. Clearly those times are changing - "Death of the Newspaper" - yet I think most Americans will feel content in knowing that President Obama retook the oath.

In fact, the Constitution dictates clearly that President-elect Obama became President Obama at noon on Tuesday, with or without the oath. Thus, a do-over wasn't even necessary. Better safe than sorry to be sure, but it was not a moment of magnitude like that of the previous day. The enormity and significance of the "Presidential Do-Over," as one Yahoo! News headline reads, pails in comparison to the news value of inauguration day.

So I say to CNN and all of the scorned TV news execs: "Quit yer whinin'!" The reporting from Tuesday's inauguration was fantastic; filled with images, sounds and moments that are now part of history. Don't belabor this insignificant issue and take away from what you (the media), we (the American people) and President Obama have accomplished this week.

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You want some actual quirky post-inauguration news? Hillary Clinton Seen Mouthing Along to Presidential Oath - it's tough to let go, ask President Bush.

For the record...

Official oath of office of the President of the United States:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States faithfully, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Presidential Inauguration Coverage 2009

The inauguration of President Barack Obama today symbolized a shift in our society. A shift in governmental policy, political ideology, national power, and, as much as anything, a shift in the creation, distribution and relevance of user generated news and information.

Couldn't be there for the historic presidential inauguration today? No worries. Information documenting the inauguration was everywhere in a flash. Photos were uploaded to Flickr, videos were added to YouTube, and podcasts were updated on sites across the web, before, during and after the inauguration. Twitter was a roar rather than a "tweet," with people from around the world updating millions of others with personal accounts of the historic day in 140 characters or less.

Internet users can view the path the Obamas took to the inauguration, follow the inaugural parade route, and see D.C. landmarks in 360-degree panoramics with the "street view" function on Google Maps. In addition to education and communication, the internet and technology have closed the geography gap to some degree.

Live videos were being streamed by national media like CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, ABC, CBS - nothing new here - but also by bloggers and individuals who have no media background; only a camera and internet connection. Technorati search results for "inauguration" totaled 34,000+ blog posts, with more than 17,000 new posts in the past 48 hours.

Media are now acknowledging, or in many cases encouraging, the marriage of mass media and user generated content. Using Microsoft's "Photosynth" technology, some media are creating 360-degree panoramic images of Obama's inauguration and the events in D.C. from user generated images and photographs.

Capturing "The Moment" that Obama took the oath of President, CNN's 3-D images are online here.
MSNBC's "360-degree views of D.C." are here.

Can Joe the Plumber Blogger and others honestly have a voice in an event of this magnitude and historical significance? If I might borrow a line from our 44th President, "Yes, we can."

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Addition to original post: Read The Huffington Post's article - The Audacity of the Presidential Inauguration Committee: or This Land is Whose Land?

Lest we think all mass media have seceded a fight for exclusivity and superiority, HBO secured sole TV broadcasting rights to the "We Are One" concert at the Lincoln Memorial this past Sunday, January 18, 2009. Way to share the live historical moment with the masses, guys.

See the archived "We Are One" video.

YouTube On Your TV

YouTubers and couch potatoes alike can rejoice in the arranged marriage of YouTube and TV.

The website www.youtube.com/tv (currently in beta) offers YouTube users a "10-foot television viewing experience through a streamlined interface that enables [users] to discover, watch and share YouTube videos on any TV screen with just a few quick clicks" of the remote. One more reason to quit that New Year's
resolution to exercise and be active!

Full post: YouTube blog

My Take

YouTube's ultimate goal is to create universal access to web videos through television. Sure, why not? I can't wait to see the "YouTube channel NEW on Time Warner Cable" commercials in a couple of years. You folks with DirecTV, well you'll just have to watch funny fart videos and All-Star campaigns on TV the old fashioned way: Going through a PS3 or Wii game console.

Million dollar thought: Nintendo should develop a "game" for Wii that allows players to create animated YouTube videos. Act it out, load it up, bring 'em in. Imagine Wii users creating dance routines and sports games highlight reels for YouTube. Anybody could be a digital Billy Blanks or Stewart Scott. It's a whole new ballgame, literally.

Exciting or exhausting? You decide.

NBA Stars Go Viral for Votes

If presidential candidates can campaign successfully on the internet, why can't athletes?

NBA players went all out for the annual All-Star Game with online campaigns to garner votes for roster spots. Positions are decided partially by fan votes as well as coaches' votes.

Last year the Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh received headlines (and votes) from his YouTube video that parodied a used-car salesman (at right). Encouraging fans to vote him into the NBA All-Star game, Bosh's video has been viewed more than 685,000 times and the star forward was selected to the 2008 West team.

New year, new online campaigns...

• Amar'e Stoudemire - vote4amare.com RESULT: Starter
• Devin Harris - YouTube RESULT: Selected as a reserve
• Joe Alexander - SeeJoeDunk.com RESULT: Just missed dunk contest selection to...
• Rudy Fernandez - Dunks on YouTube (below) RESULT: Selected for dunk contest

The internet is a vast space with plenty of room for fans to support players (whether they deserve it or not). Take Knicks guard Stephon Marbury. "Starbury" hasn't played a game all season, but had no less than five fan sites lobbying on his behalf for All-Star votes. Count for yourself: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Five! Ah, ah, ah! (Best Count Chocula laugh)

More impressive than a player who hasn't suited up for a game this season making the All-Star ballot, is the online support for him. Yet another demonstration of the changing face of media and the influence of user-generated content on business and society today.

Look for this social media campaigning to continue over the years, not only with sports stars and politicians, but with musicians, artists, religious advocates, organizations, groups, schools, businesses, governments and individuals - everybody. That's not a half court heave. It's a slam dunk guarantee.

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Addition to original post: NBA.com announces the 2009 All-Star starters.

Peter Shankman Speaks at NC PRSA Banquet - Video

The first few minutes they're trying to get his microphone and the projector to work, but bare with it, Peter Shankman has great social media experience and insights.

Wayne Sutton TV streamed the presentation live. The video is archived here: