A new video network has launched today with the aim of ?keeping politicians honest? ahead of the US
Presidential election 2008.
Through the use of video, both media content and user-generated-content (UGC),
ElectionSpeak
hopes to provide the means for voters to find out where Presidential
candidates stand on key issues and also where they have wavered or
contradicted themselves on key campaign issues.
Paul Banas,
founder of ElectionSpeak, explains why the need for ElectionSpeak
exists. ?It's surprising when you actually filter through all the
media clips to find out how often politicians contradict themselves on
important issues--saying one thing to one audience one day and then
something else to another audience on a different day. ElectionSpeak
provides a forum for voters to shed light on these contradictions and
help keep politicians honest.?
ElectionSpeak asks its community
to become election watchdogs and to help educate the voting public.
Users can embed videos from other UGC sites such as YouTube as well as
make their own videos to upload ? and are encouraged to attend local
political meetings, film the politician and then upload the footage
along with their own commentary.
Presidential party members are
also given the means in which to participate on ElectionSpeak ? in the
form of pointing out any holes or contradictions in the opposing
party?s videos.
On 17 January 2008,
video search engine Truveo launched a new site for video relating to the US Presidential election 2008.
Truveo
will draw video content from a wide range of sources, including user
generated content (UGC) sites such as MetaCafe, YouTube and
Dailymotion, major television networks including CNN, Fox and NBC and
the Presidential candidates own websites.
Truveo users will also be able embed videos into their own website
and/or blog and create their own personalised election video page
through Truveo?s APIs.