No longer a mere bystander

YouTube has unveiled a Citizen News channel that aggregates newsworthy video content.

The channel was announced on YouTube's blog by "Olivia M.," its news manager.

"If you see examples of fellow YouTubers doing great work in journalism and reporting, please let me know. If you're a citizen journalist yourself, tell me how YouTube could better serve you," she wrote.

"My ultimate mission is to make the site a go-to destination for news on the web."

The channel has subscribed to almost 80 "citizen journalists," including the WSJDigitalNetwork, VBSdotTV, Veracifier and texascountryreporter, which covers "the backroads of Texas to find the people and places who make the Lone Star State one-of-a-kind" (via Ars Technica).

Since its launch on the 12th, the site has gathered 165 subscribers and served 3515 views.

Injustice can be captured as it happens by citizens on digital cameras or video phones, often before reporters are even aware of the situation. Last year, youth nationwide were incensed by video footage of a University of Florida student being Tased by police. And to rapidly disseminate news of last year's Southern California fires, CNN heavily promoted i-Report, its own citizen journalism site.

In February, Fast Company also made friendly advances in citizen journalists' directions.