While giant News media corporations have done little more than advertise their brands online, a few have rarely provided their viewers a chance to interact and engage. In actual fact, only a few have acknowledged the relevance of social media and user generated content.

With the advent of the internet , more people are finding it preferable spending their time online rather than watching Tv — something most people now regard as a passive activity .

Although these giant media companies do go after their counterparts of similar size in competing for the number of viewers, it is the internet that has gained a much wider audience leaving giants scrambling to stay relevant to their so called “loyal” viewers.

It’s only now that CNN is starting to realise that the internet is the way to the future, with the introduction of iReport. (In case you didn’t know) iReport is CNN’s public journalism initiative which allows people from around the globe to contribute pictures and videos of breaking news stories from their own towns and neighborhoods.

Frankly , iReport may not prove revolutionary to many but it certainly provides an evidence of evolution . I believe this new model of communication will help foster deeper relationships between CNN and it’s viewers — ultimately changing the way traditional TV News has long been done.

By providing viewers with a chance to interact with each other and the corporation , iReport will help point out the increasing importance of User Generated Content , thus establishing an exciting new partnership with viewers — consequently growing the popularity of Social Media.

http://www.genyasser.co.za/2008/06/27/cnn-realising-importance-of-user-generated-content-ugc/