I wanted to clarify a thought I was having trouble articulating at the meeting.

Local readers know who Doug is and what his role is. So when they read his column or hear his song (which, for the record, I think is pretty funny), they take it in context.

People coming to our site to listen to Doug's song will see that we have devoted significant resources to actual journalism, in addition to Doug's perfectly legitimate satire. A person seeing our video on YouTube might conclude we have nothing better to do than sit around in the bathroom making funny videos about serious issues.

Consider the impression that this sort of thing leaves about a news operation.

I'm not necessarily saying "don't do the video." I'm all for fun, innovation and satire. But I think we need to seriously consider our inability to control context on YouTube and the face that this could potentially put on the work that we do.

Is anyone concerned about the rights to the original song? Weird Al has to secure rights from the original song writers/performers. Is this song so old as to not have the same requirements?

Guys

I am all for maintaining professional standards and think we have become far too casual and flippant a society. I also think that the emergence of blogs by amateurs as a newssource is a terrible thing. So basically I am a fan of serious journalism. But come on, you are taking yourselves a bit too seriously here. I don't think anyone imagines that newsrooms sit around making up parodies. It's a funny idea, albeit a little cruel, but still funny, and as long as you don't make a habit of it, I don't think there's any harm done to your reputation. I personally have never heard anyone talk about those "irreverent jokesters from Idaho." You're safe.

Sam

I think Ken makes good points in his comment. I would also challenge something Steve said in the news debate: "We publish all our videos on YouTube." I would guess (and I'm not spending my resources to do an exhaustive search) that the actual discussion excerpt by Jeff Bunch is not currently on YouTube. You make choices on what to upload.

We upload every piece of multimedia that is produced for our site as a standalone piece (features, breaking news). An excerpt from the live broadcast news meetings which is linked in our blog is not that type of clip, especially since it's only part of the meeting. These clips are not even output in a usable format daily.

What about the rights to the original song?

We are on solid legal footing as long as we're not selling the song. Parody that grows out of our journalism and that is distributed, widely or not at all, is OK.

If we compile a holiday disc of Doug's work and sell it, we'd have to pay for the rights on a per song basis to one of the two rights clearinghouses, ASCAP or BMI.

We've done that before and would do it in this case should we ever go commercial.

Hope that helps.

steve

So, that's true even if YouTube is monetizing its platform through the selling of advertising including advertising attached to the videos themselves?

You Tube presents an entirely different problem and it's their problem, not ours, thankfully.

If you've followed that site, you'll know that some copyright holders are actively policing posting of material they want to protect.

But you'll also notice that popular music, old and new, is backdrop to bazillions of videos posted on the site. It's up to You Tube and the copyright holders to wrestle with that.

steve

And, when you think about it, our platform is monetized, too. Though I guess it;s fair to say You Tube has done a better job of that.

As Joe Barrentine just pointed out to me, there is a photo-montage video of the song already on YouTube. It's been there since last night.

It's different from a full-blown video production, but it's nevertheless right there with our name on it. After seeing it on the page, I'm not so sure my concerns were all that valid. I'd be curious to know what others think.

And, when you think about it, our platform is monetized, too. Though I guess it;s fair to say You Tube has done a better job of that.
Posted by Steven A. Smith | 30 Aug 3:24 PM

Now THAT was funny!

GL,

I am glad I made someone laugh today.

I was trying to be light but didn't realize how truly insipid that remark was until I saw it posted.

Uh, yeah, You Tube is a bit more successful. Duh.

steve

Mr. Smith,

You'be made it to the big time. You got linked by HotAir.

Love it.

Let this RINO twist in the wind.

Zach on August 31, 2007 at 4:50 PM

Mr. Smith,

You'be made it to the big time. You got linked by HotAir.
Posted by rocketsbrain | 1 Sep 6:21 AM

From a commenter on HotAir:

Love it.

Let this RINO twist in the wind.

Zach on August 31, 2007 at 4:50 PM

RINO? Craig's a Republican In Name Only, eh? Guess this genius Zach didn't know Craig is one the MOST conservative Senators in the body. From the American Conservative Union, to the National Taxpayers Union, to the John Birch Society, Craig has always earned very high, if not the highest marks.