CNN.com Showcases Power of Citizen Journalism with ’CNN Exchange’

August 01, 2006, In another indication of CNN Worldwide’s leadership in journalistic innovation, CNN.com today announced the launch of "CNN Exchange" a comprehensive user-generated content destination that features user-submitted video, audio, articles and graphics and also allows users to interact directly with the site’s news reports, commentaries and polls.

"User-generated content has the potential to play a pivotal role in journalism whether it’s online or offline" said Mitch Gelman, senior vice president and executive producer for CNN.com. "With CNN Exchange, we’ve essentially created a one-stop shop for CNN.com users to share their contributions with other Internet users, as well as to weigh in on the day’s most pressing news"

Located at www.CNN.com/Exchange, CNN Exchange organizes all of CNN.com’s user-generated content features into a single, easy-to-navigate catalog. The page includes a spotlight section featuring the best user contributions; a section featuring CNN.com’s Web logs, including the popular Anderson Cooper 360° Blog; sections for polls, commentaries and links to other "citizen journalism" sites; and an online toolkit with tips from CNN producers, correspondents and photographers on creating and submitting stories.

Extending user-generated content across multiple platforms, CNN Exchange will be populated in large part by I-Reports, compelling content captured by CNN viewers with personal cell phones, cameras or other devices. This access will enable viewers to tell the world what is happening where they are through the reach of CNN’s television networks and CNN.com.

Users can submit material wherever they find a "Send Your I-Report" link at CNN.com or by e-mail at ireport@cnn.com. Submissions will be considered for all of CNN’s networks. All submitted material will be reviewed by CNN prior to publication online or on air.

As the first Internet site dedicated to 24-hour news coverage, CNN.com ranks as a leading online news and information site, attracting an average of 23 million unique users each month. Launched in 1995, CNN.com draws from the resources of CNN Worldwide to provide relevant, up-to-the minute news and information. CNN.com features the latest multimedia technologies, from video streaming to audio packages to searchable archives of news features and background information.

Contact Information

Jennifer Martin

CNN

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