Live from the Scene

During an election story during primary season in New Hampshire, video blogger Steve Garfield heard of the whereabouts of Republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter and scooped CNN to an important announcement. At a rally for Barack Obama in Boston, he gave viewers a crowd-eye view of the gathering, ending his broadcast next to a C-Span cameraman. By using a cell phone as a video camera, Garfield showed that he could film a similar live shot — and showed off how he, unlike the cameraman, was free to move about. 

The time has come when a newspaper reporter can pull out a miniature video camera from her pocket and instantly live stream video to a newspaper's Web site from wherever she is — in a field, from city hall, or on a campaign bus. Garfield has been shooting such video for more than a year using just a Web-enabled cell phone and a simple Web application.  

The benefits of such a capability are obvious. Reporters can gather video reports whenever and wherever they are, unhindered by the constraints of bulky or expensive equipment. Viewers can watch real-time news unfold while journalists gather material for a Web or print story.  

At last, smaller newspapers can compete with their larger print and broadcast rivals at minimal expense. Read more about live webcasting in "Live from the Scene."  

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