Rick-rolling is all well and good, but this was my definite favourite of the April 1st shenanigans. The Flying Penguins skit from the BBC was a lovely idea, and like all good jokes had a decent amount of effort and craft behind it. I've been really impressed with the positioning and differentiation of the iPlayer within the YouTube market: Making the Unmissable Unmissable. Both a good antidote and complement to 'Broadcast Yourself'. And yet of course, the irony is that I need to go to YouTube and rely on a user to broadcast themselves in order to make the unmissable unmissable beyond the iPlayer site.
Whoever was involved in bringing this monstrosity forth should have their YouTube priveleges withdrawn forthwith. Copying UGC on YouTube and spewing it into the mainstream via TV does not constitute creativity nor give basically dull products ‘buzz’ or ‘populist appeal’. I think we can all visualise the clunky turn of cogs and creative laziness that brought this into being. I repeat: oh dear.
This arrived in my inbox this morning via TED. Against the data in McKinsey's report (blog post: Why Did The User Generate The Content?) this seems to tick all the right boxes. Roughly paraphrased, this is what Panagea Day offers those involved: global fame and recognition, a chance to tell your story, share your experiences, be heard. The international showcases for the short films will happen in May 2008. Submitted films can be viewed online. This looks like an interesting way of testing and measuring the global desire and propensity to create content when the prize is recognition not cash.