Krista Roberts

"If you build it, they will come." This quote from the movie "Field of Dreams" could hold the key for getting more "user provided content" onto tv.ku.edu. First, we must rebuild the site to feature, promote and encourage user provided content, then it will come.

We're already tapping into other journalism classes to help create content. That's a great source because it comes from people who are developing their news skills, but if we really want to go "user provided," we need to do more.

Right now, our site only lets users get involved as spectators. If we want users to contribute, it's up to us to give them options to interact with tv.ku.edu.

One simple idea (that sounds like it is already in the works) is to add the ability for users to comment on what they see. A couple of great things can come from this: 1) Users become part of the conversation, and 2) We may get some good follow-up story ideas.

While we're talking story ideas, how about a place on tv.ku.edu where visitors e-mail story ideas. That would give us more eyes and ears around KU, Lawrence and Douglas County. Of course, many ideas won't work, but every now and then you find a gem. Once the story is on the Web site, the key is to find a visual way to let people know the idea was one submitted to us.

When I'm on the Internet, I usually don't have the time or inclination to comment on a story, but I love the quick interaction I get with polls. I know the polls aren't statistically valid and I don't care. I just enjoy seeing what others are thinking. Why not add a poll of the week or the day to tv.ku.edu? It would be a quick, easy way for users to contribute.

We should take advantage of people's ability to record events while they're out and about. Most cell phones take pictures and many do video too. TV.ku.edu needs to have a spot where we ask folks to record and send us any news that they see happening. CNN started this with i-Report. Again, a key is to highlight that the story was sent to us by one of our "team."

We'd have a lot more opportunity for user provided content if we broadened our view of what content on tv.ku.edu is. Right now, it is primarily packages and VSOTs from KUJH-TV. What would happen if we expanded our definition and created a spot on tv.ku.edu for more feature and "just for fun" content. We might even see about teaming up with KU's film department to offer short films or documentaries on tv.ku.edu - which I guess could make tv.ku.edu our "Field of Dreams."