Hmmm...WaPo Tries Crowd-Source Reporting

I’m all for innovation and I’m a big fan of WaPo but every once in a while they send out a press release that throws me back to the days of C & C Music Factory.  In short, they make me go…hmmm.  Yesterday’s announcement about a new partnership to provide Post readers with crowd-source reporting was one such release:

“Readers who post stories through Intersect about moments from the rallies [Colbert/Stewart] can connect with what Post reporters and other readers were doing and saying at those same times.  This creates a richer, more in-depth story told from readers’ perspectives all over the rally, versus what a group of reporters can do alone. The story will be available at washingtonpost.com.”

The first application will be during the Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert rallies on the National Mall Oct. 30, 2010.   I know newspapers are trying to figure their shiz out but…hmm?  In honor of this annoucement, please enjoy some sweet C & C beats above and more info on how this project is supposed to work after the jump. 

Here’s how it will work:

1.                    Washington Post reporters will use the Intersect iPhone app to instantly upload observations, photos and videos from the rally to washingtonpost.com.

2.                    Readers who would like to participate in The Post’s story-telling can use the invite code “washingtonpost” on Intersect.com.

3.                    Using Intersect, readers and reporters can view content from everyone posting updates from the rallies at any given time before posting their own observations.

4.                    Readers at The Post’s website can read live updates from reporters and a crowd-sourced story from readers by going to www.washingtonpost.com.

  For more information about this collaboration: http://wapo.st/intersectdc