Soggy citizens prove that UGC works

A great example of how user generated content works with the news was delivered by the Media Guardian website yesterday through Matthew Weaver’s blog on the floods in Cornwall.

The blog ran in real time and delivered updates from people in places like Lostwithiel and Mevagissey who woke up to find themselves ankle-deep in water. Images taken by locals such as a flood streaming through the streets of Lostwithiel and firemen strolling through a house filled with water were online as soon as the soggy citizens of Cornwall could find a computer to post them with.

A particularly notable bit of reporting was from YouTube user MatConnolley, who put a video online claiming that The bridge at Lostwithiel was in danger of collapse, using some rather shaky footage as evidence:

Just remember, if you ever want to find out something that the police don’t want you to know, ask the guy who owns a pig called Pirate Pete.