Selling Video Scoops Online
The French website Citizenside recently sold a grainy video of British fashion designer John Galliano conducting an anti-Semitic rant to news organizations around the world.
Mr. Galliano lost his job, and Citizenside pocketed a six-figure bounty.
This was just the latest scoop for the Paris-based company, which is one of several websites that collect and syndicate amateur videos to professional news organizations. Citizenside says it sold the Galliano clip for more than €100,000, or about $139,000.
Over the last decade the broadcasting of amateur videos captured on people’s cellphones and other gadgets has boomed. Many get posted to sites like YouTube. Now news organizations vie to get the best shots of the latest events provided by people who happen to be at the scene.
