LIVE on #Periscope: Michelle Kwan on the ground at the #Hillary2016 campaign launch!
With this notification from live broadcasting social media app Periscope, presidential nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton officially kicked off her 2016 campaign this weekend during a massive rally at New York’s Roosevelt Island. The former secretary of state, who notably used YouTube to announce her candidacy in April, again opted for social media over broadcast news as a launch platform for a major campaign milestone.
We’ve noticed #BreakingNews notifications from Periscope popping up frequently on our smartphones these days. That’s because live streaming apps like Periscope and Meerkat are quickly becoming a standard tool for journalists scrambling to be the first with a news story, or in Mrs. Clinton’s case, for a brand to connect with an audience. The two apps function essentially the same: your followers tune into watch a live broadcast, ask questions, comment and show support. With Periscope you can opt to re-stream video broadcasts for up to 24 hours after they are shot. Meerkat video is gone instantly.
This weekend’s rally was not the first major Hillary sighting on Periscope. Last month, when Mrs. Clinton granted the press a five minute audience, journalists broke the story using Periscope instead of a traditional television broadcast. In fact, C-SPAN aired video of a smartphone playing Periscope footage!
Periscope’s power isn’t limited to politics or breaking news: Savvy Periscope users were able catch the May 2 Mayweather/Pacquiao fight via a free live stream from audience members at the MGM Grand – and avoid the $100 Pay-Per-View fee. It comes as no surprise, then, that the NFL has pre-emptively banned all coaches, employees and players from using live streaming apps at practices, events and games.
It begs the question: In the ever-shrinking world of instant access, will Periscope kill broadcast media?
Some important points to consider:
- Periscope footage is live, unlike most broadcast news stories. There is no time for edits or spin.
- Periscope can go where cameras can’t. Smartphones are less conspicuous than cameras. Gritty and compelling coverage of events like the riots in Baltimore was generated with Periscope.
- Periscope could help maintain journalistic integrity. If Brian Williams had Periscope it would have been more difficult for him to ‘conflate’ his stories.
While it’s too early to tell what impact Periscope may have on broadcast media, it will be interesting to see if it becomes a major player in how people consume their news. We can’t way to tune in.
Be sure to follow Devine + Partners on Periscope for all of our breaking news.
