UGC in good Dutch

What’s a good Dutch term that sums up User Generated Content (UGC)? NOS bosses decided to let their subjects come up with something. The winning brainwave:

Samen Nieuws Maken (SNM)

Find a dictionary for yourself. Ah well then, it means: Making News Together. It covers the broad definition of UCG, which NOS is finally embracing as a rather useful and necessary part of a modern website. Because:

1. The user is an eye witness. Open the upload door for pictures and video.

2. The user is opiniated. Let him or her respond.

3. The user can supplement with his experience, which can lead to follow-ups.

4. The user is a news source.

5. The user will debate. A new topic every day, discussion open for no more than a week.

6. The user is an expert. He or she makes us smarter

Other good, but not good enough terms for the ‘dinner for two’ prize: Publieksbijdrage (this one got an honorable mention), MeeDenkTank, ProductiePopuli (propop), Eigen Inbreng, ‘Stuur’, MGM (MediaGebruikersMateriaal), ‘n Jan-met-de-Petter’, XI (IkZie) en IK (Inbreng van de Kijker). Damn, they didn’t even mention mine (Gebruikersmateriaal).

Nightmare scenario

 

I call it my nightmare scenario, and it’s going to happen some day. No question about it. Some day I’m gonna pack up my stuff, get in the car (or worse, get on the plane), arrive home and only then realize I left the wireless mike on the person I have interviewed. Believe me, it’s gonna happen.

It almost happened last night. I was out the door, and then B. called out and wondered if I wanted my stuff back. Duh. It’s so easy to forget. Your mind has been racing for a while, to get the shots right, to ask and listen to the answers, to -ahem- focus and getting things in focus.

Then comes the really hard part, as far as I am concerned. Leaving with all the equipment I came with. Every little cable, battery, microphone, tape and plug – I am running a check list in my head as I bid farewell to the person I just interviewed.

The biggest bitch by far is the headphone (Sennheiser PX200). The holder even has a manual on the back how to fold the damn thing and slide it in. The audio quality is amazing, but the quality of life diminishes every time you try and fail, again try and fail and only then succeed to actually pack it up. So much for the bloody charm.