Citizen Camera Phones Powered by Veeker are New Tool for NBC in Wildfire Disaster Coverage

The wildfires in Southern California have generated an unprecedented amount of video and photo uploads to CNN, other news organizations and to the video sharing sites.

One of the most interesting developments in "citizen journalism" around this disaster has been the widespread use of mobile phones as a reporting device. 

Veeker, the San Francisco-based start-up is a video sharing site for mobile phones.  Recently, it inked a deal with NBC owned and operated stations throughout the U.S.  to empower stations to "enlist" the community in uploading video.

Implemented by the NBC San Diego station only a few weeks ago, some 2000 photos and videos have been uploaded to the station's site -- which is about the total number at CNN's i-Report.  That's an impressive number as are many of the images.

Mobile video can be choppy and clips are short, but it captures what's happening and provides an immediate upload.  For people on the run, in the midst of an emergency, using phones is clearly the tool of choice. 

-- Andy Plesser