YouTube is introducing an immersive news watch page that will combine content from various authoritative sources, such as video on demand, live streams, podcasts, and Shorts.
This feature will provide viewers with a comprehensive and convenient platform to explore multiple aspects of a news story. It caters to the diverse needs of news consumers, offering in-depth video coverage, real-time live reporting, and concise Shorts for quick catch-ups. Users can access this immersive watch page by clicking on videos marked with a newspaper icon on the homepage or in search results.
While the Top News and Breaking News sections still provide information from mainstream media outlets, the new watch page will only feature content from “authoritative” news outlets. They included the AP, Sky News, PBS NewsHour, ABC News, and CBS Evening News, as shown in the official blog post.
Initially available for mobile users in around 40 countries, YouTube plans to expand its availability to desktop and living room platforms. The aim is to provide viewers with various credible voices and perspectives when they delve into specific news topics.
Also, a new dedicated news page is not the only thing YouTube plans for news.
YouTube’s $1.6 million Shorts Innovation Program for News
YouTube has launched the “Shorts Innovation Program for News” to assist news organizations in producing short-form video content for the website. This program is designed to help news publishers adapt to the changing media landscape, where short and easily consumable videos have become increasingly popular among viewers.
Here’s how the Shorts Innovation Program for News works:
- Financial grants: YouTube provides financial grants to selected news organizations. These grants are intended to help these organizations produce short-form news content. The funding can be used for various aspects of content creation, such as research, production, editing, and distribution.
- Specialist support: In addition to financial assistance, YouTube offers specialist support to the news organizations participating in the program. This support includes guidance, training, and expertise from YouTube specialists who are knowledgeable about video production, content strategy, and best practices specifically tailored to short-form news content.
- Partner selection: YouTube collaborates with a select group of news organizations with a strong presence in long-form video content on the platform. These organizations are chosen based on their existing commitment to delivering quality news content and their potential to excel in the short-form video format.
- Global reach: The program has a global reach, involving news organizations from various countries. This allows for diverse perspectives and voices in the short-form news content that is produced under the program.
- Innovation in news formats: YouTube aims to encourage news publishers to explore innovative formats for short-form news delivery. The program provides an opportunity for these organizations to experiment with new storytelling techniques and adapt to the changing preferences of digital media consumers.
By launching the Shorts Innovation Program for News, YouTube acknowledges the growing trend of short-form video consumption and is actively supporting news organizations in creating content that caters to this trend. The goal is to help news publishers embrace the potential of short-form news content and ensure that reliable news remains accessible to a wide online audience through engaging and easily digestible video formats.
For more detailed information about it, click here.
