Democracy's Digital Divide

Questions have been rolling in for the CNN/YouTube debate and so far they're looking great. The most compelling questions contain some sort of visual context or unique personal touch. Remember that these videos will drive the debate by being broadcast and answered by the candidates on live television. Here are some users who've nailed it:







But there's a problem. For those of you posting questions or reading this blog, Internet access is not an issue. But for many people it is. We need your help to allow people without access to video cameras or YouTube the chance to ask a question of the candidates. This is your chance to help bridge the digital divide and ensure that YouTube's level platform for political dialogue is afforded to as many people as possible. Here's how you can help:







Yours,

Steve G.

YouTube News & Politics

More about → Democracy's Digital Divide

Ask a Pumpkin!

If you've been wondering what the (newly re-assembled) Smashing Pumpkins have been up to for the past seven years, Billy Corgan and co. would like YOU to pick up your video camera and ask them a question. See?







Upload your best questions to the Ask a Pumpkin group. The band will sift through your video queries and respond in a video that will be featured on the PumpkinsMediaMilitia channel and in our music category.



Also, for those of you attending their sold-out shows at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium from July 15 - August 1, bring along your video cameras! The Smashing Pumpkins encourage that kind of behavior (which makes us love them even more). Send the PumpkinsMediaMilitia YouTube channel your best shots and they will select their favorites for the world to see.



Spreading the Zeitgeist,

Michele K-tel

YouTube Music

More about → Ask a Pumpkin!

You Choose '08 Spotlight: Jim Gilmore

Featured this week in the You Choose '08 Spotlight is Governor Jim Gilmore, a Republican from Virginia who touts himself as a "strong, sturdy, electable conservative" candidate for President. Here he asks for your thoughts on how the Government is impinging upon your rights to free speech, to own property, and to bear arms.







On the other side of the campaign trail, Senator Chris Dodd got back with his Spotlight response video, in which he announced the creation of "DTV" – a new video portal that features both live and recorded video from the Dodd campaign.







Yours,

Steve G.

YouTube News & Politics

More about → You Choose '08 Spotlight: Jim Gilmore

A Note About Our Localized Sites

Hi there!



We wanted to clear up a misconception about the nine localized sites we launched on June 19: the content has not been "broken down" by region. All of your videos are available to everyone, no matter which site you set as your default. So even if you choose a particular country as your preference, the content available to you is still the same. If you prefer a more global destination, the original .com site will continue to be just that. (We're changing the icon to make it a lot clearer.) We'll also continue to program the .com home page to include the best of your videos from around the world, so just because you're featured on the UK site, for example, doesn't mean you can't also appear on the .com home page. Write to editor@youtube.com to tell us about a video you think deserves to be seen on any – or all – of our sites.



Happy 'Tubing!



The YouTube Team

More about → A Note About Our Localized Sites