Re-used tornado video from 6/12/04

[Mike Peregrine]

He's been active in the forum as of 6:37 this morning. It would be pretty tough to respond to something like this, though.

Edit - Not a legal whiz kid here ... but I'm sure the lawyers have already been involved. A release of that type would likely have to go through the agency's legal department. Several legal issues could potentially come up from the sale of fraudulent video.

 

[scott r currens]

It's nice to know what the AP does with it's $295 video clip. I wonder how much they make off of the distribution to "2000 web sites and 60 large digital customers"? If you sell video this has to make you feel sick.

 

[Mike Peregrine]

I wonder how much they make off of the distribution to "2000 web sites and 60 large digital customers"?

Exactly what I was thinking. They take the $295 they pay the chaser (i.e., the one who educates him/herself on severe weather, spending years of time, and tons of money buying everything needed, the gas, the time off a regular job, and the list goes on) and turn it into a small fortune through their own marketing engine. Chasers should all realize that their product is worth a lot more than that.

 

[Chris Kridler]

Unfortunately, we've really entered an era where our stuff just ISN'T worth what it used to be, at least monetarily. Chasers will still have the best scientific and aesthetic footage, but big media companies want stuff to be sensational, cheap or, better yet, free.

 

[Lee Kuhlman]

Unfortunately, we've really entered an era where our stuff just ISN'T worth what it used to be, at least monetarily. Chasers will still have the best scientific and aesthetic footage, but big media companies want stuff to be sensational, cheap or, better yet, free.

EXACTLY. They want the sensational video that looks like it was shot by Farmer Joe from the cellar door as the inflow is going crazy and the tornado is just about on top of them...

Lee Kuhlman

 

[Mike Peregrine]

Which is why chasers should stop marketing to the media in the first place. If you have to give your hard earned work product away, then you need to find another way to do it. I posted a link to an article earlier that talks about this crazy situation in which the media has found itself. Chasers are in the exact same position as the record labels are. They have been struggling to adapt to the new market by offering their music online to the people who want it. Chasers are already moving in this direction as well. If you don't want your video or photos ripped off, don't post it online. There are lots of possibilities here, and I think the future is actually pretty exciting. But we have to learn to adapt the same as everyone else.

By the way - one of the attorneys I work with just asked me on the way in how I felt about the fraudulent tornado. He said he read it on the front page of Yahoo! earlier this morning. Nice.

 

[scott r currens]

Exactly what I was thinking. They take the $295 they pay the chaser (i.e., the one who educates him/herself on severe weather, spending years of time, and tons of money buying everything needed, the gas, the time off a regular job, and the list goes on) and turn it into a small fortune through their own marketing engine. Chasers should all realize that their product is worth a lot more than that.

That comes to about 7-cents per website and 2-bucks per "large digital customer". Would anyone sell footage if that is what the AP told them they would pay?

 

[Jim Bishop]

It does not surprise me this happened, but what does surprise me is that he supposedly did this and ruined his name and reputation for a petty $295.00.
Isn't this the same guy who supposedly did work for or was involved somehow with TWC also?
I would think people would learn after hearing the stories of others who have done similar things and got caught.

Yeah, it's disturbing how this guy ruined himself for $295. I suspect he was desperate for money to pay for bills or something. This is the price most networks will claim is their "normal" price for footage because they have a budget (cough). I'm sure he was aware of this. So, with a little video editting this guy made a quick buck. Certainly not worth his reputation - that's for sure.

 

[Mikey Gribble]

Supply and demand dictates the price. We get screwed relative to what they make off it, but what can you do?
What a complete jackass. How can you expect to get away with selling fake video? I thought about how easy it would be to do this before, but I would never even think of trying it. That's gotta be embarrassing.

 

[Verne Carlson]

The story is now on the front page of Yahoo news:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080710/ap_on_en_tv/tornado_video

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

Here's how I look at it. Nebraska can't even produce its own tornadoes anymore! Nebraska has become the post-99 Oklahoma.

The amount of crabbing over the worth of chaser footage I've heard for so long, I'd think there'd be more cheering here that those not wanting to pay anything got a little screwed themselves. This is what they get for paying so little....the same video more times!

 

[Mike Peregrine]

I'd think there'd be more cheering here that those not wanting to pay anything got a little screwed themselves.

I'm ecstatic about it. The day of reckoning is coming on the citizen journalism stuff too. If you haven't read this article yet, I really highly recommend it for every chaser with a dream of selling photography out there.

 

[beaudodson]

I'm ecstatic about it. The day of reckoning is coming on the citizen journalism stuff too. If you haven't read this article yet, I really highly recommend it for every chaser with a dream of selling photography out there.

Wow - great article. I am sharing that on some other forums. Thanks for the link.

Someone (on Storm Track) said this "fake" video subject would be a big news story. I had my doubts. AP takes the subject seriously. Never thought it would be front page news though.

Would like to hear the other side of the story. If there is one.

 

[Shane Adams]

Chasers should all realize that their product is worth a lot more than that.

I do...which is why I don't sell. Nobody will pay my price.

 

[Mike Peregrine]

I feel like Reed and Doug's current business models are probably about the healthiest (and smartest) as far as chaser product is concerned for the Internet age. You could practically GIVE the video to the stupid media ... just do it with the right license. As a stipulation, the public can be directed to a download site, where video is repackaged and sold. There are other revenue streams besides the media. The licensing (if done correctly) can really be put to work for you ... because at that point you are using this huge marketing engine to direct attention where you actually want it.