In class today, Ms. Hartsell-Gundy mentioned that watching live streaming coverage of the presidential inauguration supported the objectives of IMS 201 through showing the power of the Internet. Although it seemed a bit of a stretch, I think that she had a pretty good point. After class I returned to my room, where my roommate and I discussed whether we should watch CNN on our television or online. She considered buying a podcast of the ceremony on iTunes. The array of viewing options for this historical event is certainly wider than they have been for any inaugurations in the past. This blog from the BBC discusses these new coverage options and ways in which news corporations and viewers will use them.

The author says that some events, such as this one, are "classic television events," the kind of story that audiences want to sit back and watch. However, viewers increasingly want to participate in events. I found the ways in which audiences can interact with online coverage very interesting. Blogging, Twitter messages, photo posts - the Internet can make every citizen a news correspondent. CNN's request that people in attendance at the inauguration send in photos taken at exactly noon is one example of the way that media companies are using interactive technology and the everyman to enrich their broadcasts and online material. It aslo seems that online media allows more accessibility and archivablility than prior media, granting anyone with Internet access lasting access to historical recordings.