Lifestreaming: Newspaper Uses Posterous to Solicit and Publish Reader Photos

You're probably sick of me talking about Posterous, but it's been about a year since I have been this excited by a new platform and its potential to change how we publish. I don't know what the future is for the company (and no, they aren't a client), but I love its simplicity, its hub and spoke model and its collaborative features. But don't just take my word for it. Check out how others are innovating.

John Bridges, a reporter with the Austin American Statesman, today is using Posterous to solicit and publish reader photos documenting a "day in the sun." Readers can submit their photos via email to post@austinheat.posterous.com and then approved images get added to an aggregate Posterous site you can find here. Brilliant.

I bet that others in the media will catch on soon and realize what you can do with this elegant, simple platform. We often overlook that the media helped Twitter go nuclear. Friendfeed was a bit to geeky to engender the same response, but Posterous I bet is simple enough that the media will start to put it to use in creative ways. This is the first example I have seen.

Comments

[Joachim Blum]

Thank you, Steve, for this interesting post! I'm not sick of your comments about posterous.

[Krishna De]

Thanks for sharing this example Steve - the other thing they could do is cross post their photo's to Flickr and Facebook as you know.It's got my mind buzzing about a project am involved in - I had already been thinking of using Posterous but this is a great example to give the client which may encourage them to consider using Posterous.

[Georg Mahr]

I wonder how many different Posterous Blogs the average Posterous-user will have in the future. One for personal pictures/video/media, one for thoughts on different things, a collaborative blog for a project etc..

[Joe Freudenthal]

Steve, I love Posterous as well. Please keep feeding us interesting examples of how people are using it.

[Austin Heat]

Thanks, Steve! Seems to be working - we're getting some good pics. We are auto posting to Twitter as well (@Austinheat)

[Michael Lynton]

I'm not sick of your "posterous-ness". I like seeing the many ways that others are using the service. It's exciting - thanks for sharing them.

[Daniel]

Robert Quigley is a great evangelist for all things digital over there, and he know a good service when he sees one. Kudos too John for listening!

[Dave Lucas]

I enjoy your posterous-ness (Posterousity?) but I predict you will outgrow it!

[Aviraj Saluja]

Steve, your excitement for Posterous is shared by many. I can't stop talking about it on my blog (and Twitter) either. And this post is just another example of how Posterous is turning into a source of innovation for other individuals and businesses. Truly enriching, if you ask me.

[Wayne Sutton]

Steve you're right about Posterous and this is a great idea for media to embrace it as a platform to encourage user generated content. I worked with a TV station and they had a form and user registration, by using Posterous it keeps it simple; just send an email and you're done.I think we're just getting started with Posterous, wait until a few weeks. :)

[Svartling]

I didn't know about the Public Submission feature. Really cool.

[greg wood]

keep talking about posterous. i have become one of the converted. simple and useful win most of the time. i'm rooting for them (posterous)