YouTube’s push to organize local news video began in earnest in the spring when the News Near You module was introduced. The module uses the Internet address of a visitor’s computer to determine the user’s location and whether any partners are located within a 100-mile radius. If so, seven days of local videos are displayed.

via Now on YouTube – Local News – NYTimes.com.

For us teachers:

Meanwhile, a new breed of local news broadcasters — including ones without broadcasting licenses, the traditional barrier to entry in local markets — is emerging online.

“Radio stations, newspapers, universities, advocacy organizations, churches and other local groups, and individuals are becoming news producers,” Mr. Plesser said.

Mr. Heaton said stations should treat YouTube as a marketing machine for their old-fashioned television newscasts.

“As long as Google wants to pay for the bandwidth” to host videos, he said, “let them.”