CNN regularly encourages their viewers to grab the camera phone and catch breaking news as it happens, creating an interactive forum that helps to increase the network's popularity through public participation. The wildly popular iReport, CNN's interactive newsgathering website, was constructed on a user-generated platform allowing for "unedited. unfiltered. news." While users can post anything they like, iReports are particularly useful to the cable news giant when users take the most current of topics and show how it relates to their personal lives. Viewers get a taste of day's events in a unique way. CNN posts regular "assignments" on the iReport website, where they take a topic of interest and look for responses that would be appealing to viewers.
So how can you get involved? One of the latest assignments encourages iReporters to leave their cars at home, just for a day. Participants can post photos and videos to the website and hope to make their story compelling enough to get some air time. Are you on the Car-Free Diet? Thinking of trying it out for a day? Now is the time. Visit the Car-Free Diet website to calculate the money you will save, calories you will burn and CO2 emissions you can reduce just by making a simple change for the day. Questions about how to commute without your car? Check out CommuterPage.com and discover your options! The assignment ends September 16th, so give it a try and get your story submitted fast!
Good luck!
Kristin Howard works for Arlington Transportation Partners of ACCS, she is a frequent Metrorail commuter.
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