Live Interactive Video Webcast on Election Night by Crazy Chicago Fieldhands

[$-Money]

Good Morning, everyone,

Just wanted to let you guys know about a crazy project that I'm beginning with a couple friends in Chicago for election night. We're calling it the Pilsen Interactive Media Project (Pilsen's a neighborhood in Chicago), and we'd love to generate some excitement for what is sure to be a new and dynamic step in the media revolution.

Instead of just watching election coverage on CNN, MSNBC, or (perish the thought) FoxNews on election night, we'd ask that you consider participating in our broadcast. We'll be delivering live commentary, keeping everyone up-to-date on the latest results, conducting interviews with commentators you care about (Al?, Poblano?, you?), and much more.

You see at the Pilsen Interactive Media Project we can do things that those squares at CNN would only dream of. For example, let's say that you're watching our broadcast and John (my co-host) and I say something stupid, if you have a webcam, you'll be able to IM our producer, and we'll put you on the air, so you can correct our ignorant asses! That's just one that we can make the experience truly interactive, soliciting your ideas is another.

So, two questions for you, Fieldhands:

1) Is this something you'd like to participate in on election night, instead of your dreaded MSM coverage?

2) Any ideas for things that we can do that the ol' MSM can't? Our first idea is to host a drinking game over the live webcast.

Thanks for your suggestions everyone, and keep an eye on our website for updates and a preview video that will show off our studio's technological capacity.

Thanks,
Sandy Witkow
The Pilsen Interactive Media Project

[CATHERINE]

Sandy,
No MSM, Al and the Fieldhands and drinking games. ..hmmmmm let me think about it a minute. OK. Or I mean...FABULOUS idea! Count me in for sure. I know nothing about techie stuff but will be a willing provider of liquid and other refreshments as needed.

Catherine

[John in Illinois]

I would love to participate, although I don't have a webcam. But that doesn't mean that you can't read comments sent in to you, or even, if you have a speaker phone, take calls while on the air.

Crazy it might be, but I like crazy.

[$-Money]

Glad you guys like the idea. We'll be able to show you a preview video within a few weeks or so. But do you guys have any ideas for "celebrity guests"? That is bloggers, web personalities, well-known political junkies and the like?

[Susan Kitchens]

Love the idea. For the 2004 election night, my boyfriend and I hosted a potluck -- theme: "Comfort foods" ... by the time the bread pudding had cooked, and cooled, the election results were pretty much declared, and the bread pudding (on top of the homemade mac n cheese, and other yummy foods) went down nicely. It dealt with the disappointment of the moment. Have had mac n cheese/bread pudding more than once since then. Hm. It's been the food theme of the last 3+ years. ;)

2008 will call for a different kind of celebration altogether, I think. I like your plans.

[$-Money]

On the whole patch-people-in-from-far-away-locations question, I've just posted a nice answer to that on our website. But we're anticipating utilizing our viewers is more ways than just tapping them for live video commentary (which is super cool).

We hope to use our participants as our broadcast's eyes and ears. Did Andrew Sullivan just post some deft commentary? Let us know on our Twitter feed and we'll discuss it. Did Nate Silver just call the election over at fivethirtyeight.com? Fantastic, keep us informed, and we'll keep the whole community up-to-speed.

There's no technological barrier to making this webcast competitive the MSM broadcasts on election night, we'll just need the help of the ol' netroots. Bookmark our website or add our RSS feed to your RSS reader of choice to keep up-to-date as the Project moves forward. Glad that you guys are interested; I'll do my best to cultivate your interest in the coming months.