YouTube wants to demonstrate that alternative media strongly rivals the mainstream, and for this it plans to broadcast a live interview of President Barack Obama on Friday.
Following the shift in generations and consumer behavior, the media landscape shapes up in favor of non-mainstream channels of communication. Now, online content creators from platforms such as Twitch or YouTube can be as successful as their mainstream media rivals. This is why PewDiePie is as famous (or more) than established network TV stars.
On the downside, some TV consumers still look down on YouTube creators in favor of public figures who rose to fame through other, more traditional means.
Google has the resources and reasons to change that perception.
The search engine company teamed up with three beloved YouTube creators to interview Obama, a few days after he delivered his last State of the Union speech in front of the Congress.
The interview continues a tradition that has been going on for seven years, in which the social-media savvy President of the U.S. responds to questions live over the Internet.
"This Friday, January 15, Destin Sandlin, Ingrid Nilsen, and Adande Thorne – three popular YouTube creators – will travel to Washington, D.C. to host a live YouTube Interview with President Obama," Ramya Raghavan from Google Politics, says.
Raghavan adds that the President invited the trio to meet him in the East Room of the White House for the interview hosted by the White House's YouTube channel.
According to Raghavan, anyone who has a question for the President can send it to the three interviewers. Posting on social media with the hashtag #YouTubeAsksObama will automatically put your questions on the list, so you just might hear the President answer your concern live, on YouTube.
She also pointed out that the President truly encourages social media presence, as he promotes transparency and strong communication between the White House and the public. The White House uploads weekly statements and addresses on social media, informing citizens about hot national topics.
Raghavan further highlights that Google is happy to be part of the process, as the seven YouTube interviews with the President revealed his stance on a number of pressing issues. She also says that Google wants to offer future presidents the possibility to maintain a powerful connection with the Americans.
Obama relied heavily on social media during his first campaign, and his tech enthusiasm resonated profoundly with the younger generation of voters. By tapping into the geeky and tech savvy electoral pool, he paved the way for future technology friendly candidates.
To watch the live interview, simply visit the official White House YouTube channel on Friday.
The drawback is that the eighth interview with the President airs at 2:15 p.m. EST, so most of us will be either at school or at work. Luckily, the recording will still be available when we get home.
On Friday, YouTube will feature its last interview with Obama as President, following his final State of the Union address on Jan. 12, at 9 p.m. EST.
Reinforcing his love for the Web content, President Obama recently starred in a cameo during Jerry Seinfeld's "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" Web series.
