Instagram has undoubtedly been a tremendous success since its release a few months ago. In fact, it was one of our top picks for the best iOS apps of 2010. While it has made it much easier for social networking fanatics to share photos across multiple platforms, it looks like it’s taken on a new role as a source for photojournalism.
NPR has joined Instagram and has been putting up lots of great photos accompanied by informative and interesting descriptions. One image, for example, is of Aaron Neville sitting in front of the home in which he spent his teen years, and another is of a child with autism who is at the doctor receiving treatment for lead poisoning.
What we see as fun social networking applications can apparently be put to good use by news and media organizations, and it’s a brilliant idea, too. In an age where more folks are turning to digital mediums and networks for their news, breaking into these applications and services is what news organizations need to continue reaching a broader audience. Magazines and news organizations like NPR, GQ, Esquire and L.A. Times have embraced services like Twitter and Tumblr, so it’s nice to see the penetration into other, seemingly unconventional, services like Instagram.
With NPR leading a fascinating new trend in news delivery and consumption – who doesn’t love pictures with their news? – will other news and media organizations follow?
Mashable reports:
As far as we’re aware, NPR is the first media organization to use Instagram as an official tool for content distribution. “Our main focus has always been to go to the places where we believe existing and potential NPR fans are hanging out and give them an outlet to interact with us and our content,” says Andy Carvin, a senior strategist on NPR’s social media desk. “We [are always] keeping tabs on up-and-coming communities that attract smart, curious people who have an interest in news, music and the arts.”
It seems NPR has a new edge in delivering content in real time, like some organizations do with Twitter, but also accompanied by some great images thanks to Instagram.
[Via: Mashable]