NYTimes.com leads with user-gen content

During tough times, the paper leverages reader base to produce content

As a journalist for about 15 years, I've seen the evolution of news aggregation, production and consumption from both incumbents to startups. Sometimes the changes are surprising, and worthy of ridicule. I remember when Google first launched Google News and had press releases as its top story. I remember when comments were relegated to the secret confines of email, or in the old days, snail mail. And, today, in many cases, comments make the story.

But this change, which was first spotted by Henry Blodget, is definitely worth noting.

The New York Times has posted a user-generated video as its top story.

The question is: Has The Times gotten hip and experimental? Or is the cash-crunched paper leveraging user content to get through the downturn? I think it's both. But I think we'll see a lot more of this in the future - downturn or not.