Moving pictures from newspapers?

I received some thoughtful email feedback to my best-case scenario, five years out item. Here's one point that I'd like to focus on: "Video and audio content generation will become a normal product of the papers. Non-printable media must become more prominent in the future."

I agree wholeheartedly. I'm just not sure what form it should or will take:

• More "multimedia" on general newspaper websites? I was an early supporter in Minneapolis, where we added videographer-producer Regina McCombs to the online staff about nine years ago. I love her stuff, as well as the great work from the Washington Post and the New York Times. But I'm still searching for good evidence of a business case -- that it measurably contributes to building a strong, loyal audience, and that the contribution is so significant that smaller newspapers can justify the (significant) investment. And can we find (or make) enough qualified people? The New York Times has open, unfilled positions for multimedia wizards.
• Separate Web experiences? HamptonRoads.tv is an early attempt that attempts to mingle original content with AP TV news and -- theoretically at least -- user-provided video. Will it hold an audience's interest?
• Local/regional cable channels? There are three or four dozen of these around the United States, many involving some degree of newspaper ownership. The Chicago Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, and Sarasota Herald-Tribune were significant pioneers in this field. Should every newspaper be pursuing that angle?
• Vlogging away? Vlogs (video blogs)are just beginning to get a buzz on the net, and vodcasts (video podcasts) are showing up in iTunes. As Chuck Olsen notes, Tivo has signed a deal to syndicate Rocketboom. Is there a role for newspapers to play in helping this revolution along?
• Completely new ideas? There have to be lots of possibilities being overlooked. What kind of video experience could you create on the ultra-cheap, using tools like Flash, RSS feeds and $100 video cameras? How about a low-budget local cable TV channel designed for channel-flippers to watch while avoiding the commercial breaks on other channels?
• All of the above? Could be.

I think we need to keep a close eye on the evolution of video photography among the people we mistakenly continue to call "consumers." Every Windows XP computer has video editing software (usually hidden in the "Accessories" folder). We gave my youngest daughter, who's in 5th grade, a fairly inexpensive Aiptek video camera for Christmas. The video is a bit jerky (the framerate is low) but the image quality is surprisingly high. Video editing is still a pain in the neck but watch this space.