Jump to content

C-SPAN Video Library

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Pnm (talk | contribs) at 00:12, 10 January 2011 (→Recognition: Trim quote and reorder for more neutral POV). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
C-SPAN Video Library
Type of site
Public affairs video streaming
Available inEnglish
OwnerC-SPAN
URLhttp://www.c-spanvideo.org/
RegistrationNone

C-SPAN Video Library is the audio and video streaming website of C-SPAN, the American legislative broadcaster. The site offers a complete, freely accessible archive going back to 1987. It was launched in March 2010.

History

C-SPAN has recorded and catalogued its coverage of Congress and other public affairs programming since the establishment of the C-SPAN Archives, in West Lafayette, Indiana, since 1987.[2][3] However, prior to the Video Library's launch, C-SPAN's archived programming was only available to the public via videocassette and DVD purchase from C-SPAN; with the approval of the network's board of cable industry executives, the online archive was developed to make C-SPAN content more immediately accessible.[4] The C-SPAN Video Library debuted unofficially in August 2007, with hosted video streaming and limited search tools. The following year, C-SPAN added an embeddable player to the Video Library's website.[5] The full archive officially launched March 17, 2010,[5][1] upon completion of a multi-year project that digitized C-SPAN programming from 1987 onward.[6]

With more than 160,000 hours available at launch,[6] an additional 10,000 hours of early C-SPAN tape recordings of programming from 1979 to 1987 were slated for restoration, digitization and addition to the online archive.[4]

Content

The C-SPAN Video Library website allows access to the network's collection of Congressional proceedings and other political and public affairs programming, including complete archives dating back to 1987, with some earlier footage dating back to the launch of C-SPAN in 1979.[6][7] Prior to the establishment of the C-SPAN Archives, not all recordings were saved and so only approximately 10,000 hours of C-SPAN's earliest programming from 1979 to 1987 remain.[7] Today, all new C-SPAN programming is catalogued and digitally archived within hours of its broadcast.[8] In addition to C-SPAN programming, the C-SPAN Video Library website provides access to some historic videos from the National Archives, such as video from U.S. president Richard Nixon’s 1972 trip to China.[8] All content on the C-SPAN Video Library is searchable[6] and browsable by program, topics, date, and individuals.[9] The "Congressional Chronicle" is a data-rich section of the Video Library offering searchable transcripts of House and Senate floor debates, as well as dedicated content pages for current and past members of Congress, with biographies, voting records, campaign finance records and a timeline of House and Senate sessions.[10] The site also provides episodes of Book TV and Booknotes, its now discontinued series of author interviews.[7][11]

Recognition

Journalists and opposition researchers have used the site to locate past statements by politicians. Three sources used it to locate clips and information about Christine O'Donnell during her failed 2010 Senate bid.[12]

Political commentator Rachel Maddow is a prominent fan of the site. She said having access was "like being able to Google political history using the ‘I Feel Lucky’ button every time."[7] Mediaite columnist Frances Martel called it "a landmark in government transparency" and valuable for historical research.[9]

In September 2010, the site was awarded the Golden Beacon by the Association of Cable Communicators.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "C-SPAN's Online Video Library Now Open to the Public" (PDF). C-SPAN. 17 March 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  2. ^ Cillizza, Chris (15 March 2010). "Early races for Congress may give forecast for November; C-SPAN presents". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  3. ^ Godfrey, Donald G. (2006). Methods of historical analysis in electronic media. Psychology Press. p. 325. ISBN 978-0805851861. Retrieved 8 January 2010. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ a b Weddle, Eric (24 March 2010). "C-SPAN Archive puts history's raw copy on the Internet". Journal & Courier. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  5. ^ a b "C-SPAN Milestones". C-SPAN. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e Reynolds, Mike (16 September 2010). "ACC Awards Golden Beacon To C-SPAN's Video Library". Multichannel News. NewBay Media. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d Stelter, Brian (15 March 2010). "C-SPAN Puts Full Archives on the Web". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  8. ^ a b Raasch, Chuck (25 March 2010). "Changing the way we view history". Common Ground. Gannett News Service Multimedia. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  9. ^ a b Martel, Frances (16 March 2010). "C-SPAN Online Archives Will Redefine Social Studies Education In America". Mediaite. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  10. ^ "C-SPAN Congressional Chronicle". law.uconn.edu. University of Connecticut School of Law. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  11. ^ "Congressional plus: C-SPAN's archives are online [Editorial]". New Hampshire Union Leader. 28 March 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  12. ^ Kurtz, Howard (23 September 2010). "C-SPAN's blasts from the past". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=C-SPAN_Video_Library&oldid=406970699"