Shock magazine, Web site seeks consumer photos, videos

A new paper magazine and Web site, “Shock,” (see below) is basing part of its strategy on obtaining tabloid-type photos and videos from consumers, including camera phone images, as I first saw in an article in MoCo.News.

The publication’s press release says, “Shock delivers an unapologetic, real and raw look at the world in which we live, and actively involves consumers via print, digital, online and wireless mediums [sic].” 

[Perhaps an indication of the editorial brilliance of the staff is the plural of “medium” in the context of the previous sentence should be “media.”  However, based on the publication’s target audience, “mediums” as in “psychics” might have some relevance!]

Consumer participation

The release says, “Consumers will play an integral role in shaping Shock's content by capturing and sending in photos from their cell phones or digital cameras.

“At least 10 percent of the newsstand and digital magazines will include spectacular images from consumers, and the Web site will display even more.”

The Shock home page site has a navigation bar for “Mobile Shock” and when you mouse over it a banner proclaims “Coming Soon.”

Distinguishing feature

Jack Kliger, president and CEO of the large Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. publishing company that’s producing Shock, says in the release, “Today's technology has given rise to the citizen photojournalist, who is easily able to capture significant and spontaneous moments in time with a cell phone or digital camera. 

“A distinguishing feature of Shock is that it will include riveting photos from these consumers as well as renowned photographers.”

Target audience

“Riveting photos” include, apparently, “everything that matters this month,” according to the press release, such as photos of the U.S. Women’s Sumo Wrestling Championships.

I’ve placed this article under the categories of “publications” and “citizen journalism.”  Based on the focus of Shock — whose site should more appropriately be called SchlockU — the “journalism” is apparently geared towards people who pick up a copy of News of the World at the local convenience store near their trailer park.

Shock’s Web site is live now, the magazine will be on newsstands on May 30 and mobile content will be available by the end of June.  Can you stand the anticipation?!