For all the possibility, neither CNN’s iReport nor NowPublic managed to get much (or any) live photos or videos from the inauguration. NowPublic was even cooperating with Qik to permit live streaming video from camera phones, but only a few posts actually made it to either site during the new President’s speech and many of those were of people viewing the event on television.

Maybe everyone was just too wrapped up in listening to a stirring speech, or maybe the data networks were jammed. We’ll check back later to see what gets posted.

UPDATE: Here’s a streaming video of the inauguration filed on Qik. It sure gives you a sense of what it must have been like to be there watching the event, standing shoulder to shoulder with over one million people.

NowPublic, the citizen journalist portal, is promising constant coverage of today’s inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

Users can post photos, videos and text commentaries of the event live as it takes place in Washington. With more than one million people expected to witness the event live, there should be ample supply of fresh media for the site. The site will also be running a live blog throughout the day. (more…)

Montreal’s Pixman is using the world’s excitement over new president Barack Obama to draw attention to its brand of innovative and experiential marketing media.

Join the Wave asks people to submit videos of themselves waving to the new American President. Pixman will then take the most creative videos and create a medley that will be delivered to Obama.  (more…)

CNN wants to use the Obama inauguration (possibly the most widely broadcast event in human history) to create some buzz and a very unique piece of art, a photosynth. A photosynth is created by taking any number of pictures of the same place at the same time and combining them to create a three dimensional image.  (more…)

The Globe and Mail and the Dominion Institute, an organization concerned with public policy and citizen involvement, have launched a wiki as a way to gather views on public policy for Canada.

The first policy issue that they have chosen is the upcoming Canadian federal budget. The wiki will post background information, “briefing notes,” that breakdown the various aspects of the policy, stimulus packages, GST rebate, etc. These will appear on the site along with comments by industry professionals. (more…)

The January 20 inauguration of President Barack Obama could turn into one of the busiest days for data networks. Here’s a starting point as posted on CNN’s iReport (it also aired on CNN) showing the stage now set for the big day.  With hundreds of thousands of people expected to attend the various inauguration events, the day could turn into one of the most reported ever when you factor all the millions of blog posts, microblogs, videos, comments and the like that are expected.

There’s a lot of buzz this morning about President-elect Barack Obama’s pledge to reinvest in America’s infrastructure. And the incoming administration wants people to bring that buzz to the transition website Change.gov.

In addition to unveiling his plans for the stimulus package on the site, Obama is using the site to bring regular addresses to the nation. The site is also welcoming ongoing comments and discussion from the public as well as suggestions for new policies with a section called Your Seat at the Table. (more…)

There are numerous examples of how user-generated content has affected this year’s U.S. presidential election and each of its candidates.

One site making a name for itself is Electionspeak.com, which was launched earlier this year by a group of concerned voters who wanted to keep the political candidates honest. (more…)

In just one week of late night television watching, viewers across North America could see the ever so awkward John McCain engaged in unfocused banter with David Letterman and a visibly uncomfortable Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live, pumping her hands in the air as she bopped along with Amy Poehler’s DMX-style rap on Palin’s campaign.

These appearances would not have occurred if not for the ‘celebrity status’ of this year’s candidates, a status that has partly been earned through the Internet instead of through policy stances. (more…)

This U.S. election is about much more than debates, the economy and Iraq. This election is also about whose supporters can come up with the best UGC songs.

Here’s one that satirizes Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, I Picked a Girl, sung to the recent pop hit I Kissed A Girl. With lyrics like “it felt so wrong, she leaned so right”, the video has already scored nearly 400,000 viewings.

YouTube has been flooded with parodies, rhapsodies, blustering ballads and fawning tributes to both John McCain and Barack Obama. The phenomenon even has the Wall Street Journal writing about it.