NEW YORK—Stringr has unveiled an API integration with the National Weather Service (NWS) API integration and has used that integration to create an automated alert system streamlining video newsgathering for severe weather events that is being used by The Weather Channel. 

Developed for use with Stringr’s proprietary network of 120,000 independent videographers, the Stringr Weather Feed automatically issues local requests for footage where NWS has issued severe weather warnings. Within minutes, videographers in the area can capture video right on location and upload to the cloud for use in newscasts. Following a successful pilot with the Weather Channel, the service is available on the Stringr platform.

“It’s a great idea and it really works,” said Tom Lea, vice president, newsgathering at The Weather Channel. “We’ve already seen a big increase in the amount of weather content they’re able to offer. It’s definitely working to our advantage. I have confidence in Stringr knowing that they are getting the word out to their videographers before the severe weather strikes.”

“The reporting that news networks offer during severe weather ranks among their most vital work,” added Lindsay Stewart, co-founder and CEO of Stringr. “After all, accurate, up-to-the-minute information during a storm can save lives. This NWS integration, which generates video content that is only available through our platform, allows both local and national newsrooms to get the footage they need as soon as a warning is issued.”

Stringr is a video news and content provider with an international network of videographers that offers broadcast-quality video and custom news packages to every major US market and the United Kingdom on its platform. 

To learn more, visit https://www.app.stringr.com/weather.

NEW YORK—In an effort to assist with 2020 U.S. presidential election coverage, Stringr and Google News Initiative are teaming up to supply national and local news organizations with video content. Among the first to sign up to receive the coverage is Fox Television Stations.

With media organizations not always having the resources to cover every story on the campaign trail, Stringr and Google will provide broadcast, digital and raw video content to help supplement election coverage efforts. Stringr is expected to provide one broadcast and one digital segment per day, as well as two or more pieces of raw content, depending on events taking place.

Broadcast packages will include a voiceover for newscast networks. Digital packages are edited specifically for digital distribution and include captions. The Raw video assets will be of various events that can be edited by the organization.

In addition to Fox TV, current participants for the service include the Boston Globe, News Press & Gazette, Lee Enterprises and Flood Communications.

More details about Stringr and Google’s partnership are available online.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—TVU Networks is offering the users of its TVU Global Grid a slew of new video content courtesy of a new partnership with Stringr, a video marketplace that is made up of more than 90,000 amateur and professional videographers and their work.

The TVU Global Grid is a cloud platform that allows for users to exchange, share and sell video content for the TVU Grid, an IP-based routing, switching and distribution system that can route live videos to Grid-enabled news stations. Via this new partnership with Stringr, Grid users have access to its content library, can request custom footage and have access to Stringr’s livestreaming function.

The workflow for the Stringr/TVU Grid partnership works by having a joint customer requests video from Stringr. When a video matching the request goes live the feed is sent through Stringr into the TVU Grid. The joint customer can then take the feed like they would for other TVU content.

“The combination of these two products allows our partners to get more live coverage, quickly, cost effectively and within the same workflow they’ve always used,” said Brian mcNeill, COO and co-founder of Stringr.

The two companies are currently working with a major cable network and are making plans to expand to other partners.