Citizen Journalists Cover US Election for Internet (2/3)

One of the most prolific groups putting videos up on YouTube is called "Why Tuesday?"

Executive Director Jacob Soboroff argues that the U.S. political system in some ways discourages people from voting, by holding many elections on Tuesdays. That was convenient for farmers in the early days of our nation. But he says it makes little sense in today's urban society.

Soboroff says Why Tuesday? also benefits from video submissions by ordinary citizens who record encounters with politicians at all levels.

"People are becoming journalists themselves and putting their elected officials on the spot about something that in the mainstream media you do not hear much about and that is what can we do to increase voter participation."

Keeping a wary eye on all this is Drake University Political Science Professor Arthur Sanders, who sees promise in the technology.

"The web technology, the way it has evolved makes it easier for individuals or groups of people to have information sites and not just for politics, but for anything you can imagine. People with an interest in politics decide I’m gonna report on politics. It is an empowering shift for citizens because they have a lot more control over it."

参考译文：

(近来)在YOUTUBE中上传最多的视频主题是“为什么还是周二”？

执行总裁杰克博·所博罗夫表示：美国的政治体系把许多选举日定在周二，在某种程度上是在打击人们投票的积极性。在美国建国早期，投票设在周二是为了方便农民参与选举。所博罗夫说，但是在当今的城市社会中，周二投票就有点不合时宜了。

所博罗夫说，“为什么还是周二”还得益于收到了许多普通市民上传的视频资料。这些市民把遇到形形色色的政客都用视频记录了下来。

“人们自己成为记者，并把他们眼中的政客们在主流媒体中不太能看到的一面展示出来。我们就是这样做来增加选民的参与度。”

杜拉克大学政治学教授阿瑟·桑德斯用谨慎的眼光注视着这一切，他看到了科技带来的美好前景。

他说：“网络技术的进化使个人或团体对他们能想到的任何事情都更容易有自己的看法，不仅仅是在政治上。对于政治有兴趣的人会说：“我来报道下政治事件.”这对于人民是一场新闻权限的变革。因为现在他们对（如何报道一个政治事件）有更多的控制力。”