CNN and YouTube: Partners in Name Only

Hat tip to Micah Sifry over at Tech President for finding out that apparently there is zero coordination between YouTube and CNN when it comes to selecting questions and arranging for audience participation. YouTube has no input into which questions are selected, and no knowledge of which questions will be aired until they appear on the screen. That's why there's so little participation and follow up from the crowd. It's a total crap shoot as to whether or not YouTube invites the correct people to ask follow-up questions.

Totally ridiculous. People's debate my ass. This is a CNN production through and through with a little Web Two-Point-Oh window dressing from YouTube. Here's David Bohrman of CNN explaining the whole question selection process.