Ustream Partners with Video the Vote to Power Live, Up-to-the-Minute Citizen Reports from Polling Precincts Across the USA

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ustream (www.ustream.tv), the leader in live online video, has teamed up with Video the Vote (www.videothevote.org) to power citizen reporters with a seamless platform to broadcast election hotspots across the country with the Ustream mobile app.  On Tuesday, November 6th, citizen reporters will go live on the Ustream mobile app from polling locations to watchdog the voting process through live video in order to help monitor voting intimidation and voter suppression in key states throughout the U.S.

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Video the Vote and Ustream are currently looking for volunteers to act as citizen reporters across the country to provide live-broadcast reports directly from the front lines on Election Day. These reporters will monitor the polling locations, providing live video feeds directly from their mobile devices with Ustream's variety of mobile applications. Especially in states with indications of voter suppression tactics, including: NV, FL, OH, PA, NC, VA, WI, AZ and CO, these reports will help to provide transparency about what is occurring at polling location across the country. Citizen reporters can sign up at (www.videothevote.org/sign_up) to cover Election Day and download the apps directly from Ustream.

In the last three years, Ustream has seen an almost 50 percent increase in the use of mobile devices as the main source of viewing content and 1 out of 8 broadcasts are live from mobile devices.  Ustream's development team has designed and created the Ustream mobile app for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices making the process of streaming live broadcasts and viewing this content as easy as a touch of a button.

Citizen reporters are a critical part of the changing journalism landscape, something that has been seen throughout the past year, both internationally (Arab Spring and Russian protests) and here at home with the Occupy Movement. To help these new citizen journalists better share their stories with the world, Ustream is providing tips and training in advance of the election. Interested parties can learn more here.

"Ustream is the #1 platform of choice for citizen reporters around the world to document the emergence of democratic movements. From Tahrir Square, to Damascus, to Moscow, the Ustream mobile app has been a powerful beacon of truth in a turbulent world," said Ustream CEO Brad Hunstable.  "The power of live video in the hands of committed witnesses to the democratic process allows them to ensure the integrity of that process.  We're excited to lend our broadcast network to the cause of ensuring a transparent and fair Election Day in the United States."

About Ustream

Ustream Inc. is the leader in live, and social video streaming. The interactive platform connects broadcasters and viewers of unlimited size through innovative technology including co-hosting video features, IRC chat, Facebook, and Twitter. Ustream's free and premium solutions allow any broadcaster to create their own customizable channel with robust social and notification features to enhance visibility and virality across multiple platforms. In addition to activating the embeddable features on external websites, users are able to broadcast and view content while interacting in real-time directly from mobile phone devices, tablets, streaming players, smart TVs, and more. The company attracts millions of users ranging from musicians, celebrities, politicians, athletes, corporate executives, animal enthusiasts and gamers. For more information, visit www.ustream.com and follow Ustream's socials:Twitter (@Ustream); Facebook (facebook.com/Ustream).

Video the Vote is a national network of citizen journalists, independent filmmakers, and media professionals working together to protect voter rights by documenting voting irregularities. Since 2006, Video the Vote volunteers have captured hundreds of videos from across the nation documenting the many obstacles that voters face at the polls: long lines, broken voting machines, incorrectly applied laws, and outright intimidation. Their videos have been used by numerous media outlets as well as for evidence in courts and Congressional Hearings. Interested volunteers can sign up at VideoTheVote.org.

SOURCE Ustream Inc.