#Waywire (yes, the name comes in hashtag format), the video news-sharing service co-created by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, just opened to everyone in a public alpha.
Booker made the announcement on-stage at TechCrunch Disrupt, where he pitched #waywire as a way to democratize the news and upend the “oligarchy” running the media. One of his money quotes: “The power of the people is more important than the people in power.”
The service allows people to shoot and publish their own news reports. TechCrunch previewed #waywire last month (at the time, we said the most disruptive feature was the database of raw footage from 60 content partners, including Reuters, which users can edit to edit together their own reports on breaking news) and also offered some early alpha invites, but this is the first time anyone can when anyone can go to the #waywire site and sign up.
Updating