EE partners with Guardian News & Media

EE has today announced a partnership with Guardian News & Media to unveil a new online and mobile user-generated content platform, GuardianWitness. Powered by EE, GuardianWitness will allow the general public to submit their videos, pictures and text directly to the Guardian for inclusion on the platform, allowing anyone, from anywhere across the globe, the chance to have their say.

EE is the UK’s first and only superfast 4G mobile network, making EE the perfect partner for this new platform – a digital network for a digital age, which echoes the Guardian’s digital-first strategy and open approach to newsgathering. GuardianWitness will champion open journalism by encouraging the public to capture and share their content instantly via their mobiles and other internet connected devices, wherever they are. 4G from EE typically works up to five times faster than 3G, allowing 4G users to upload content quicker than ever before. The service is already live in 50 towns and cities across the UK.

The new platform is available via free iPhone or Android apps, or online via witness.guardian.co.uk. Selected submissions will go on to be featured on the Guardian website or in the Guardian or Observer newspapers, enabling users to help set the news agenda and become part of the Guardian’s award-winning journalism, comment and reporting. Video submissions will also appear on a new GuardianWitness YouTube channel.

Spencer McHugh, Director of Brand, EE said: “Smartphones have changed the way in which news is covered and shared around the world as ground-breaking mobile technology breaks down the barriers between journalists and the public. As the first providers of superfast 4G in Britain, EE is uniquely placed to support this transformation in the way news is reported, consumed and shared. This revolutionary new platform from the Guardian recognises these developments, enabling users to film or photograph something and share it with the Guardian’s editorial team in a matter of seconds, and EE is delighted to support the Guardian’s approach to open journalism.”
David Pemsel, Chief Commercial Officer, Guardian News & Media, said: “GuardianWitness, in partnership with EE, is a fantastic example of our open approach to working with brands to innovate and create new experiences for our digital audiences. It was only possible because of how closely we were able to collaborate with EE and MEC, and pulling together a cross-discipline team of brilliant people and technology from our in-house digital development department. GuardianWitness is world class product, fully integrated across our editorial platforms, that will engage and activate our audiences.”

GuardianWitness content will be open to all to browse and view but in order to contribute to the platform, users will need to create an account, either through their existing Guardian account or through their Facebook / Twitter profiles.

Further information about GuardianWitness is available at witness.guardian.co.uk. The free iPhone app is available at the iTunes Store and the free Android app is available at the Android Marketplace.

The GuardianWitness partnership was brokered by award-winning partnership marketing agency MEC Access, and will be supported by a Guardian cross-platform marketing campaign created by BBH. Marketing activity will include promotion across the Guardian’s digital platforms, as well as in the Guardian and Observer newspapers, including some media first ad placements.

Posted by: James