Loading...
Publicity
International channel on sustainable development Alternative Channel
User ID Password   Forgot your password?
About
Profile
Event
Partners
Blog
Media
Interview Series
Subscribe

Table of contents

What is Alternative Channel™?

back to top

Alternative Channel™ is an independently-and-transparently-managed video over internet channel, broadcasting (via streaming and video-on-demand) quality news and public interest videos from alternative voices. Among those, citizen journalists and viewers around the world, collaborating via the internet, mobile platforms and all other means supporting IP.

What makes Alternative Channel™ different from other independent, video-based news and media sites is its  capacity through our user generated content to deliver information  without depending on corporate services. Rather, it is thanks to our worldwide community of Alternative members, citizens, journalists, or NGOs,  who wants to deliver uncompromised information quickly and efficiently.

The main challenge faced by Alternative Channel : to maintain and deliver quality, credible information. High standards in these domains are maintained by the Alternative Channel™'s editorial team, whose responsibilities include verifying all of the videos submitted by our contributors with regards to the Alternative Channel™'s Code of Ethics, Terms of Use and quality standards.

Our principles

back to top

Our main principle is that a broadcaster  is dedicated to truth and that its first loyalty is to the public interest. To that account, Alternative Channel™'s editorial team is the guardian of its Code of Ethics, Terms of Use and quality standards : contributors will be committed to these Principles.

Alternative Channel™ will always confirm the facts in submitted videos, while aiming at broadening its analysis.

Our goals

back to top

As a distinct distribution channel for alternative video content, our goals are the following :

How is Alternative Channel™ different from other video distribution channels?

back to top

We differentiate ourselves from Youtube, MySpace, DailyMotion, and other similar video sharing sites and communities by the following points:

Participate in Alternative Channel™

Becoming a member

Why should a citizen or a journalist contribute to Alternative Channel™?

Alternative Channel™ has the potential to deliver first-hand, frontline journalism without depending on corporate services. Its uniqueness lies in the democratisation of information and our ability to bypass mainstream agencies.

For citizen journalists or other contributors, Alternative Channel™ can become a platform and a community to share novel, ignored content :

Who qualifies as a "citizen journalist" acting for sustainable development ?

back to top

In order to be an Alternative Channel contributor, you must be a so-called "citizen journalist" ,  first you have to fulfil the basic criteria of being both a citizen and a journalist. You must share information objectively, and be an active member of society, sharing your opinion and expressing yourself when appropriate. Alternative Channel is especially looking for "citizen journalists" aware of the needed change to preserve our planet and acting for sustainable development,  contributos who want  to provide video content to raise awareness about global issues. 

A citizen journalist is someone who participates in democratic debate, bringing about their personal experience as a witness to an event. He or she should engage his fellow citizens in stories pertaining to current issues and give access to his peers to an alternative source of news which cannot be found in any other media. Citizen journalists help conscientise society through their reports.

If you have a message to pass on about global warming, humanitarian initiatives, sustainable development etc. , you know how to use a video camera and you think a large audience would like to hear about your story, then YOU are—or should be—a citizen journalist.

Why should I become an Alternative Channel™ member?

back to top

As a member, you will have access to your member account « My Channel ». It allows you to create a portfolio comprised of other members' (or your own) videos. The "send to a friend" feature allows you to share your videos with your own friends, and in turn engages them in the Alternative Community. Aditionally, having them watch your videos increases your chances of winning the Contest and the global impact of your message, if you happen to be a contributor..

You can use Alternathve Channel™ as a launch platform for your videos : being an upcoming journalist, or simply as an internet personality, you can count on Alternative Channel™ to get you seen! Go public with our active community!

Become a member and invite your network of friends to join. By uploading your videos to the website, you are contributing to a community of citizen journalists; you can expand your contacts via other members who give their thoughts about your videos, share their comments or even vote for you in the contest!

To become a member also means to share your talent with others. As a Citizen Journalist you become the narrator of alternative news. We are truly interested in your vision of the world and the way you will take to express it will contribute to your popularity on the web.

In order to take part in Alternative Channel™'s community and to broadcast your videos, you will need to register as a contributing member.

Who can contribute to Alternative Channel™?

back to top

Alternative Channel™ mission is to give a voice to every citizen who has a testimonial or a report that brings a new point of view to a subject considered as worth sharing to the community. Should you be a professional journalist, a simple citizen, a filmmaker, a student, a volunteer or a businessman etc. you can submit your video and if it respects our Code of Ethics, our Journalistic Policy and our quality standards it will be posted on.

This simple and powerful action is a step towards a better understanding of our world!

How can I become a Member of Alternative Channel™?

back to top

In order to become a Member of Alternative Channel™, you have to fill in the registration form available online.

From the -Channel main page, you can click on it's free to join , on the "Contribute "or "Profile" tab and you will have a direct access to the registration form. A registration is compulsory, especially if you become a Contributor!

Please, fill in all the required fields and read carefully Alternative Channel™ Terms of Use. Then you can edit your profile and change your password whenever you want.

If any difficulties occur while you are editing your profile, please do not hesitate to contact us: contact@alternativechannel.tv

What is the difference between being a Member and a Contributor?

back to top

Every simple visitor can watch as many videos he/she wants.

When you become a Member of Alternative Channel™, you have access to certain features as My Channel, you can vote, you can add your comments, etc.

A Member can become a Contributor of Alternative Channel™. In addition of the entire Members' privileges, a Contributor can submit his videos. He/She becomes an active member of the Alternative Channel Citizen Journalist Community and releases alternative news, highlighting unknown issues or giving a different point of view on unusual or original subjects.

Becoming a Partner

Who can become a Partner?

back to top

You are a non-profit organization, a NGO, a company willing to promote its action and citizen-oriented initiatives. You are looking for partners and you wish to increase your network of contacts. You have audiovisual contents you wish to broadcast to a large and international audience or share with your contacts. Alternative Channel™ wants your voice to be heard and help you to promote your initiatives made for and by citizens. Alternative Channel™ offers you its support and partnership. And it is free!

Why become a Partner?

back to top

To be Alternative Channel™ Partner means:

What are the advantages and services offered

back to top

Alternative Channel™ offers :

Alternative Channel offers several services linked with streaming, VOD (Video on demand), mobile telephony and other IP communications. Do not hesitate to contact us if you want more information! contact@alternativechannel.tv

How to become a partner?

back to top

Contact us contact@alternativechannel.tv and our team will be delighted to give an answer to every questions you may have, and to study the most accurate partnership according to your need.

If you would like to insert an advertisement, logo or banner, on Alternative Channel™'s website, please consult the advertising section of this page, or send us an email: advertise@alternativechannel.tv

Alternative Channel™ editorial content

What is the editorial content of Alternative Channel?

back to top

We are building the capacity—through our citizen journalist generated content, to deliver information without depending on corporate services. Thanks to our worldwide community of contributors and partners we are able to deliver uncompromised information. Our uniqueness is our democratisation of information and our ability to bypass mainstream agencies. But this uniqueness also underlines our major challenge: to maintain quality and deliver credible information. This mandate of quality and credibility has been entrusted to Alternative Channel's™ Editorial team, whose responsibilities include  applying our Code of Ethics and our Quality chart to all videos submitted by our contributors.

How do I submit my video?

back to top

To submit your video, click on the tab « Contribute ». If you are not already a Contributor Member you will be automatically redirected to the registration form. The registration is needed as our Editorial Team must be assured of the origin of the video and may contact you if needed. Once you are registered or logged in, you have to fill in the 3 steps contribution form about your video.

Step 1: upload your video

back to top

Thumbnail: click on « browse » and insert an image extracted from your video (.jpeg, .gif, or .png). The upload will not work if you do not add a thumbnail.

Video: click on « browse » and insert your video. We suggest using formats such as: MP3 Audio, 320x240 resolution, 30 frames per second framerate , MPEG4 (Divx, Xvid) format.

Step 2: Give information about your video

back to top

Title: choose your language (en: English; fr: French; es: Spanish) and enter the original title of your video. You can also choose to enter your title in each language if needed.

Description: write a short introduction about your video, about 100 words maximum, in languages of your choice.
Tags: enter keywords symbolizing your video. Tags are useful for the word engine, as every visitor can find your video using the research function on the main page.

Only separate your words with space and try to prioritize nouns over adjectives. For example, if your video deals with the Amazonian deforestation, your keywords can be : Forest Amazon Deforestation Environment Tree (on Alternative Channel™, tags are space-seperated)

Original version: Choose the original version of your video. If it is a silent or without dialogues video, choose "without words".

Dubbed: if the entire of some part of your video are dubbed, choose the language of the dubbing.

Sub-title: if subtitles are added to your video, please indicate the language.

Category: Choose between all the different categories displayed the one corresponding to the subject you are talking about in your video or eyewitness report. Those categories enable the editorial team to classify videos on the website; they do not refer to the contest categories.

Region: Choose your region. For example, you are European and your video deals with a subject in Asia. Choose your original region: "Europe".

Step 3: Submit your video

back to top

Once you have read the Alternative Channel™ terms of use and declare that your personal information entered is true, you just need to click on "SUBMIT".

Your video will be automatically uploaded. Your video approved by Alternative Channel will be released within two working days, and you will be able to send it to your friends, contacts, promote yourself and collect votes from the public!

How are videos selected by the editorial team?

back to top

The selection process is simple and based upon the Code of Ethics established by Alternative Channel™. (See page "How does Channel work?")

Once your video is received by our Editorial Team, it is scrupulously viewed by the Editorial Team and compared to the principles and objectives of Alternative Channel™. Your video must respect all our criteria and be integrated into an alternative approach.

The information must be useful, the subject and the way chosen to handle it have to prove its novelty and originality.

Who owns the rights to the videos on Alternative Channel™?

back to top

When a video is posted on Alternative Channel™, the Contributor will always be recognized as the owner of such video. By submitting his/her video, he/she accepts to cede the exploitation rights of his video to the Alternative Channel™ as long as the video is posted on the Alternative Channel™.

Web casting

back to top

Alternative Channel™ aims at offering to Internet users an alternative and complementary voice different from the conventional Medias. To fulfil its mission, Alternative Channel™ uses new technologies over the Internet, streaming and VOD.

What is Alternative?

back to top

For us, an alternative video is a story or an Eyewitness report that offers an original perspective on an event, news, distancing itself from established news sources and allowing for a better and more complete understanding of the matter at hand. Often unconventional and non-conformist, it is a true alternative to the stereotypes currently found in today's traditional media.

What are the rules for using Alternative Channel™?

back to top

You can be a simple visitor, a member or a contributor, all for free! Please read or Terms of Use to find out everything you need to know about being a model Alternative Channel Citizen.

Will Alternative Channel™ always be free?

back to top

Yes, there will always be a free version of Alternative Channel™. This is a choice we have made in line with our mission: which is to provide our viewers around the world alternative and complementary voices that cut through the main stream dogma lead by corporate media, on all existing platforms.

I'd like to use a video I found on Alternative Channel. How do I proceed?

back to top

You simply contact us by email with the details of your needs. We will evaluate the opportunity and promptly contact you.

What are the contents chosen by Alternative Channel™?

back to top

Alternative Channel™ covers global issues and is especially focused on global warming, sustainable development, ecology, humanitarian causes, social and environmental-oriented initiatives,  war and peace, international justice affairs, race and class, politics and environment, global economy, civil rights, labour issues and social policy. We will broadcast any video and collaborate with any contributor fulfilling our mandate.

How is the content controlled?

back to top

Members and contributors of Alternative Channel™ are unique, exigent, and truly involved. As a consequence, they deeply participate to the selection of lead stories, subjects in need of debates or more precisions. Based upon an easy to use feedback system, each Internet users is invited to give his/her opinion about videos on-line. Moreover, a statistical tool counts the number of videos viewed, this mechanism of interactivity between Alternative Channel™ and our Internet users indicates to the Editorial Team the impact of each videos.

What is an Alternative Content?

back to top

A story or an Eyewitness report is non-conventional; it doesn't need subsequent means of production and financing. It offers an original perspective on an event, news, distancing itself from established news sources and allowing for a better and more complete understanding of the matter at hand. Often unconventional and non-conformist, it is a true alternative to the stereotypes currently found in today's traditional media.

Is there a limit to the number of videos I can upload?

back to top

No, there isn't. You can freely upload as many videos as you want, there is no limit! It is up to you to reach the audience you are searching for and get the maximum amount of votes!

My file is too large to be uploaded, how can I do?

back to top

We recommend no more than 100Mo per file, and formats such as Audio MP3, 320x240 resolution, 30 images per second and format MPEG-4 (Divx, XVID, H.264). If you cannot have the recommended size and format file, do not hesitate to contact us by email: contact@alternativechannel.tv or directly send your videos on a DVD by air mail:

Our adress in Canada :
Alternative Channel TV Inc.
5685, Fullum, suite 103
Montréal, Québec, Canada, H2G 2H6

Rating

Who can rate a video?

back to top

Each citizen has the right to express his/her ideas and the right to vote! As a consequence each visitor can rate any videos and also write a comment and give his/her opinion and maybe create a real democratic debate about your work.

Why would a member rate?

back to top

Each member can make his/her voice to be heard, but every communication needs also listening. We are encouraging each of you to view and listen to the message of each Contributor. Please let yourself giving feedback by rating the video and writing comments. It aims at offering a real diversity and alternative to the traditional Medias and building an active and lively community!

Alternative Channel™ website

Map of the website

back to top

Channel
Main page
About A-Channel
How does A-Channel work?
Frequently asked question
Advices for visitors & contributors

Profile

Contribute

Event
2008 Alternative Channel Forum

Partners
Our partners
Partnership Information
Partnership agreement

Blog
English
Français
Español

Media
Alternative Channel Press
Alternative Channel in the Media
Our partners' press release

Languages
English
Français
Español

Sections

Channel

back to top

Discover what are Alternative Channel™ and its entire audiovisual content. You have a direct access to videos from the main page which also presents the current top videos and a list of the latest videos underlined by the Editorial Team.

To find a video, choose the category you are interested in or use the function "research" by entering keywords. You have a free and direct access to a large choice of video regarding your request.

Profile

back to top

If you are registered as a Member, it is your private space. You have access to your profile where you can edit your information. Click on "edit my profile" situated under your Member name. On this page you have an access to all the videos you have uploaded on the website as a Contributor. You can also use the feature "publish my press release" and directly post your lastest news to a wide and targeted audience.

The portfolio gathers videos from the website that you have viewed and you wish to add to you member account. To add a video to your portfolio, you just need to select a video and click on "add to my portfolio".

Contribute

back to top

Each time you want to send a video to Alternative Channel™ , you just need to click on « Contribute ». If you are already registered, simply go at the end of the identification form in the "already registered" section and enter you username and password to log in, otherwise if you are not a member you need to complete the entire form and create an account.You will be then directed to the video upload form. For more information please see: "How to submit my videos?"

Event

back to top

Alternative Channel™ organises its 2008 Forum on social networks and responsible media in Barcelona, find out more about this international event on this webpage.

Partners

back to top

Alternative Channel™ offers its partnership to NGOs, NPOs, independent medias, companies involved in a sustainable development or humanitarian initiatives and it is free! Find out more about how to be a partner and feel free to fill in the on-line form.

Blog

back to top

Alternative Channel™ proposes a new point of view about current and non-conventional news. Get a new way of information through the three Alternative Channel™ blogs, in English, French and Spanish. You can participate and create your own blog too or leave comments about articles.

Media

back to top

Alternative Channel™ is growing fast and welcomes more and more members and partners everyday. Find out who we are and our latest news on the "Alternative Channel Press" page. Have a look at the "Alternative Channel in the Media" to see what others think about us! And finally, check out our partners' latest breaking news by reading their press releases on " Our partners' press releases" webpage.

Languages

back to top

Alternative Channel is available in three languages. Visit the website under you own language but feel free to explore the alternative news whether they are from English, French or Spanish speaking countries.

Videos

How to find a video?

back to top

You are looking for a video in particular? Alternative Channel™ has a whole variety of subjects: Politics, Crime/Law, Money/finance, Health, Religion, Culture/entertainment, Sports etc. We recently added a particular category dedicated to the environment issues where you can view videos about initiatives lead by non-profit organization and NGOs.

The research function works by keywords. For example, if you are looking for a video about the Amazonian Forest, you have all the chances to get what you need by entering a keyword such as Amazon, Forest, Environment, etc.

You have also the access to a more detailed research function. It can be useful to precise your research by geographical area, languages or categories.

What are the functions of the video navigation?

back to top

Rate it: Give a rate to the video you've just watched, do you like it a little, a lot? You love it? Tell us what you're thinking about it, your rate will enable the Editorial Team to know the most popular videos.

Send to a friend: use a lot this function to share the Channel videos with your friends and contacts, you can also use it to send your own videos and ask your contacts to vote for you! Promote yourself!

Flag as inappropriate: If you think that the video your are viewing violates Copyrights or its content does not respect the Code of Ethics and Chart of Quality established by Alternative Channel™ , you can raise our awareness about it by using the function "flag as inappropriate". All videos confirmed as inappropriate will be automatically erased from the website. Moreover, if we notice that a Contributor has repeatedly posted unlicensed or unethical content, his /her Member account will be automatically erased.

Do we get paid for our contributions on Alternative Channel™?

back to top

At the moment, Alternative Channel™ only pays authors whose videos include advertisements before or after their main content. It also depends on the number of videos viewed by the users of www.alternativechannel.tv

The rule is the following:

The current version of www.alternativechannel.tv does not offer any payment for authors who does not have advertisements in their video content. 

Publicity