Here in the DC Metro, we are snowed in. Around two feet of snow down already, and it's still coming. We're looking at another 6" - 8" before it stops. The wind is now kicking in, causing major drifting (when I opened my front door to go out and take pictures, I had to wade through snow above my waist).  I'm pretending like we're not on yearbook deadline right now.

What's been interesting to me is watching the local news coverage and reading coverage online.

One station has gone to 24-7 news reporting of the blizzard, which is a little much (some people should not be allowed to talk LIVE on TV...ever). However, what's been very cool is all of the coverage that is user-generated. Much of the footage being shown is from viewers Webcams they have livestreaming and from photos being sent in by users. One station claimed to have received more than 600 photos in one hour from users.

The Washington Post is providing a lot of coverage online (although they didn't deliver my paper today...hmm..), and  they have a big plea for viewers to play "assignment editor" and give reporters assignments as to what to cove. They're also running feed of the Twitter hashtag #snowpocalypse.

Facebook is also playing its part, as I'm seeing the Power and Cable go out around the area by reading my friends' status. As you can imagine, there are dozens of schedule snow ball fights being planned on Facebook around the DC Metro, with one that is expected to draw hundreds of people at 2 p.m. EST in Dupont Circle (my friends tell me there are already news trucks set up to cover it). Some local stations are also chatting and answering questions that readers are posting on the station's Facebook page.

Not sure if any student media is providing coverage of the event. I've not encouraged my students to do anything, as it really isn't safe to drive or walk outside, and I dont want to be a part of that. I did see, however, that on the Oakton Media Group Facebook page, my yearbook editor was asking students to send her their snow photos.

In addition, The local Fox affiliate in Washington DC switched from regular programming to 24-7 coverage of the blizzard. In addition, the entire coverage was Webcast online at www.myfoxdc.com. In the screenshot (below), the highlighted area behind the anchor is Gwen, a reporter from My Fox DC who is online chatting with viewers on the stations Web site. She answered questions live, took notes from user comments, and shared those comments live on the air periodically with the entire viewing area. At any one time, 300 to 600 viewers were logged in, chatting live with station reporters, weathermen, and other viewers.