Digital billboards as citizen media

From time to time I have blogged about billboards used as citizen media, to use the term from an article from the Tyee, the alternative weekly newspaper in Vancouver, BC. The New Ideas for the New Year article series in that paper includes this one, "Idea #1: Advertise Change: David Vogt wants to turn digital billboards into citizen media."

I think about this when I see the billboards used by DC's Department of Transportation, as well as the scoreboard on the Verizon Center.

After all, if the Verizon Center can get $50 million in tax fees on tickets to pay for new seats and an inside scoreboard, why can't Verizon Center provide space for citizen media messages on their outside billboard, rather than only free tickets for the Mayor and DC Council and those connected to them?

See "Showtime for Friends of Fenty" and "Mayor, Council Battle Over Wizards Tickets" from the Washington Post.

DDOT billboard on Montana Avenue NE, approaching New York Avenue NE