(How will the increase in both supply and demand for user-generated photos/videos affect content prices?)

Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced that New York City plans to install new technology so that 911 call centers can receive digital images and videos sent from cell phones and computers. While many news organizations already offer similar services, this does raise new questions for the cell phone photographer/videographer.

If you caught a great picture of the World Trade Centre during 9/11, who would you submit your photos to first? The New York Times, who would pay you handsomely for them, or the New York City police, who would likely pay less, but potentially use them for a "greater good"? (both is not an option, as the Police would either release them for free or not allow the photo's release at all.)

Furthermore, as government agencies and commercial firms express further interest in user-generated content, and camera and video phones become even more common, will the supply of user-generated content out step demand, causing downward pressure on the price of freelance work altogether?

(See South Florida Newsday Article)