Answer: you decide! If you saw Michelle Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday night, you can compare it to the 2008 speech here: If you haven’t watched the 2012 speech yet, here it is: We think she was pretty compelling both times. As video producers we notice that the production is more professional in 2012 than it was in 2008. The 2008 video sports black borders if you view it on YouTube because it was shot for a narrower box than YouTube provides; in 2012 the first lady fills the screen. In 2008 the picture is a little less crisp, and the long shots that show the big screen over the speaker’s head are off-center and untidy looking. The YouTube video player shows evolution too; auto-captioning was not a YouTube feature in 2008, but it now provides reasonably accurate and helpful captions for YouTube viewers who want or need it. These are distinctions that reflect the emergence over the last four years of online video as a vital way to communicate. Another interesting thing is that the 2008 video has more than 900,000 views. According to YouTube insights (see the graphic), most of those were when the 2008 video was new. YouTube insights Michelle Obama 2008 speech How long do you think it will take the 2012 video to meet and exceed its predecessor? While it would be tempting to attach other meaning to this indicator, we think the result is going to be a sign of the popularity and influence of online video. If MiniMatters can help you use increase your influence through online video, we’d love to talk with you at 301-339-0339 or via email at [email protected].