Old media discovered the pitfalls of new media this week when CNN and YouTube partnered to host the US Presidential Debate. It was only 1/24 of a second during the live TV broadcast, but CNN executives have labeled it “despicable”.

During one of the user generated videos containing a question (the videos were a feature of the debate) an offensive picture, apparently well known as the GOATSE, was flashed up momentarily in front of the live national TV audience.

The picture, which portrays a male doing something with his body that makes even the strongest-stomached person wince, has been doing the rounds on the internet since 2000.

Although it was only a split second, it’s been reported as many as 200,000 viewers phoned in to express their displeasure!

With user generated content originating on the internet you often get more than you bargain for - a lesson that traditional media companies like CNN will come to discover!

[Via BeginNorth.com]

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