starting Youtube channel, seeking hypothetical advice

[Deep13]

Hello and Eid Mubarak ,

I used to post on DU a lot, but I haven't been around since the first Obama term. Nice to see you all.

I have some free time, so I'm considering starting a Youtube channel. My background is in law, politics, and I have a graduate degree in history. I have a particular interest in ethnic mass violence and authoritarianism. I also have a keen interest in science, especially astronomy, language, and skepticism. I have some hypothetical questions for media savvy people here.

The idea is to make videos about interesting subjects. Everything I say will include citations to the historical record or to the work of experts in their fields. There will be no "making stuff up." I want my show to be like the anti-Carlson. I want to debunk false ideas that so many assume to be true. Each show will be about interesting things generally, things that make people question their assumptions.

Hypothetically, there are some precautions I'm exploring. Basically, I don't want some super-rich asshole suing me because I called him a Nazi. SLAPP suits have no actual legal merit, but it still costs a lot to defend against one. I'm in Ohio, which has no anti-SLAPP laws. Again, hypothetically, what if one were to incorporate in California, which has an awesome anti-SLAPP law, and what if one were to "broadcast" from a CA VPN. I know no one here can give me legal advice, but hypothetically, what do you all think about that? I would still be in OH, and most of the vids would be shot here, though I travel, too. Any hypothetical, non-binding thoughts on this?

[Phoenix61]

1. Phrases like, "In my opinion", "I think it's possible", there's a whole

slew of them to keep you from getting sued for slander. Lawrence O’Donnell did a segment about it and how Fox anchors failure to use them is why they had to sign a big fat check.

[Deep13]

6. thanks.

Any defamation suit will be designed to out-spend me (not hard to do) defending against it. They would be wrong, but the issue would still be a jury question after a lot of legal work.

John Oliver did a video on SLAPP suits a few years ago. Go on Youtube and search for "john oliver eat shit bob." You'll find two videos about some coal baron. After the first episode aired, the coal baron sued HBO for libel. HBO won, but it cost a considerable amount of money in lawyer's fees. The second episode was about SLAPP suits.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

2. If somebody sued you in earnest it's not going to matter what VPN you use

State laws will apply depending on where you live, and where the person suing you lives. You won't be able to claim CA laws protection when you don't live there just because you used a CA-based VPN. Doesn't work like that.

Other than that, I love your plan, and best of luck, let us know when you get it set up

[Deep13]

4. It's publication that matters.

That's why I'm thinking that a CA VPN might work, but I don't know enough about that area of law to be sure. At some point, I'll need to talk to a lawyer, but I hope at least to narrow the issues first. Thanks.

[FreepFryer]

3. There is a big difference between educating and entertaining. Decide which is your focus.

If you plan to cite everything you say, you will have a shit-ton of research and editing (text and video) to do. This will be a major ongoing effort. And you will still get bullshit naysayers, trolls and assorted ratfuckers in the comments.

Then, if your visual and audio style and production quality is high enough to not be noticed as lacking, you might gain an audience that begins to stick. Learning, mastering and performing this technical production work can be a full-time job.

Then, if you master YouTube analytics and schedule/organize your content to maximize the algorithm, you may have a chance at being promoted to potential viewers. Outreach, promoting and scheduling of content to subscribers can also be a full time job.

And last, if you are an entertaining, charismatic speaker and actor - and if you have a director / producer to shoot, light and produce the footage, you can stay focused on being the star and writer of the show, at once charming and accurate and high-quality and timely and regular and entertaining.

Personally it sounds like a fucking nightmare cruise of ego in a sea of mediocrity. But I wish you the best of luck with your YouTube professorial career.

[Deep13]

5. "Personally it sounds like a fucking nightmare cruise of ego in a sea of mediocrity."

Thanks for responding. What a great remark. Can't say I know what it means.

A guy I know does an amateur astronomy channel. About every two weeks, he posts a new video about an astronomy-related topic. That's about what I had in mind. I'd start by releasing 8 or 10 vids, then add more regularly.

I've already done a lot of the reading. And yeah, I would cite it in subtitles. I don't think I'm being egotistical if I say I have an engaging and funny personality. And I know how to engage on serious topics with genuine, but controlled anger, too.

[FreepFryer]

7. None of what I said had to do w u - the whole environment is ego-driven and mediocrity-oriented.

But I’m glad you can articulate your strengths and sing your own praises, you may indeed have what it takes.