Well, I would only suggest that if they are being used as per fair use law that you can be paid. A newspaper gets paid, as do teachers and critics.......
No to your Youtube idea as anything shot by an individual is automatically copyright, as for them taking videos of Sports events, there are players image rights to also take into consideration. I was starting to read some issues about US sports events where you're no longer allowed to shoot inside the arena...till I got bored! but I will stick with the disclaimer notice and only use stuff easily found in the public domain. I don't believe for a minute all these micro-news sites, the sort that comes up on www.newsnow.com are all paying for photos.
I will however try and steer clear of anything that says Getty images or AP on them, or any other images that have copyright notices stamped onto them. That would just be taking the piss!!
Worst that can happen is a cease and desist notice I would imagine.