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Advancing Ideas through Video
Published on Friday, June 01, 2007
ARTICLES
Nicole Williams, SPN Management & Technology Advisor
With Youtube.com making a splash on the Web, institutes have begun calling for video advice. Several SPN members already have video programs: Goldwater Institute, Independence Institute and the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, to name a few.
There are two common questions. First, how can we use video to promote our ideas? You can leverage your efforts through video in many ways, among them:
- Record your events and guest speakers. Post the videos to your website, youtube.com and bureaucrash.com.
- Interview people about a report or commentary topic. Post these clips to your website when the related publication is released.
- Create entertaining videos about a single concept; post them to your website.
- Record the people quoted in a media release; distribute this to TV stations. Include clips related to the media release topic.
- Develop relationships with TV news program producers. Familiarity breeds more interview requests.
The second common question I get, what do we need to buy? To this question add training and staffing needs. For starters, you need:
- One video capable computer; dual processor, fast hard drives (at least two) and a powerful video card.
- One video camera; after the video program is defined, select a suitable camera.
- Video editing software; choose software that matches your program.
- A staff member, possibly a volunteer, who is capable of shooting quality video, editing it and assisting with output and distribution.
- Training for employees who will be recorded; the Leadership Institute and Friedman Foundation have excellent training courses.
Setting up a basic video program is easier than you may think. More in-depth video services take time, but they can deliver a significant public relations return on investment. For more guidance, please write me at williams@spn.org.
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