Multimedia in research: What is it? Why use it? How to use it?

MultimediaWhat is it? Why use it? How to use

it? Presentation by ILRI Public Awareness team

ILRI Komms Klinics sessionNairobi, 31 Oct 2012

The Komms Klinics approach

• Away from (just) tools, into communication processes

• Six broad communication areas

• Tools are still part of the picture

• Awareness raising and hands-on training sessions

• More trainers, more trainees

The Komms Klinics approach

IntroductionStructure of presentation

•What is multimedia

•What multimedia can do for you

•How we use multimedia at ILRI

•How the pieces you have can be turned into a multimedia product

•Examples of multimedia products at ILRI

•Using multimedia in your work

•Challenges in using multimedia

•What next?

What is ‘multimedia’?

What is ‘multimedia’? • Communication that uses more than one (multi)

medium (media).

What is ‘multimedia’?• Multimedia combines different formats.

What is ‘multimedia’?

• Multimedia content is delivered electronically or digitally.

Working with multimedia:what it can do for you

Project

• You can combine text, images and sounds in ways that make your research or project really interesting to almost everybody.

• This way you reach more people and get them to take actions you want.

What multimedia can do for you

What multimedia can do for you

• Multimedia makes it easier for people to remember your message because it is more engaging compared to traditional channels.

What multimedia can do for you

• You can use multimedia to tell stories that simplify the complexities of research which contributes to getting research into use.

What multimedia can do for you

• Multimedia dynamic and easy to adapt. It can be used differently and creatively by people.

What multimedia can do for you

Project

Working with multimedia: How we use it @ ILRI

How we use multimedia @ ILRI

Project

For social reporting.

•Workshops, seminars & meetings Recording interviews and comments from participants

To report ILRI’s research.

• Through Blip films, videos and photofilms showing importance and relevance of ILRI’s research.•These multimedia products support blogging/social media communication.

How we use multimedia @ ILRI

Project

For internal communication.

•ILRI-wide messages•DG’s messages to staff

How we use multimedia @ ILRI

How the pieces you have can be turned into

multimedia products

How the pieces you have can be turned into multimedia products

• Some already have pictures or videos or presentations from work, workshops and projects.

• Communications team would like to assist you to turn these into compelling multimedia products.

How the pieces you have can be turned into multimedia products

The process:•We start by identifying or agreeing on a possible story •We can support in interviewing and taking pictures or videos

• This is followed by a review and editing of recorded material to choose what best fits the story.

using Soundtrack Pro, Adobe Audition, Photoshop etc.

• This part of the process takes the most time.

How the pieces you have can be turned into multimedia products

How the pieces you have can be turned into multimedia products• The edited material is then put together into a final

product.• Can be a video, photofilm, slideshow or slidecastUsing iMovie or Windows Moviemaker.

Example of a final productParticipants interview in a workshop:

Example of a final productPhotofilm: How dairy farming educates Kenya’s children

Using multimedia in your work

Using multimedia in your workStart by thinking through a story idea or concept

•What do you want to say or cover or tell?•Who are your targeting with this message? •Think about the medium to reach this audience.

Using multimedia in your workFind out who has the information you need for the story.

• Who should you interview or talk to?• What pictures or sounds do you need?

Using multimedia in your work

Talk to communication staff to assist you conduct interviews and collect pictures for the the story.

Using multimedia in your work

Work with communication staff in reviewing your interviews and photos to help you choose what fits your message.

Using multimedia in your work

The final product is then publish or shared. •Depending on audience, can be online or shared in portable media like CDs and DVDs.

Challenges of working with multimedia

Challenges of working with multimedia

Using multimedia often requires us to learn new skills•Such as how to conduct interviews, how to be a good photo/videographer and sound/video editor.

Working with multimedia– what next?

Working with multimedia–what next?

Increasing consumption of web 2.0 content likely to keep raising demand for relevant multimedia products.

For example, increasing use of video in websites.

Working with multimedia–what next?

Need for creative storytelling and productions that show the uniqueness and impact of ILRI’s research.

•Requires communication methods/tools that are dynamic (not static), inspire imagination and that illuminate knowledge.

Reflection:What can you start doing today

in multimedia?

Things to start doing today in multimedia

Identify one big multimedia idea in your project/research that you would like to work on or get

assisted with.

Note down some of what you already have that could be used for a multimedia product.

Things to start doing today in multimedia

Talk to ILRI communication staff for help in turning what you have and your ideas into compelling

multimedia products.

More about Komms Klinics• Visit our Komms Klinics training wiki:

http://ilri-training.wikispaces.com

• Find out more and contact Tsehay, Ewen, Angela or Evelyn

• Find answers to communication questions: http://ilri-comms.wikispaces.com

• Find out about the activities of ILRI’s communication team: http://infoilri.wordpress.com

International Livestock Research InstituteBetter lives through livestock

Animal agriculture to reduce poverty, hunger and environmental degradation in developing countries

www.ilri.org

Thank you