Warwick iCast

Tom Abbott

University of Warwick

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Project Settings• Weekly video bulletin• Highlight research activity• All faculties and departments• Research outputs, new programmes,

events etc• During term time

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Funding and management• HEIF funded - 250k over two years• Managed through Communications

Office• Supported by academic community• EmberRegis recruited to produce

content– 1 camera/editor– 1 producer - embedded in department

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History• Research-TV• Warwick Blogs• Warwick Podcasts• Warwick iCast• eLearning team

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How it works• Communications Office works with

academics to develop stories• Producer translates this for production

team and oversees delivery• Production team film and edit content• Comms Office publish and distribute

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Distribution• University website• YouTube• Blip.tv• other channels as required

– Interest group websites as relevant

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Considerations• Visual style and pitch

– Audience expectations

• Working with broadcasters• Length and format

– portability– reuse– consumption vs maintaining integrity

• Engaging academics

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How it worked out• Early problems with presentation• Tried to cram too much in• Not short of content• Academics keen to work with the project• 100,000 video views on YouTube• National Press coverage• Integration with Comms activity

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If we were starting today?• Bring skills in house• Stop worrying about ‘broadcast

standards’• Less concerned about the package• Be braver• Integrate more closely with elearning

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What’s bugging me now• Sustainability

• Translating the service into a core function

• Capacity vs Demand

• Focus

• Building connections to elearning

• Distribution

• Balancing academic and audience interests

• Finding the bottom line

• Collaboration

• Open Access