Priscilla’s step-by-step guide to creating a compelling multimedia feature story

1. Priscilla’s step-by-step guide to creating a compelling multimedia feature story By: Priscilla Wentworth Georgetown University Cause Consultant

2. About Priscilla • Currently pursing a masters degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications • Georgetown University cause consultant • Interests in multimedia technology to create promote and manage cause marketing efforts • I enjoy this topic and I am happy to keep this conversation going. Feel free to reach me anytime at on LinkedIn. • Webinar available here: https://blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/csic/?p=3979

3. Introduction • http://kidsgoals.com/thoughts-of-the-day/how-to-educate-a-child/

4. Clearing the Clutter: Multimedia Storytelling

5. Key Definitions • Multimediais a combination of text, still photographs, video clips, and audio interactivity presented in a nonlinear format in which the information in each medium is complementary, not redundant. • Digital storytellingis the new practice of ordinary people using digital tools to tell their story. Digital stories are often compelling and emotionally engaging. • A storyboard is a sketch of how to organize a story and a list of its contents. A storyboard helps you: Define the parameters of a story, organize and focus a story, and figure out what mediums to use to tell the story. • Layering, is combing your audio and photos on a storyboard to create a video that will enhance your message. • Nonprofits are all trying to tell their stories in memorable ways. By creating simple, short multimedia videos you can connect with your audience.

6. The four W’s for Nonprofit Storytelling: Who, What, When, Where

7. What Hardware/Software Will You need? • Computer (PC or MAC will work) • Flash drive or hard drive to store and back up files • Audio recorder: iPhone, Android default recorders (free and work well!). Make sure you check your recording format settings • A storyboard: a blank wall and some sticky notes will do! • Audio editing software: Audacity (PC), Hindenburg (PC), or Garage Band (MAC). Or any software you personally prefer to work with • Layering Audio and Photos software: Soundslides • Camera: Professional SLR or point-and-shoot (whatever you are most comfortable using)

8. Step-by-stepDirections for Software • Audio recording (PC) Audacity(or any Audacity tutorials on website) • Hendenburg (PC) • Audio recording (MAC) Garage Band (or any Garage Band tutorials on website) • Creating the multimedia piece (MAC & PC) Soundslides • Posting to your website • http://support.soundslides.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=117 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGsSGPh-TzA

9. Examples & Resources: Books, Blogs, & Websites Must See: Inspirational example: • NY Times, 1 in 8million project Blogs/Websites • Multimedia Shooter: Different tools and different people using and good stories you wouldn’t see. • This American Life: best audio storytelling out there, weekly show • Radiolab:opposite of This American Life, on the edge with sound and storytelling, NPR program • NPR, The Picture Show , 1st news photo blog • NY Times, LENS, more traditional approach Books/ TED Video on book • John Maeda, The Laws of Simplicity. A good, quick read about creative simplicity. TEDvideo on this topic. • Jessica Helfand and John Maeda, Screen: Essays on Graphic Design, New Media, and Visual Culture, Washington Post (Note: all quotes from this post are from this reference)

10. Audio Tips define: tracks, acts, ambiance tips on actual recording and editing

11. Tracks, Acts, Ambi: Important Elements to Audio • Tracks: You. The guide. • Acts: Those you interview. Your subjects. • Ambience(ambi): Sounds. Sets the mood. • “Audio works when it touches our hearts, tickles our imagination, and intrigues our minds.” • “Make them feel like they’re wherever you are, not reading the postcard you sent.”

12. Tips for Recording Audio: What do you really want to know from your interviews? “You will find that trust is one of the best elements of a great story. Be respectful of that trust, from the interview to the edit. Know that it may take many sessions before a subject will allow themselves to really open up.” • Prep your questions. so that the interviewee answers them in a complete sentence and not just a simple “yes” or “no”. For example: “Tell me how you felt when…” or “Describe for me…” Ultimately you want your acts to describe the story in their words with your voice used only as the putty molding the overall story. • Be as close to the mic as possible. Otherwise, it will be harder to change the levels of sound between people when editing later. For that reason, get comfortable with your subjects since you will be close to them while recording. • Background noise. For example, a mistake I made before was not pausing a recording for a plane flying overhead. I lost a quality statement from my subject. Ask to pause and resume once the plane passes, your interviewee may not think to do this so be listening for all distraction noises. • Speed of delivery. Keep your voice natural and remind your subjects; if you think you are talking slow, you could probably talk slower. • The power of a pause. • “The spaces between sounds can be as important as the sounds themselves. Once you start to edit, you’ll notice how crucial breaths can be, how powerful a pause is. Sometimes you are only a breath away from your goal: an edit that is invisible to the ear.”

13. Audio Equipment and Editing Tips & Tricks • While editing listen to yourself and your acts through headphones. • Your smart phones standard recorder is fine for recording audio. Can also buy the app Audio Pro for the iPhone. • WAV or MP3 files. Audacity (PC) and Garage Band (MAC). There are loads of free tutorials online that will walk you through how to record in these files, save, and convert files types. • Copywriting/ethics: Unless it is free copywriting (music on garage band and other editing software programs) do not use it. Even if you buy it off iTunes, you do not have the rights to use it in your story. There is plenty of free music sites but makes sure you get permission when needed. Even with YouTube you must get permission or pay for the rights. “Tell a compelling, worthy story with words and sounds the same way you tell it with images. Capture emotion. Get close. Approach things from a new angle with a curious mind and a sensitive heart.”

14. Visual tips define: the five photos needed to tell a compelling feature story tips on lightening, rules of vision, and for stories

15. Scene setter Medium shot Portrait Detail shot Action shot Five Photos to Telling a Compelling Feature Story 2. 1. 4. 3. 5.

16. Photo Flow When you are taking pictures you are not thinking about how they will flow later, keep the following in mind: • Leveling. Prop the camera on something wherever you can to get a level photo. • Rule of thirds. Take a photo of the subject on one side or the other, but not in the middle of the screen. • Flash. Photos should be taken with natural light and the flash off as much as possible. When layering them later, if you have photos with flash and photos without they may not flow as nicely from one to the next in the story. • Cropping. If you must only crop what is competing with your subject/focus.

17. Layering: Time to bring your story to life! File Storage Soundslides Storyboard

18. Layering Continued • Once you have all of your audio and photos you are ready to begin editing. This is the most time consuming part so leave plenty of time to get your thoughts together and edit. • Combine all audio and photos into one main folder on your computer. Back-up on your flash drive or hard drive with the original source content. • Begin importing your audio into the audio editing software program. Segment your audio into blips that you want to use. • Make a folder for final edits and export them into this folder and move copies of photos you are sure you want to use here. Don’t discount anything too early. • Time to write your story! My favorite way to do this is to place Post-it notes on a wall with specific audio tracks and acts on each one and then either printed photos or write out on the sticky notes which photos you want to use. • Take a few weeks with this up on the wall. Don’t be afraid to let the story take up the whole wall! • Move things around, walk away, come back, over and over, and your story will unfold organically. • You are now ready to use Soundslides to create the edited audio and final photos for your story into a digital story.

19. Conclusion • Key Takeaways: • Methodology: Leave yourself plenty of time. Don’t try to do audio recording and take photos in the same interview--make sure you can meet with your subjects more than once and spend time to get comfortable with them. • Multimedia pieces are a cost effective, creative and simple way to build your brand and raise awareness of your mission. • We are all creative when we open up and are passionate about the story we want to share. • I am happy to keep the conversation going! Reach out to me anytime via LinkedIn for tips, suggestions, or resources • Thank you and happy storytelling!