What's your media and marketing challenge? That's the question we're asking community organisations in Southampton and we're providing a free drop-in consultancy to help. In partnership with Southampton 2025, our #MakeItSO Media Clinic is part of our joint mission to amplify the city's community voices and showcase the great things happening in our communities and … Continue reading Our new #MakeItSO Media Clinic offers free media and marketing advice to Southampton’s community organisations
Category: Media skills / Media tips / Media literacy
We're inviting local organisations to sponsor a Mobile Storytelling workshop so that more Southampton residents can learn digital media skills to amplify their voices and tell their own stories. We teach people to create, film and edit impactful videos using a smartphone Our Version Media is on a mission to equip people from the south’s … Continue reading Local organisations invited to sponsor a digital media skills workshop
By Bill Shepherd Why, and in which situations, do you think it is better to film with a smartphone instead of a traditional camera? There is an old saying, the best camera is the one you always have with you. Journalists carry their smartphone all the time, which allows them to do three things: record … Continue reading Using your smartphone to record a news story
1. Use your social media channels Share your video on social media. This is a great way to let people know what your organisation is doing and how it is helping the community. Tweak captions per platform because, as well as word count restrictions, each might have different audiences. For example, your Twitter followers might … Continue reading 6 impactful ways to share your video online
1. Your motivation was wrong You wanted free promotion or advertising. You didn’t care about news. You just wanted a journalist to promote your project, service, product or event, otherwise known as a “puff piece”. Send one too many of those and you’ll end up on the “Spam” list! Next time, find a real story … Continue reading 7 reasons journalists don’t respond to your press release
1. Rethink your views about video Stop visualising making a flashy video. You've been busy serving your community, not working as a videographer. No-one, not even you, should expect you to create a top quality video. That fear will stop you from giving it a go and prevent you from telling your stories. So grab … Continue reading 10 steps to get you filming stories with your mobile
1. Know the value of video Video is a great way to showcase your social impact. Use it to capture how your organisation is addressing a social need, and how it is helping the community. Video can also let people know about the support available on their doorstep, and gain supporters for your project or … Continue reading 5 steps to simplify making a social impact video
1. Don't waste time writing a press release You're running a community event and you want to promote it. You send a press release and sit back waiting for your event to hit the news. Guess how many of their 1000s of viewers, listeners and readers will hear about your event? None. Zero. Why? Because … Continue reading 7 easy and effective ways to promote your community event
1. Amazing Being passionate about your project or service is great but, just because you say it’s “amazing” doesn’t mean it is. Using that word is lazy. Plus what’s “amazing” to you, may not be “amazing” to a journalist, or their audience. Instead, explain what it is you do that makes it “amazing.” Show it, … Continue reading 3 words to never use in your press release
Southampton City Council’s Tenant Engagement team has put together a Diversity Calendar. It’s packed with key dates, such as national and international awareness days, UN commemorative days, and fun days. It’s a great tool if you’re looking for dates to “hook” your story onto and to help with story and content scheduling. Download the Diversity … Continue reading Diversity Calendar