Getting started with multimedia – AAAS and EurekAlert! experiences.

Getting started with multimedia – AAAS and EurekAlert! experiences

EurekAlert! Seminar – December 2008

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A disclaimer: We are complete amateurs!

Please note that staff in the AAAS Office of Public Programs, which includes EurekAlert!, are new to multimedia. We are sharing our preliminary experiences in hopes that they might prove helpful to others who also want to begin using multimedia tools.


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But we are in the same boat …

… working toward common goals.


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Canon HG-10 (HD AVCHD HDD camcorder - 40GB) and starter kit (lights, battery, wide-angle lens, beginner’s guide and more)

Bogen 190XB tripod with video head

PROCO camcorder CBL mono mini to XLR/F-20 (cord)

Easel to hold the AAAS and EurekAlert! foamcore poster “backdrops”

Marantz PMD-660 compact flash recorder (for podcasts)

Audio-Technica AT-897 shotgun microphone kit

Sony MDR-7506 headphones

Countryman B6 lavaliere microphone

BeachTek DXA061 “phantom power” box (to power the lavaliere mike)

Flip Video Ultra (60 minutes)

MacIntosh computers for video editors (should be 4 GB, with built-in cameras), loaded with Final Cut Express software, free Skype software and the $14.95 “call recorder” software for capturing Skype video or audio calls

AAAS-EurekAlert! preliminary equipment list


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Where did we purchase our preliminary stockpile of multimedia equipment?

Ritz Camera, 1750 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202-861-7710 – our salesperson was named Syed)

Science online staff members have participated in multimedia training through Stanford Publishing Courses for Professionals – New Media Group. See: http://publishingcourses.stanford.edu

The Stanford group purchases their equipment from a group called B&H Photo and Video in New York.

Please Note – AAAS is not recommending these vendors, nor any of the equipment that we purchased. We are only sharing our experiences with others in case it may prove helpful.


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At our CEO’s request, we soon invested in a teleprompter, too

8.4” LCD prompting system, including 1-8” LCD flat panel prompter monitor (composite/S-video inputs)

This equipment comes with proprietary software called TeleScriptAV that runs on Windows 2000/XP

Our vendor was Telescript, Inc., 445 Livingston Street, Norwood, NJ 07648. (201) 767-6733

The rep, John McGrath, was happy to arrange for a short training session


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AAAS and EurekAlert! loaded Final Cut Express onto MacIntosh Computers

We received preliminary training from Apple Business Solutions. See: http://www.mbsdirect.com/current


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Skype supports audio and video calls via the Internet. Download the free software at http://www.skype.com. Skype-to-Skype calls are free. For other calls, you must “pay to play,” but the rates are cheap.


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Record audio and video calls using Skype

Log onto http://www.ecamm.com/mac/callrecorder

Download the $14.95 Call Recorder software

Click the Call Recorder button that looks like an asterisk (above). Select the video option. After your face appears, place a Skype call. AAAS and EurekAlert! suggest that calls should be recorded only with the explicit agreement of all parties.


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Rights, permissions and ethical guidelines

AAAS staff members must obtain a signed permission form from any third-party providing photographs, audio or video for communications purposes Skype calls cannot be recorded without explicit permission Parents must agree to any depictions of their children (unless captured at public events in a journalistic fashion) In addition, non-AAAS staff members who participate in videos created by us must sign a release form EurekAlert! uses a “click-through” permission system for all content submitted to the newly expanded Multimedia Gallery E! staff members review all submissions to try and spot any music or images that might have been inappropriately inserted into videos The E! Terms and Conditions online statement includes information on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act – this is a very important protection!


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IMAGES – Generally, at least 5x7” w/ resolution of 300 dots per inch (DPI). We accept JPEG, GIF, PNG and TIFF formats. PIOs may choose to submit only low-rez “teaser” images (72 DPI), but we recommend submitting the downloadable versions for reporters.

VIDEO – Quicktime, Windows Media, MPEG or AVI formats. Video bitrate should be at least 260 Kbps. Audio bitrate should be at least 64 Kbps. Frame rate should be at least 15 FPS, but ideally 24 FPS+.

AUDIO – Audio files preferably should be in MP3 format, but E! can accept WAV. Bitrate should be at least 64 Kbps.

IMPORTANT – Files cannot exceed 100 MB, or 4 minutes in length.

EurekAlert! multimedia submission guidelines


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Fear not – Just get started!

My new hero: Small screen icon MacGyver, as played by Richard Dean Anderson. Fun fact: He recently was voted top TV tough guy for his resourcefulness and his clever ability to “make do.”


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Thank you for using EurekAlert! and the new “EurekaTube!” feature

Good luck, and get in touch anytime!

Ginger Pinholster, Director, AAAS Office of Public Programs, (202) 326-6421, [email protected]

Getting started with multimedia – AAAS and EurekAlert! experiences.

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