The Civil Engineering Today TV Show A simple and cheap way to communicate ideas to both membership and the broader community

The “Civil Engineering Today” TV Show

A simple and cheap way to communicate ideas to both membership and the broader community

PRESIDENTS & GOVERNORSFORUM 2013-14

The most recent episode: the Good Samaritan Bill in Massachusetts Legislature



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGf3CD3ce1c



TYPES OF TOPICS•Local infrastructure projects•Recent event affecting infrastructure•Individuals doing fascinating work•Basic information the public should know about a civil engineering topic•Active legislation•K-12 STEM Outreach



May sound intimidating, but it is SIMPLE!1.Get a show.2.Get a Host.3.Get a Guest.4.Make a show.

Here’s why it is so easy to get started…

As part of community cable deals, •Towns get TV studios•Cable companies required to spend significant $ keeping studios running and state-of-the-art•There is almost never enough programming



IS IT EXPENSIVE?No.

$250 BNN Membership Fee$50 per show

We do one show per month, so the total cost is only $850/year



Where do you get the $850?

•We hold a sponsorship campaign. •One of the benefits is getting listed in the credits as a sponsor.



Who watches it?Good question. Live, who knows…

But online or on DVD…

Create an audience.Stream the show on YouTube.

Make copies on DVD.

Make episodes geared towards: engineers, colleges, K-12 and the public.



Is it scary? It’s live…Yeah, but if a show airs and nobody sees it…



Seriously, it is just plain old fun.

Everybody pictures civil engineers as being so introverted, but so many of us just LOVE to talk about what we do.

The show is just a 22 minute conversation.

Is it time consuming?•At first, we spent a ton of time on it.•In no time, we were spending very little time preparing – the episodes come out better when not rehearsed.•We only do the show once per month. The toughest part is finding the guests.



How the Show Gets Online•At the end of each show we receive a DVD.•Some studios have the ability to post the shows online for you – ours does not.•Buy video editing software like NERO•Import the dvd, edit it, and export it as an MP4•Open a YouTube account and upload the MP4s



Getting people to view online•Add lots of search tags

•Tell schools and universities about it.•Put the link in numerous social site postings.•Find people to like or retweet the link.•Upload videos in a timely manner.

•Let membership know any way you can.



Getting people to view online



Getting people to view online



Some No-nos…•Do not advertise a product and never state product prices.•Do not use copyrighted music for the opening and closing credits.•Do not wear bright white clothing or make white background powerpoints•Do not put text in Powerpoints near edges



Helpful Hints•Always have fun with it. If the host is not having

fun, the show is miserable to watch.•Just do it live. Imperfections make the show better.

Perfection takes time.•Get the agencies etc. involved, but do not be

dependent on them.• If a show is on a particular project, get client

permission.• Sit up straight and comb your hair.



Feel free to ask for help

[email protected]



mailto:[email protected]

Questions?



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The Civil Engineering Today TV Show A simple and cheap way to communicate ideas to both membership and the broader community