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Videos
September 26, 2012 By Kristy Fifelski
Most videos produced by government agencies don't get many views. How can we make them go viral?
Government Technology’s Kristy Fifelski – known in the IT industry as GovGirl -- talks with the creators of a new video parody of the popular Call Me Maybe music video. The San Francisco City Attorney’s version, Pay Me Maybe, was produced to publicize a hotline number to call for information on repayment eligibility of payday loans from a recent court ruling.
GovGirl chats via Google Hangout with Jen Drake, deputy director of community relations for the San Francisco Attorney’s Office; and Luke Stowe, Web communication specialist for Evanston, Ill.
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It is not Government’s place to entertain, but rather to distribute information as necessary in an ADA compliant manor that is consumable to the entire population. Agencies should leave being “clever” to the advertising agencies.
@SmoothDaddy...lighten up.
OMG! What a great video! Our city has a serious problem with a growing deer population. Maybe we could rally the residents to arms with a fun parody of Fat's Domino's Blueberry Hill"? Something like, "I find my thrill...whenever I kill...from my window sill...till I have my fill..." And, hey, SmoothDaddy...what's the American Dental Association got to do with anything?
If we continue being boring we only have ourselves to blame. It isn't that the information doesn't exist, but no one is reading the brochures anymore. Take a clue from the national news networks. They know the rules have changed in audience engagement.
Being a webmaster and a Toastmaster, I can appreciate the value of humor and how it can hold an audience or get them sharing. Government as SmoothDaddy should lighten up! People do a better job when they enjoy what they are doing, and laughter is the best medicine -- so help people get healthy while passing along appropriate action. What could be better?
Hey SmoothDaddy, echoing Blueberry Bill "what's the American Dental Association got to do with anything?" And also, what manner of house is your "ADA compliant manor"? Does it have a lot of rooms? Is it like Bruce Wayne's manor? Seriously, get a dictionary. Spell check isn't working for you.
I just want to add that "Government You-tubing" is AWESOME! Coming from a Media prodcution background, before attaining my Masters in Public Admininstration, I always wanted to marry the two and I have done so quite effectively! I have utilized my video editing and other production skills to produce PSA's and most currently a documentary on two of our Social Service clients that will hopefully go viral in the coming months! Kristy- You Rock! email me sometime. I have alot of ideas pertaining to the use of media in the government arena.
As a government communicator in Seattle I am in absolute support of using social media and "clever" communications to get across some very important messages. Yes, it's more fun for our staff. It is also forcing us to realize that the brochure nobody reads might be a waste of paper. Most importantly, as austerity measures force us to streamline outreach and communications budgets, social media (effectively used) can help to reach more people - and emerging demographics - with less money. It's a new way of doing business for government, but saving taxpayer money by being smarter or more clever is what citizens and rate payers should expect from us. Thanks for shining a spotlight on this, Govgirl.