Condition Critical (MSF)
Condition Critical is a groundbreaking digital campaign by Medecins Sans Frontieres to raise awareness about the conflict in Eastern Congo.
‘The last chapter of Condition: Critical featured stories directly from Congo – just their voices and photos to accompany them. It proved to be the strongest part of the whole campaign and the engagement that people felt having watched them was amazing (as you can see from the message map). Unsurprisingly, people within the organisation are suddenly keen to learn more from duckrabbit about how to produce this kind of multimedia, to better make our patients voices heard.’ Pete Masters, Web Editor, MSF
Duckrabbit has played a dual role in the campaign. Firstly we trained members of the MSF communications team to gather audio and photography and secondly we then used the materials to produce the four films featured in the final surge of the campaign.
The results have been remarkable:
The website had 350000 visits between November 2009 and March 2010.
60% per cent of people who start to watch a video on the website, watch it all the way through to the end.
The videos have also been featured and embedded on dozens of other websites including The Telegraph, Sky News and Boing Boing.
Over 10000 people have visited the website as a result of links to it from Facebook, blogs like The Travel Photographer and other influential websites.
Over 2000 people have left messages of support on the website.
The videos were screened for two days in a shopping centre in Belgium, reaching thousands more people
We’re particularly proud of this project because it demonstrates both that duckrabbit’s training is effective and that well produced audio slideshows can be more powerful than video. It’s especially important that the videos tell the stories of the people featured in their own voices.
‘I’ve appreciated your strong commitment to the project; your perseverance, hard work, and integrity; and above all your grasp of the reality of DRC and how to tell these stories in way that is compelling, dignified and at the same time raw and honest. Thank you.‘ Jake Wadland, Condition Critical Coordinator
Since we completed the project MSF have contracted us to train all of their UK communications team.
‘Before doing this training I felt I could have a decent stab at recording audio in the Congo. I now know that it would have taken some sort of miracle for me to get really useful audio. I now have the tools to come back with something a bit special. Thank you.’ Robin Meldrum, Publications Officer MSF
MSF UK now not only have the ability to produce multimedia for their own websites but also to offer the work for publication on some of the world’s biggest websites. Remarkably audio slideshows they have produced have been published on the BBC, The Guardian and The New York Times’ website.
‘Many people at MSF believe this is a breakthrough in getting the stories out there, for a bigger audience.’ Bruno Du Cock, MSF Picture Editor
We recommend that you take time to experience the videos and the messages left by viewers on the Condition Critical website here. Alternatively you can watch them embedded below:
digital storytelling ‘10
duck is looking forward to talking at this event.
You can sign up here (it’s free)
Any duckrabbitblog readers please do grab me for a pint afterward.
duckrabbit teaching multimedia at LCC
duckrabbit are teaching a short module focusing multimedia storytelling on the Masters photojournalism degree course at LCC
Paul Lowe, who heads up the course, is a great supporter and advocate of digital storytelling. The fact that he wants to prepare students for life after print is rare amongst university educators (nudge, nudge Newport).
The aim of the module is for the students to produce their own multimedia piece of between 2 and 4 minutes long with up to 40 images. All images and audio to be collected by each student.
The Trinity Sessions – audio and photography training
duckrabbit training presents The Trinity Sessions, a series of fun, hands on workshops for forward thinking photographers who want to get to grips with digital storytelling (multimedia, audio slideshows).
We’ll teach you how to use a digital recorder, record powerful interviews, then edit the audio and produce audio slideshows.
Taking place in one of the UK’s most iconic arts venues, a Seventeenth century church turned arts centre, The Trinity Sessions seek to baptise an exciting new generation of digital storytellers. The training is for photographers who understand the economic and creative importance of presenting their work in fresh ways.
‘LEARN FROM THE BEST’ ADAM WESTBROOK
Meet the Trainers
Benjamin is a former BBC Radio documentaries producer profiled by the Observer as ‘one of radio’s biggest turn ons’. David is an award winning editorial photographer represented by Horton-Stephens. Since forming duckrabbit last year they have picked up a POYI multimedia award and most recently have been nominated for an Amnesty International Media Award.
Benjamin and David have designed and run training courses internationally in Ethiopia, Kenya, Pakistan and in the UK.
The first Trinity Session will run over a long weekend from the 10-12th of July. There will only be six places on this course. We strongly recommend that you book your place early due to the small number of places.
Workshop Schedule
Friday Evening
Friday evening is a chance for us all to get to know each other and prepare for the following two days. We’ll share a meal together, have a drink and introduce our work to one another on the big screen (projector).
(Please note participants can take part in the workshop without being present on Friday night.)
Saturday
The morning will be spent learning the basics of recording audio in the field. We’ll then split you into groups, assign you your story, facilitate a brief discussion on ways of presenting it, and then go out to shoot and record.
David and Benjamin will work with the groups in the field, feeding back through observation.
At the end of the day we’ll discuss the material we’ve gathered, how we might edit it and what elements of our stories, if any, are missing.
Sunday
The morning will be spent exploring how the features can be edited, selecting the photographs and gathering any additional material that is needed. The rest of the day will be spent producing the features.
Everyone will spend time editing the audio and photographs, as well as pulling the two together.
The workshop will end with a showing of the work, followed by a debrief and a warm feeling of satisfaction.
This is a participatory workshop in which the focus is on learning through doing.
Costs
£300 – Individuals
£250 – Students
£350 – Individuals funded by their employees
Equipment
Laptop, digital camera, and an audio recorder (although exceptions may be made).
Accommodation is not included although there is plenty of choice to suit different wallet sizes in Bristol.
To reserve a place or for more information email training@duckrabbit.info or give David a call on 07866361695.