Show, not tell: The art of writing science videos

Studies have found that videos are one of the most powerful ways to communicate science, whether they stand alone or are integrated into other online media. Videos can increase a webpage's odds of a front-page Google result by more than fifty times, for example, and online audiences are roughly 10 times as likely to engage with, embed, and share videos than other kinds of content. And with top journalism outlets increasingly staffing video production teams, the art of writing for video has never been more important to science communication. So this session would focus on writing for science videos, whether they be short YouTube segments or lengthy documentaries.

This panel will discuss the ins and outs of science writing for videos, from pitching script ideas to the art of script editing. They'll talk about the most essential elements that make a science video stand out and engage with its audience, as well as how to write when the words are going to be heard, not read. They'll talk shop about what makes writing scripts unique — from understanding the quirks of onscreen personalities to structuring and crafting an engaging story before the visuals are decided upon. While this panel will appeal most to those interested in becoming or improving as scriptwriters, it will also be useful for anyone who engages with science videos, from press officers seeking to understand what materials might make video makers most interested in their releases, to established staff editors interested in taking their publication's multimedia projects to the next level.

Social media hashtag: #SciVid