Visual Communication

Moving images and stills present excellent ways to explain with pictures some of the complexities of nuclear science and technology. Providing copyright-free content allows audiences to share it on their own.

An expensive but often beneficial investment is developing animated visuals on operations. The core dynamics of an operating reactor cannot be openly shown, but animation can be used to illustrate it. Such material is also useful for education purposes and civil society may request its use as well. Having such material produced professionally is costly, but since the production quality is usually better it is more likely to get used and provides more impact than amateur materials.

Online video and television dominate media consumption patterns globally. Whether on television or from a cell phone, organizations can benefit from producing their own broadcast content or supplying source materials to other filmmakers, documentary producers, and broadcast journalists. “B-roll” provides professionally shot, unedited footage that is available to edit into other footage. Industrial activities, staff interaction, researchers in the lab or a facility under construction offer compelling images that can help nuclear communicators tell their stories. Some of it may also be of historical interest.

Visuals can also become a strategic document used in some countries for public service announcements. Such material has the added benefit of positioning work as a public benefit. See some PSA examples.

Videos also provide benefit by being embedded in presentation slides or used at public outreach activities as introductions to a subject.

A well-curated image bank of photos of facilities, key staff and events also provides valuable resources to those looking to learn about nuclear programmes.

Develop a generic slide show presentation that designated speakers can use. Such a presentation should include history about your organization – its work and achievements, its contribution and its role in the community. General agreement is vital for developing the key messages. However, individuals should have flexibility in how they deliver it and how they tailor it to different audiences. Appealing to the interests of students in a middle school is different from addressing a group of retired professionals, for example.