Diagnosis Media Tour: Going on Location Can Add Context to Stories

“Television is a visual medium. You have to create some kind of visual interest. And it's entertainment for your eyes.” -- Aaron Sorkin

Thousands of stories compete for the public's attention every day. It's enough to make organizations with news to share ask the same question, “What can be done to cut through the clutter to get our message out?” These companies examine in surgical detail, much as a doctor would an X-ray, all the tools available to them that may facilitate this objective in the most cost-effective manner before deciding on the best remedy.

The Satellite Media Tour (SMT) has long been a trusted vehicle for corporate communicators to get important messages out to a mass audience. While going into a studio to do an SMT is often more than enough to get the job done effectively, sometimes -- when a story dictates it and the budget permits -- the right prescription may be to take the production outside of the constraints of a studio to a remote location. This is especially true in instances where the sights, sounds and vibes of a proposed location will add context that cannot be adequately replicated in a studio environment.

Whether it's showing the excitement of a new concept vehicle being unveiled at an auto show or using the picturesque beauty of a national park as the backdrop for a discussion about the health benefits of hiking, sometimes “being there” is exactly what is needed to give a tour the kind of visual appeal news outlets and their audiences are craving. Giving the people at home a more immersive viewing experience brings them closer to the heart of a story -- and potentially enhances their retention of the message that's being conveyed. In some ways, a remote is a “3-D-ia tour,” with the extra dimension being the location -- especially if it is visually compelling.

As alluded to earlier, a remote media tour involves a higher budget -- since all the required resources (producer, crew, equipment, etc.) will be transported to the location where the production will originate. Among the other items that can potentially add to the cost of a remote:

• Site survey: Someone will need to travel to a potential location to assess its suitability for hosting a production.
• Permits: Planning to park a satellite truck or shoot in a public area? Permission from a city or town may be needed, which will involve added costs.
• Set or food stylist: If a certain recipe or look is required, additional budget will need to be allocated for these specialized resources.

MultiVu has successfully executed remote media tours from places as close as its own backyard in New York City, to places as exotic and far away as Monaco -- as well as countless others beyond and in between. Be sure to touch base with us the next time you are considering doing a remote media tour to discuss project details and to find out how you can put the expertise of our live-events team to work for you.

ABOUT THE EXPERT: Gerard Wong

Gerard coordinates live events from a variety of locations -- ranging from studios to stadiums -- and optimizes MultiVu's workflow platforms. An avid sports fan, Gerard's career path includes time with Major League Baseball Advanced Media, and doing on-site remotes from the home of his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys.