A strength of UC ANR is the accuracy and reliability of our content. Video production carries the same standards as fact sheets and presentations. A basic self-review before publishing is sufficient for most projects.
Video Classifications
UC ANR how-to videos fall into three categories, each with different review requirements:
- Peer-reviewed educational videos — typically 7 to 30 minutes, hosted on a UC ANR-managed platform, identified as peer-reviewed in the video and its notes. Review is handled through the formal peer review process. See the UC ANR peer review page for more information.
- Short self-produced informational videos — typically 2 to 10 minutes, hosted on a UC ANR-managed platform. Analogous to a trade press or popular article.
- Self-produced content for a local audience — hosted outside UC ANR-managed platforms, such as a county page, blog, or personal social media. Analogous to a blog post or newsletter article.
Types 2 and 3 should still be timely, accurate, and reflect well on UC ANR's programs. This page covers quality review for those two categories.
Basic Review Checklist
Before publishing, confirm these four things:
- Is the audio clear? Adjust sound levels or apply noise filtering in editing if needed. In the worst case, re-record the audio for a section. Contact Ethan Ireland before re-recording — minor issues may be fixable in editing.
- Is the video stable? Shaky footage should be avoided or reshot if possible.
- Is the content accurate? Have a subject matter expert — which may be you — review for technical correctness. Remember that pesticide recommendations require additional review per UC policy.
- Is the content practical? Is the language appropriate for a non-expert audience? Are the steps complete and doable? Ask another person to watch the video and confirm they understand it.
If your topic is potentially controversial or you have questions about how it may be received, ask a colleague in your subject area or contact Strategic Communications for an additional review.
Sharing a Video for Review
If you need feedback before your video is ready to publish, two simple methods work well:
- Box: Render the video at a smaller format to reduce file size, upload to Box, and invite your reviewer to view it.
- YouTube unlisted: Export the video to YouTube as unlisted. After YouTube finishes encoding, share the link with your reviewer by email. Delete the unlisted video after review if it was not yet ready to publish.
Wait until review is complete before working on closed captions.
For technical accuracy review, sharing your script or storyboard before filming is the most efficient option — incorporating feedback at the script stage takes far less work than re-editing a completed video. This is how the Canning Beans video was reviewed.