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Making Your Media Matter
Pull Focus
Pull Focus: Pamela Yates and Paco de Onis
Pull Focus: Jennifer Maytorena Taylor
Claire Darby
Pull Focus: Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein
Patricia Aufderheide
Conference 2009
More Information
Pull Focus: Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein
Patricia Aufderheide
Pull Focus: Laura Waters Hinson
Claire Darby
Honest Truths: Documentary Filmmakers on Ethical Challenges in Their Work[PDF]
Patricia Aufderheide
Peter Jaszi
Mridu Chandra
This study provides a map of perceived ethical challenges that documentary filmmakers—directors and producer-directors—in the United States identify in the practice of their craft. It summarizes the results of 45 long-form interviews in which filmmakers were asked simply to describe recent ethical challenges that surfaced in their work. This baseline research is necessary to begin any inquiry into ethical standards because the field has not yet articulated ethical standards specific to documentary. These interviews demonstrate, indeed, a need for a more public and focused conversation about ethics before any standards emerging from shared experience and values can be articulated.
Documentary filmmakers identified themselves as creative artists for whom ethical behavior is at the core of their projects. At a time when there is unprecedented financial pressure on makers to lower costs and increase productivity, filmmakers reported that they routinely found themselves in situations where they needed to balance ethical responsibilities against practical considerations. Their comments can be grouped into three conflicting sets of responsibilities: to their subjects, their viewers, and their own artistic vision and production exigencies.
Filmmakers resolved these conflicts on an ad-hoc basis and argued routinely for situational, case-by-case ethical decisions. At the same time, they shared unarticulated general principles and limitations. They commonly shared such principles as, in relation to subjects, “Do no harm” and “Protect the vulnerable,” and, in relation to viewers, “Honor the viewer’s trust.”
Filmmakers observed these principles with widely shared limitations. In relation to subjects, they often did not feel obliged to protect subjects who they believed had themselves done harm or who had independent access to media, such as celebrities or corporate executives with their own public relations arms. In relation to viewers, they often justified the manipulation of individual facts, sequences, and meanings of images, if it meant telling a story more effectively and helped viewers grasp the main, and overall truthful, themes of a story.
Finally, filmmakers generally expressed frustration in two areas. They daily felt the lack of clarity and standards in ethical practice. They also lacked support for ethical deliberation under typical work pressures.
This survey demonstrated that filmmakers generally are acutely aware of moral dimensions of their craft, and of the economic and social pressures that affect them. This study demonstrates the need to have a more public and ongoing conversation about ethical problems in documentary filmmaking. Filmmakers need to develop a more broadly shared understanding of the nature of their problems and to evolve a common understanding of fair ways to balance their various obligations.
Making Your Media Matter 2009 Rapporteur’s Report
Kafi Kareem
On February 12-13 2009, the Center for Social Media (CSM) hosted its 5th annual MAKING YOUR MEDIA MATTER conference. Read this Rapporteur’s Report to learn about the topics discussed and watch videos from the conference. The videos within this report are just part 1 of each panel. If you want to continue on, you can click on the links below the video.
Code of Best Practices for Sustainable Filmmaking
Making Your Media Matter 2008 Rapporteur’s Report[PDF]
by Kate Schuler
Making Your Media Matter ‘08 Podcast and Discussion Forum
Audio podcasts and takeaways from the 2008 Making Your Media Matter conference are now available!
We welcome your comments and thoughts about the conference in our discussion forum at the bottom of the page.
Making Your Documentary Matter 2007: Rapporteur’s Report
By Kate Schuler
Making Your Documentary Matter: Public Engagement Strategies that Work January 31 – February 1, 2007
Making Your Documentary Matter 2007 Podcast & Discussion Forum
Audio podcasts and power points from the 2007 Making Your Documentary Matter conference are now available!
We welcome your comments and thoughts about the conference in our discussion forum at the bottom of the page. And please let us know what you think about our new adventure in podcasting! We especially want to know how this page can be as easy as possible for you to use!
Big Dreams, Small Screens: Online Video for Public Knowledge and Action[PDF]
Learn how popular commercial online digital video platforms, such as YouTube, GoogleVideo and MySpace, are being used to create, exchange, and comment upon information for public knowledge and action—and what their limitations are!
Documentaries on a Mission: How Nonprofits Are Making Movies for Public Engagement[PDF]
Read about how the Sierra Club, The American Civil Liberties Union and local environmental groups use documentaries for high-impact and action
2007 Making Your Documentary Matter Conference Participant Biographies
Read the bios of our list of participants in the 2007 Making Your Documentary Matter Conference.
Making Your Documentary Matter 2006: Report
Barbara Abrash reports from the 2006 Making Your Documentary Matter conference- see clips highlighting the powerful points made by guest speakers and panelists.
Mimi Pickering Participatory Media Speech
Our good friend Mimi Pickering from Appalshop sent us a recent speech that shows how the participatory media movement has deep roots.
MYDM Related Links
Want to learn more about making your media matter? Here are some additional resources from our partners in the field. Click here!
Making Your Media Matter 2010
Making Your Media Matter is a conference for established and aspiring filmmakers, non-profit communications leaders, funders and students looking to learn and share cutting-edge practices for making their media matter.
Related Articles
Conference 2008 Basic Info
Join filmmakers, distributors, outreach specialists and an impressive cast of media pioneers for a rich day of panels, discussions, networking and keynote speakers on the latest tools and trends in creating and distributing social issue media.
Agenda - Making Your Media Matter 2008
/resources/articles/mymm_demos/
Find out what’s in store for MYMM 08!
MYMM Travel Information
February 7-8, 2008, Katzen Arts Center Recital Hall, American University.
Making Your Documentary Matter 2006[PDF]
Barbara Abrash reports from the 2006 workshops on the latest in public engagement strategies for social issue media makers.
Making Your Documentary Matter 2005[PDF]
By Barbara Abrash
If you missed the February 7, 2005 workshop “Making Your Documentary Matter: Outreach and Impact Strategies That Work,” or if you just need a reminder, read this summary document of the discussion for key points.
Related Videos
February 8 browse
Making Your Documentary Matter 2005 part 1
The first of an annual producer's workshop was held at the Center for Social Media at American University on February 7, 2005. The workshop was designed to showcase strategies and resources on audience engagement using media. It served to highlight the dynamic and growing use of media as a tool for social outreach.
February 7 browse
Making Your Documentary Matter 2005 part 2
Cara Mertes, P.O.V. Executive Director, discusses the power of a well-crafted human story that treats people fairly; strong support materials; and feedback in the creation of an effective documentary. She uses Tami Gold and Kelly Anderson’s Every Mother’s Son
to illustrate her points.
Ellen Schneider, Executive Director of Active Voice, uses Carlos Sandoval and Catherine Tambini’s Farmingville to demonstrate how filmmakers can provide guidance to advocates on the power of media use.
Melissa Hook, Deputy Executive Director of the Victim Assistance Legal Organization, discusses her role as National Outreach Coordinator for Sentencing the Victim. She stresses the importance of being aware of turf issues among partner organizations; as well as recognizing opposition.