Here we have an interesting case study in the use of short YouTube videos to connect a broader, distant audience with the incredible history, heritage and unfathomable emotional legacy of World War II in the Pacific.
Some background: By Presidential Proclamation, President George Bush, authorized the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument on December 5, 2008. The national monument focuses on the events leading up to Pearl Harbor through to the Peace Treaty in Tokyo Bay—with the emphasis on the historical events of World War II in the Pacific Theater and its impacts on the mainland.
Today, Veteran's day 2010, the NPS apparently debuted the first of a series of YouTube video podcasts in what is being described as a "webisode." The first effort rightfully focuses on the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. This traumatic touchstone will live forever in the American psyche. It is a fabulous piece of video work. The quality rates 5 stars in all aspects.
Here is the direct link to view this video: http://www.youtube.com/WWIIValorNPS
Note that the all-important letters "NPS" are shown front and center in the URL.
When you arrive at the YouTube page that presents this video, look closely. The letters "NPS" are shown in only three places. You can click on only one of those three place. If you do click on the NPS website shown in the "Profile" section, you will be taken to the official NPS World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument website.
Unfortunately there is no information on this website regarding the video.
Meanwhile, a companion NPS unit, the Pu'ukohola Heiau NHS (featured in the blog post below this one) posted a notice on their Twitter account about the debut of this video. That's how we learned about its existence.
The shortened link on the Pu'ukohola Heiau NHS Twitter takes you to a private-sector website for a Hawaiian TV station. Somehow, the author of that webpage was privy to lots of details about the YouTube video podcast webisode series. We learn from this TV website that "The video podcast series centers on personal stories of World War II in the Pacific Region. It was created in partnership with Kalaheo High School, American University and the National Park Service."
Clearly, this is a major partnership effort! You can click on this link to visit the TV webpage about the video project.
We find it quite interesting that none of the information found on the TV webpage can also be found on an official NPS webpage or website. Likewise, it is interesting that there is no official logo prominently displayed on the YouTube page or on the opening frame of the video itself.
Any casual visitor to this YouTube video would be hard pressed to learn how the video came into existence.
On the positive side, we're happy to see that those involved with the project forged full speed ahead and met their deadlines and got a product out on the ground on Veteran's Day 2010. Congratulations to all those involved. Obviously, the lack of information about how this project came into existence will be remedied soon. (We hope.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment