presentation in media

Like what you're reading?

Everything you need to know about multimedia presentations

Get your team on prezi – watch this on demand video.

Anete Ezera May 25, 2023

Crafting a well-executed multimedia presentation can be the determining factor between success and failure when delivering presentations. The impact of a multimedia presentation is undeniable, but what exactly does it entail, and what are the essential considerations to keep in mind when creating one?

In this article, we’ll explore the key components involved in creating compelling multimedia presentations and delve into the strategies that can help you assemble these elements to craft the perfect presentation. We’ll discuss the importance of content structure, visual design, and engaging storytelling techniques that capture your audience’s attention and leave a lasting impact. Additionally, we’ll provide insights on leveraging Prezi’s features to enhance your multimedia presentations, making them more dynamic and interactive.

What is a multimedia presentation?

A multimedia presentation is a computer-based presentation that uses various forms of media to effectively communicate and engage an audience. In today’s fast-paced world, multimedia presentations have emerged as one of the most powerful and impactful means of communication. Complex ideas and information can be challenging to convey using only traditional tools. However, by harnessing the potential of visually engaging images, high-quality audio clips, and captivating video content, you can deliver a wealth of information that isn’t only clear, but also interesting, easy to understand, contextual, detailed, and engaging.

To facilitate the creation of multimedia presentations, Prezi offers a user-friendly and intuitive platform that empowers presenters to transform their ideas into attention-grabbing visual stories that move. One of the standout features of Prezi is its dynamic zooming capability. With this feature, presenters can seamlessly navigate between various levels of content, zooming in to emphasize critical details and zooming out to provide a comprehensive overview. This interactive zooming functionality not only adds visual interest to your presentation but also enables you to guide your audience’s focus and create a fluid and engaging storytelling experience. Furthermore, the presentation canvas allows for more creativity and freedom as you don’t need to be limited by the traditional slide-based presentation format. 

The psychology of multimedia

Multimedia presentations are not just about what you say but also how you make your audience feel and remember. Let’s discover how colors, visuals, and sounds can influence your audience’s perception and memory retention.

Color psychology

Colors evoke emotions and convey messages. For instance, red can signal urgency and passion, while blue suggests trust and calmness. Choose your color palette wisely to align with the emotions you want to portray to your audience.

Visual impact

Visuals are your secret weapon. The brain processes visual information 60,000 times faster than text. Use attention-grabbing images and graphics that resonate with your message. For example, if you’re presenting about eco-friendly initiatives, images of lush forests and clear skies can speak volumes.

Soundscapes

Sound can set the mood and reinforce key points. Think about the background music in movies – it enhances the overall emotional impact of a scene. In your presentation, use background music or sound effects thoughtfully to complement your content.

Memory retention

Did you know that people tend to remember only about 10% of what they hear after three days? However, if you pair that information with relevant visuals, retention jumps to 65%. Craft your multimedia presentation with this in mind; use visuals to reinforce your message for better recall.

Incorporate these psychological cues effectively, and your multimedia presentation will not only capture attention but also leave a lasting imprint on your audience’s memory.

Which elements can be included in a multimedia presentation?

Multimedia presentations have come a long way from the relatively simplistic options of the past. Now a whole range of different elements can be used to ensure your stand-alone presentation wows your intended audience. Some of the examples of what you can add to your multimedia presentations include:

• Slides: Slides are the backbone of most multimedia presentations. They consist of visual elements like text, images, graphs, and charts. Slides help you organize information and guide your audience through your presentation. For example, in a business pitch, slides can showcase product images, market data, and key points.
• Videos: Videos add motion and life to your presentation. You can use them to demonstrate processes, showcase testimonials, or provide visual explanations. In an educational setting, a biology lecture might include videos of animal behaviors or experiments.
• Audio clips: Audio clips can range from background music to voiceovers. They enhance the auditory experience of your presentation. In a travel presentation, you might include the sounds of waves crashing on a beach to create a more immersive feel.
• Animations: Animations breathe life into static content. They can illustrate processes, emphasize key points, or add a touch of humor. In a marketing presentation, animations can show how a product evolves or highlight its unique features.
• Music: Music sets the mood and tone of your presentation. It can create excitement, relaxation, or suspense. In a fashion show presentation, music may compliment the models’ walk down the runway, enhancing the overall experience.
• Images: Images are powerful visual aids. They can create certain emotions, provide context, and simplify complex ideas. In a history lecture, images of historical events and figures help students visualize the past.
• Text: Text is one of the most crucial parts of your content. It provides information, explanations, and key points. In a scientific presentation, text can explain research findings or provide definitions of complex terms.
• Podcasts: Podcasts are audio presentations that offer in-depth discussions or storytelling. They are excellent for sharing interviews, discussions, or storytelling. In a business conference, you might use a podcast-style presentation to share insights from industry experts.
• Pop-ups: Pop-ups are interactive elements that can surprise and excite your audience. They can include clickable links, additional information, or even mini-quizzes. In an e-learning module, pop-ups can provide learners with instant feedback on their progress.

For any professional who wants to stand out from the crowd with multimedia presentations that truly dazzle and inspire, Prezi’s multimedia platform brings you everything you need.

Choosing the right multimedia for your presentation subject

When creating a multimedia presentation, it’s crucial to select the appropriate multimedia elements that align with your presentation subject. By choosing the right multimedia, you can effectively convey your message, enhance understanding, and captivate your audience. Consider the following factors when selecting multimedia for your presentation:

Content relevance: does it fit your message?

Evaluate the relevance of each multimedia element to your presentation subject. Determine how each element contributes to the overall message and supports your key points. Choose multimedia that directly relates to your topic and enhances the understanding and engagement of your audience.

Visual impact: how visually appealing is it?

Visual elements play a significant role in multimedia presentations. Assess the visual impact of different multimedia options such as images, videos, and animations. Opt for high-quality visuals that are visually appealing, clear, and reinforce your message. Balance aesthetics with substance to maintain a professional and engaging presentation.

Audio enhancement: does it complement your content?

Determine if your presentation would benefit from audio elements such as background music, sound effects, or voiceovers. Audio can evoke emotions, set the mood, and reinforce key points. However, use audio sparingly and ensure it complements your content rather than overpowering it.

Data visualization: can it simplify complex data?

If your presentation involves data or statistics, explore options for effective data visualization. Choose charts, graphs, or maps that you can find on Prezi and incorporate those into your presentation. These elements will help you present complex information in a clear and digestible format. Visualizing data will also help your audience grasp the main points quickly and facilitate better comprehension. 

Multimedia integration: do all elements work together?

Aim for a cohesive and seamless integration of multimedia elements into your presentation. Ensure that different multimedia components blend well together and create a unified visual and auditory experience. Avoid using too many diverse multimedia elements that may distract or overwhelm your audience.

Accessibility considerations: is it accessible to everyone?

Keep accessibility in mind when selecting multimedia elements. Ensure that any visual or audio content you include is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Provide captions or transcripts for videos and ensure that any audio content is accompanied by text summaries. Consider the needs of all your audience members to ensure an inclusive and engaging presentation.

Technical feasibility: will it work smoothly during your presentation?

Assess the technical feasibility of incorporating various multimedia elements into your presentation. Consider the equipment and software requirements for displaying and playing different multimedia formats. Test the compatibility and functionality of multimedia elements in the presentation environment to avoid any technical glitches during your actual presentation.

By carefully considering these factors, you can choose the right multimedia elements that enhance your presentation’s effectiveness and engage your audience. Remember, the key is to strike a balance between informative content, compelling visuals, and appropriate interactivity to create a memorable and impactful multimedia presentation. 

What makes an effective multimedia presentation?

An effective multimedia presentation is like a good book you can’t put down or a catchy new song you hear on the radio that you can’t stop humming to all day long – it has your audience instantly engaged and wanting more. 

Gone are the days when we were limited to presentations that only featured text and basic graphics. Nowadays, using a combination of audio, video, and images can help anyone effectively communicate their message to any audience.

Prezi enables users to create attention-grabbing presentations that move their audience. You can create your own presentation from scratch or start out with a template that you can find in Prezi’s template gallery.

8 things to consider when creating a multimedia presentation

Creating a multimedia presentation can be very straightforward. It just requires some basic planning and preparation and the correct tools to implement those plans. Follow these steps when enhancing a presentation with multimedia.

What is your message?

What exactly are you presenting, and what key messages do you wish to communicate to your audience? Take time to thoroughly think through these questions before constructing your multimedia presentation.

Who is your audience? 

You must understand who exactly your audience is. After all, there is likely a huge difference between what might work best with 20-something IT specialists or a group of senior management. Are you hoping to sell a product to potential investors? Delivering a quarterly report to your bosses? Or preparing a presentation for a job interview? Be very clear about who your audience is.

Preparation is vital, and with it comes research. You can’t wait to get started creating your new multimedia presentation. And the temptation is often to begin without first investigating fantastic examples of other people’s work for ideas or not taking advantage of Prezi’s awesome customizable presentations that are freely available to you, the user. Simply head over to Prezi’s Gallery and get inspired!

Create your content outline

What content do you wish to include in your presentation? Once you have decided, it’s time to create a content outline for your multimedia presentation. You can begin building the structure of your presentation by splitting your topic into separate ideas that run in a clear, logical sequence. If you want to learn more about how to create an effective presentation structure, watch the following video:

Decide which visualization mediums work best 

There are literally dozens of visualization mediums to choose from. The hard part sometimes is deciding which of these works best for you. Options include GIFs, short animation clips, audio clips, TED Talk video clips – the list goes on and on. The great news is that you can easily integrate all of these elements into your Prezi presentation. What’s more, Prezi has an extensive library of different multimedia elements like GIFs, stickers, images, icons, and more that you can pick and choose while creating your presentation.

Utilize templates

You might start entirely from scratch, building the presentation from the bottom up, which is great if you already have a clear idea in your mind. However, if you’re still trying to figure out what you want the end result to look like or want to spend less time on presentation design, explore the numerous tried and tested templates available on Prezi. You’ll discover various templates that are great for multimedia presentations.

It’s time to add your multimedia 

Don’t overdo the types of multimedia content you use in your presentation. Why? Because using too many different kinds can feel overwhelming and a little too ‘show offish’. Focus on 2-4 types of content that will work best with your target audience. Try to hit that balance between simplicity and style. If you are using video or animation, use it occasionally.

If you need to present online, take advantage of Prezi Video’s option to share your content next to you on-screen during your presentation. This will engage your audience and keep them hooked throughout your multimedia presentation even online.

Review and analyze your work

Your multimedia presentation is ready. Or is it? Invest some time reviewing your presentation. Is it clearly structured and cohesive? Do the multimedia elements you have added achieve what you wanted them to achieve? Be honest with yourself and trust your intuition. If something doesn’t feel right with your presentation, don’t be afraid to make changes! 

Best practices for delivering a multimedia presentation

Delivering a multimedia presentation requires careful planning and execution to effectively engage and captivate your audience. Follow these best practices to ensure that you leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Know your material

Familiarize yourself with the content of your presentation to make sure you can confidently deliver it without relying too heavily on notes. Thoroughly understand the key points, supporting evidence, and transitions between different sections. This will enable you to maintain a natural flow and deliver a confident presentation. Also, consider using Presenter Notes . They serve as a reminder of important talking points and additional information during your presentation. Only visible to you, the presenter, the notes remain hidden from the audience. This allows you to effectively communicate your points without any interruptions.

Practice timing

Time your presentation to ensure it fits within the allocated time frame. Practice transitions between different multimedia elements, such as slides, videos, and interactive features, to maintain a smooth flow. Keep in mind that pacing is crucial, so allocate sufficient time for each part of your presentation while maintaining an engaging pace.

Use visual aids strategically

Visual aids are a powerful tool for conveying information and enhancing understanding. However, it’s essential to use them strategically to support and highlight your message, rather than distract from it. Use visuals sparingly and ensure they’re clear, visually appealing, and easy to understand. Avoid cluttered slides and prioritize concise and impactful visuals that reinforce your key points. If you want to learn more about good presentation design practices when it comes to adding visual content, watch the following video on the topic: 

Speak clearly and confidently

Effective communication is key to delivering a memorable presentation. Project your voice to ensure everyone in the audience can hear you clearly. Maintain eye contact with your audience to establish a connection and demonstrate confidence. Speak with clarity and conviction, emphasizing key points and using appropriate pauses for emphasis. A confident and engaging delivery will help your audience connect with your message.

Incorporate storytelling techniques

Storytelling is a powerful way to engage and captivate your audience. Incorporate storytelling techniques to create a narrative structure for your presentation. Begin with a compelling introduction that sets the stage and grabs attention. Use storytelling elements such as anecdotes, examples, and personal experiences to illustrate your points and make the content relatable and memorable. A well-crafted story can evoke emotions and leave a lasting impact on your audience.

Practice with technology

Familiarize yourself with the multimedia tools and technology you will be using during the presentation. In particular, get to know the endless features and capabilities of Prezi, the powerful multimedia presentation tool. Take the time to explore its features and understand how it can enhance your presentation. Familiarize yourself with the different templates, transitions, and interactive elements available. By mastering Prezi, you’ll be able to create attention-grabbing presentations that move.

Adapt to the audience

Tailor your presentation to resonate with your specific audience. Consider their demographics, interests, and background when delivering your content. Use language that is accessible and appropriate for your audience, avoiding jargon or technical terms that may be unfamiliar. Incorporate relevant examples and references that relate to their experiences. By adapting your presentation to their needs and preferences, you can create a stronger connection and enhance their overall engagement.

Engage the audience

Use interactive features to involve your audience and make the presentation more engaging. Incorporate audience polling, where participants can vote or provide feedback on specific questions or topics. Additionally, include dedicated Q&A sessions to encourage active participation and address any queries or concerns. Engaging the audience in this way promotes interaction and makes your presentation more dynamic. 

Ask for feedback

You can practice your presentation in front of people to get honest feedback. This way you can make any changes or work on specific areas that may need tweaking before the real thing. After your real presentation, you may even want to seek feedback from your audience to gather insights on what worked well and areas for improvement.

Remember, a well-delivered multimedia presentation is a combination of interesting content, effective visuals, and confident delivery. By following these best practices, you can create an engaging experience for everyone in the room.

How to engage your audience with interactive multimedia presentations

In addition to the essential components and best practices we’ve discussed, incorporating interactive elements can take your multimedia presentations to the next level. By engaging your audience in an interactive experience, you can captivate their attention and create a memorable presentation. Let’s explore some strategies for incorporating interactivity into your multimedia presentations:

Interactive charts

Instead of static images, use interactive charts to convey data and complex information. Allow your audience to explore different data points, toggle between visualizations, and interact with the content. This hands-on approach enhances understanding and engagement.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) 

If applicable, consider incorporating VR or AR elements into your multimedia presentations. These technologies provide immersive experiences that can transport your audience to different environments or allow them to interact with virtual objects. VR and AR can be particularly effective in fields such as architecture, education, and product demonstrations.

Gamification

Introduce gamification elements to make your presentation more interactive and enjoyable. Create quizzes, challenges, or interactive scenarios that require audience participation. Offer rewards or incentives for active engagement, such as badges or prizes.

Collaborative activities

Foster collaboration among your audience by including interactive activities. For example, you can divide your audience into small groups or pairs and provide specific tasks or discussions related to your presentation topic. Encourage participants to share their insights or findings with the larger group afterward.

Live demonstrations

If possible, incorporate live demonstrations of software, tools, or processes directly into your presentation. Showcasing practical examples in real-time can enhance understanding and engage the audience through active participation.

Remember, interactivity should align with your presentation goals and content. Incorporate interactive elements strategically to support your message and keep your audience engaged throughout the presentation. Prezi offers various interactive features and templates to help you create dynamic and immersive multimedia presentations.

By embracing interactivity, you can transform your multimedia presentations into memorable experiences that leave a lasting impact on your audience.

Common concerns with multimedia presentations

People often share some common concerns when diving into multimedia presentations. Here are a few of those concerns and simple solutions to tackle them:

Technical glitches

• Worry: Fear of technical issues derailing your presentation.
• Solution: Always have a backup plan in case technology decides to be temperamental. Test your setup beforehand to avoid unexpected surprises.

Media overload

• Worry: The fear of overwhelming your audience with too much media.
• Solution: Strike a balance by using multimedia elements strategically. Less can often be more when it comes to engaging your audience effectively.

The evolution of multimedia tools

The world of multimedia presentation tools has seen quite a transformation over the years, making the process more user-friendly and accessible than ever before. Platforms like Prezi are at the forefront of this evolution, continuously updating and improving the presentation creation process. With intuitive interfaces and a wide range of creative options at your fingertips, multimedia tools have truly democratized the art of multimedia presentations. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a newcomer to the presentation scene, the evolution of multimedia tools has made it easier than ever to craft the perfect presentation.

Multimedia presentation examples 

Your audience will immediately lose interest if all you offer them is a traditional slide deck. Instead, take advantage of Prezi’s Gallery and get inspired by dynamic, interactive, and engaging presentations that include various multimedia elements.

Below are a few examples of attention-grabbing and creative multimedia presentations that you can get inspired by or even reuse as templates for your own presentation topic.

Summer Plans presentation

The summer plans presentation inspires and captivates. The template is perfect for delivering a story, sharing an experience, or presenting a plan. It features multiple media elements, such as animations, images, and data visualizations. 

Why Leaders Need to Get Out of Their Own Way presentation

This presentation grabs our attention with its visually appealing design and strategic use of visuals. The simple yet engaging layout divides the presentation into four parts, creating a well-defined structure that is easy to follow. You can reuse this presentation as a template for delivering a topic that you need to unpack in a certain order. 

Corporate Social Responsibility presentation

This multimedia presentation engages and captivates with animations, images, icons, and more. As a template, it’s perfect for creating and delivering informative presentations, where you need to dive into the details of certain topics.

Earth Day presentation

The Earth Day presentation is a great example of how one can create a timeline presentation with Prezi. It includes various media elements that make this multimedia presentation highly engaging and informative.

Future-proofing your presentations

To make sure your multimedia presentations stay useful and up-to-date in the long run, here are some straightforward tips:

Pick the right formats

• Use common file types like PDF, MP4, and JPEG since they’re likely to stay usable in the future.

Keep things fresh

• Don’t let your content get old. Update it regularly with new information and visuals to keep it interesting and relevant.

Fit different screens

• Make your multimedia presentations so they can work on big screens and small devices like phones or tablets.

Try new tech

• Keep an eye on new technologies like virtual reality and interactive features. They can make your presentations more exciting and modern.

Listen to your audience

• Pay attention to what your audience likes and dislikes. Their feedback can help you improve your multimedia presentations and keep them interesting.

With these easy steps, you can make sure your multimedia presentations will still be great in the future!

Create attention-grabbing multimedia presentations with Prezi

In conclusion, crafting a well-executed multimedia presentation is crucial for achieving success in delivering presentations. This article has explored the key components involved in creating compelling multimedia presentations and provided insights on how to assemble these elements effectively. By considering the importance of content structure, visual design, and engaging storytelling techniques, presenters can capture their audience’s attention and leave a lasting impact. Furthermore, leveraging Prezi’s features can enhance multimedia presentations, making them more dynamic and interactive. By incorporating these strategies and utilizing the right tools, presenters can elevate their presentations to a new level and increase their chances of achieving their desired outcomes. Ultimately, mastering the art of multimedia presentations opens up opportunities for effective communication and successful presentations in various professional and academic settings.

Give your team the tools they need to engage

Like what you’re reading join the mailing list..

• Prezi for Teams
• Top Presentations

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

Partner Center

How to Easily Make a Multimedia Presentation (Tools & Templates)

Learn how to create a multimedia presentation in 6 steps with videos, GIFs, animations, audio, & photos. Go beyond PowerPoint - capture attention & engage.

Dominika Krukowska

7 minute read

Short answer

What is a multimedia presentation?

A multimedia presentation is a deck that uses a blend of text, images, audio, video, and interactive content to captivate an audience. It's a dynamic, engaging way to share your story where each media element plays its part to create a memorable experience.

Creating effective multimedia presentations is not about adding a video, it’s about building a story

Ever sat through a PowerPoint presentation that felt like a never-ending maze of bullet points and confusing graphics?

The truth is, making a great presentation to tell a story can be a tough job.

It's all too easy to fall into the trap of being too academic, too technical, or too conceptual, with a lot of big words but no concrete examples that tell us how it affects people like us.

There should be no surprise then, that if you dump a pile of words on people you’re gonna lose their attention, and your message will go down the drain.

But multimedia can replace text and make your story come alive. It’s a good first step to get back the attention of a bored audience.

That said, multimedia is not so simple to get right, it’s not as basic as adding a video to your presentation.

The media you add must be part of a coherent narrative to work well - to support understanding, convey emotion, and communicate what text can not.

In this blog post, we're going to see how to create engaging multimedia presentations that captivate your audience from start to finish. And keep it simple.

You’ll get to know the tools and templates that simplify the process while helping you avoid common PowerPoint pitfalls.

Let’s dive in!

Why PowerPoint is the wrong tool for multimedia presentations

Most of us are still using PowerPoint to create our presentations. And knowing intimately how to create a multimedia presentation in PowerPoint, I can tell you it’s not easy, and it ain’t fun.

This is a problem because the work you’ll have to put in to create a half-decent multimedia presentation with PowerPoint is not worth the outcome.

Sorry, but the tool was just not built for this. And trying to force it to do something it wasn’t meant to do will take away from your ability to tell an engaging story.

Wanna know why?

1) PowerPoint was built for how stories were told 30 years ago

PowerPoint's technology hasn't evolved much since its inception. If you're using it for your business presentations, you're relying on a static decades-old content format while your audience is used to getting their content in a very different way.

Most of us now expect dynamic and interactive content, videos, audio, and clickable elements we control. That’s not PowerPoint.

2) It’s hard to design (well) with PowerPoint

Creating an attractive PowerPoint presentation requires a good eye for design and a fair amount of time. Even little tweaks can ruin the layout, as PowerPoint has no safeguards that prevent you from commiting design crimes.

3) Personalizing with PowerPoint takes ages

If you want to personalize presentations for different audiences, you need to create separate files for that and tweak them manually. This will take you absolute ages and leaves plenty of room for error.

4) It has a horrible mobile experience

We know for a fact that 1 in 3 presentations being viewed on mobile devices . But PowerPoint was not built for mobile, and you wouldn't wish a PPT mobile experience on your worst enemy.

This means that if your audience doesn't live in a mobile-free zone, PowerPoint is a massive drawback.

5) PowerPoint has no analytics

PowerPoint doesn't provide an analytics dashboard, which means you don't have access to valuable feedback. You can’t measure if your presentation is nailing it or getting the same attention as the dishes in your sink.

This is a problem. Because if you don’t know how you perform, you can’t improve.

Here’s what a PowerPoint looks like compared to a modern interactive multimedia presentation:

How to create engaging multimedia presentations in 6 easy steps

Now let’s see how a modern multimedia presentation is done. For some of us, creating a presentation that resonates can feel overwhelming. But with the right tool and a clear plan, it's as easy as following a recipe.

6 steps to create a multimedia presentation:

1. Tell our AI what presentation you want to create

Are you pitching a product, explaining a concept, or presenting quarterly results? Tell our AI the purpose of your presentation. This helps it generate content that's on point and relevant.

2. Introduce yourself, your company, and your product or service

You can also start by giving our AI a brief rundown of who you are, what your company does, the product you're showcasing, and the industry you're in. This helps the AI understand your context and tailor the presentation to your needs.

3. Pick a design template

No need to start from scratch. Storydoc offers a variety of design templates optimized for performance based on real-world data. Choose one that aligns with your brand and message.

4. Customize your presentation

Now, it's time to make the presentation truly yours. Add your text, tweak the design, and watch as the template adjusts to accommodate your content.

Sprinkle in some interactivity with clickable tabs, real-time variables for charts, or any other interactive elements that fit your content.

Then, upload your own multimedia or let our AI generate some for you.

5. Add dynamic personalization

Our no-code editor allows you to easily add dynamic variables to your multimedia presentation. This means that you can personalize your decks at scale in just a few clicks.

The main benefit? Every deck looks like it was tailor-made for each specific reader, which can make your audience feel special and, in turn, significantly boost engagement.

6. Review and refine your presentation

Take a moment to review your presentation. Make sure everything looks good, the flow makes sense, and your message is clear.

But making a mistake is not as critical as it is with PowerPoint since Storydoc lives online and not on your audience’s computer.

So If you need to fix any mistakes after the presentation has been sent over, you still can. You control the version everybody sees, forever.

7. Advanced: Improve your presentation based on insights from analytics

Every presentation you create using Storydoc comes with access to an extensive analytics suite that gives you real-time insights into how your deck is performing.

Finally, you can see when your presentation is opened, how much time is spent on each slide, and even when your audience drops off. This enables you to quickly identify and fix any bad content.

One of the most powerful features of Storydoc's analytics panel is the ability to compare different versions of your presentation.

You can use this to A/B test your presentations, remove the guesswork, and continually improve based on data.

Even better, Storydoc's analytics panel integrates with your CRM. This means you can see all your data in your CRM where you and your team are already working, and use it to inform your sales and marketing strategies.

If you want to learn more about how it works, watch this short video:

How to use multimedia to bring your presentation to life (3 techniques)

Multimedia is more than just a way to make your presentation look more cool—it can transform your content into an immersive, interactive experience that people enjoy and share with friends and colleagues.

Let me show you how you can strategically leverage multimedia to captivate your audience, simplify complex ideas, and create a lasting impact.

3 key multimedia techniques that maximize engagement:

1. Narrate your design through scrollytelling

Scrollytelling is a unique blend of scrolling and storytelling. It's an interactive way of presenting content that takes your audience on a narrative journey as they scroll through the presentation.

This approach combines text, images, videos, and animations into “scenes” in a play that readers can move through at their own pace.

Scrollytelling simplifies complex content into easy to understand pieces which reduces cognitive load, increases comprehension, and makes your content highly memorable.

Here’s an example of Storydoc scrollytelling:

2. Bring yourself into the presentation with video bubble narration

Video bubble narration is a unique way to personalize your multimedia presentation. It involves adding a small video of yourself to your deck, providing commentary or extra insights.

The video bubble gives your audience a sense of connection with you, making the presentation more personal and engaging.

It's like having a one-on-one conversation with each member of your audience, which can significantly enhance their interest and investment in your deck.

3. Tell stories with animations and videos

Animations and videos can bring your message to life, illustrate complex processes, and provide visual examples that reinforce your points.

For instance, an animation could be used to demonstrate a process step-by-step, making it easier for your audience to understand.

A video could provide a real-world example that supports your argument, making your content more relatable and impactful.

Here’s a great example by one of our clients:

Octopai - Outbound sales one-pager

An outbound one-pager identifying a problem in modern-day analytics and offering an easy-to-grasp solution.

How to make highly engaging presentations with multimedia

Using multimedia is not just about adding visual flash—it's about guiding your audience's attention, enhancing understanding, and encouraging interaction.

Let's explore how simple animations and interactive content elevate your presentations from boring to share-worthy.

1. Direct attention using simple animations

Animations are a great way to guide your audience's attention. But complex or dominant animations can be distracting and may take attention away from your text message.

How to direct attention using animation:

• Arrows: Arrows can be used to point out key information or guide your audience through a process. They're a simple yet effective way to direct attention where you want it.
• Entrance animation: Entrance animations can be used to introduce new content or highlight a key point. They can create a sense of anticipation and make your presentation more dynamic.
• Grayed-out content: Graying out content that's not currently relevant can help your audience focus on the key points. It's a subtle yet effective way to guide your audience's attention.

Here’s an example of what it looks like:

2. Get readers involved using interactive content

Interactive content makes your presentation more engaging and gives your audience a sense of control. It also makes your content more memorable, as people tend to remember things they actively engage with.

Interactive content you can incorporate into your presentations:

• Tabs: Tabs allow you to neatly organize your content into sections, making it easy for your audience to navigate through your presentation. For instance, you could use tabs to separate different topics or information intended for different target groups.
• Sliders: Sliders are a dynamic way to present a range of data or to show progression. For example, you could use a slider to illustrate the growth of your company over time or to show how a particular metric changes under different scenarios.
• Calculators: Interactive calculators add a personal touch to your deck. They allow your audience to input their own data and see personalized results. For instance, you could use a calculator to show potential savings from using your product or to calculate ROI.
• Live graphs: Live graphs take data visualization to the next level. Instead of static charts, live graphs allow your audience to interact with the data. They can zoom in on specific data points, compare different data sets, or see how the data changes over time.

Here’s an example of a presentation using interactive content:

Multimedia presentation best practices

It's not enough to just add media like animations and videos—you need to use them to improve rather than hurt engagement.

Here are the best practices for making a multimedia presentation that works:

• Use media that exemplifies your audience's needs and preferences.
• Use media that adds context to your presentation text.
• Make sure your animations and videos support your text rather than compete with it.
• Ensure that your media is high-quality and take advantage of design tools or background removers to ensure your narrative goals are achieved in your presentation.

Best multimedia presentation examples beyond PowerPoint

Let’s see the best multimedia presentation examples that break the PowerPoint mold.

These examples show you new and effective ways for making engaging content and how to stand out in a sea of same-old PowerPoint presentations.

Let’s go!

Meta - Interactive corporate report

Insights and trends from Israel's thriving consumer-facing industry. A comprehensive review of the B2C ecosystem's performance and future prospects.

HealthTech SNC - Simplified data-heavy report

An extensive data report from a non-profit organization made easy to digest thanks to interactive, engaging design.

Cannasoft - Investment pitch deck

A hard-hitting investment deck of a publicly traded tech company dedicated to medical cannabis manufacturers.

Orbiit - Visually narrated sales deck

Visually narrated sales deck of a virtual networking platform telling AND showing readers what's in it for them.

Matics - Digital product brochure

A product brochure showing smart manufacturing execution systems on a mission to digitalize production floors.

Galor - Personalized product sales deck

A highly-converting product sales deck with a modern design, interactive narrated content, and an integrated chatbot.

RFKeeper - Retail proposal deck

A dynamic, highly visual proposal deck for a retail software provider, designed to grab and keep attention.

Drive - Automotive research white-paper

A white-paper showing high-level research on electric vehicle charging wrapped in a stunning interactive experience.

If you want to see more multimedia presentation samples, check out our post containing the perfect presentation examples to set you apart from the competition.

Interactive multimedia presentation templates

Getting started with making your multimedia presentation is often the hardest part. But with interactive multimedia presentation templates , you can hit the ground running.

They take care of the design and interactivity, so you can focus on what matters most: your content.

So why wait? Grab a template.

Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.

Found this post useful?

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Get notified as more awesome content goes live.

(No spam, no ads, opt-out whenever)

You've just joined an elite group of people that make the top performing 1% of sales and marketing collateral.

Create your best presentation to date

Try Storydoc interactive presentation maker for 14 days free (keep any presentation you make forever!)

Jump to section

What is a multimedia presentation, why should you create a multimedia presentation, 7 steps to making the perfect multimedia presentation, how can penji help you make a multimedia presentation, how to create a multimedia presentation in 7 easy steps.

Sometimes a flat, static presentation just won’t cut it. If you want to keep your audience interested, a multimedia presentation is the perfect way to engage all the senses.

Whether you’re launching a product, pitching your service, or hosting a meeting, engagement is key to a winning presentation. Here’s your ultimate guide to creating a pitch perfect multimedia presentation.

A multimedia presentation is just what it sounds like—a visual presentation using multiple forms of media. Unlike a standard  presentation  made up of static slides, a multimedia presentation uses sound, motion, and interactive elements.

Types of media for multimedia presentations

A multimedia presentation can feature elements including (but not limited to):

• Interactive features (e.g. infographics)

Need graphic design help?

Try Penji’s Unlimited Graphic Design and get all your branding, digital, print, and UXUI designs done in one place.

Adding different forms of media allows you to break down the barrier between yourself and your audience. Using engagement tools is the best way to ensure that your audience engagement retains the important info from your presentation.

While they can aid important information, they can also inject some much-needed fun into business meetings. Whether it’s a weekly team meeting or a big keynote, your audience is more likely to check out if it’s all serious business. Contrary to popular belief, you can inject humor and playful energy into your presentation without sacrificing integrity.

If you have time, you should always consider incorporating different forms of media into your powerpoint slides.  Launching a product ? People will want to see it in action.

Onboarding new employees? Try some team building activities. Displaying data? Drive your points home with visual presentations that move.

Well-integrated media shows that you’re putting effort into your powerpoint presentation, and that you know what you’re doing. If you do them right, they’re a surefire way measure audience engagement for the best results.

If your visual elements are an afterthought, they can come off as lazy. Technical difficulties can send your whole presentation off the rails, so you want to make sure you have the right tools.

The 7 steps to creating a multimedia presentation are:

• Create an outline
• Select your software
• Design your slides
• Prepare media elements
• Incorporate media elements

Below, you’ll find an in-depth look at each step in the process.

1) Create an outline

For an essay (or an article), an outline can just be a brief list of visual building blocks. This will keep your presentation organized. For a presentation, especially a multimedia presentation, it’s a little more complicated. To craft your outline, you’ll need to consider:

• Multimedia elements
• Slide design
• Special slides (quotes, graphics, questions, etc.)
• Color scheme
• Visual motifs
• Spoken vs. written elements
• Negative space

Start with the basic structure of your presentation, then think about how your slides can complement that structure. What visual motifs will help drive your message home? What text and images need to be displayed to keep people engaged?

This is where your multimedia elements come in. Everything in your presentation should have a reason for being there. How can a video presentation help prove your point?

2) Pick the right software

For a static presentation, you would probably load up PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote and be ready to go. With media elements, however, you’ll have to think outside the box.

If you’re incorporating  audio , video, animations, or anything else, you’ll have to find it somewhere. If you want to make it yourself, you’ll need the tools for it, and some design agencies are better for multimedia than others.

To help, here are a few award winning presentation softwares to consider:

PowerPoint/Google Slides/Keynote

Let’s start with the basics. Each of these classic presentation tools is quite powerful. They can be used to put together excellent multimedia presentations.

However, you’ll have to study up if you want to become a master. There is other software out there that makes the work of adding animations, media, and interactive elements easier. While these programs aren’t as intuitive, it may be more helpful to master them in the long run.

Canva’s  cloud-based  design tools are versatile and great for any budding graphic designer. Their presentation tools are some of the best you can find online. On top of quick animations and stylish templates, they offer integrations with tons of media apps and a selection of royalty-free audio. You can add GIFs from GIPHY, videos from  YouTube , and even maps from Google Maps.

Where you can use Canva to make just about any design, Powtoon is fine-tuned (or should I say, fine-tooned) for dynamic, animated visuals. You can start creating for free, but this option is best for businesses who need a one-stop shop for stunning multimedia presentations. Trusted by the likes of NASA and Pfizer, their tools allow for fully custom effects.

Beautiful.ai

What sets Beautiful.ai apart from other slide  design companies  is their use of AI to power designers. After you select from hundreds of customizable templates, the app integrates your content on its own.

You can click and drag icons, photos, videos and more. Your slides will auto-adjust to create a perfect fit. Video makers can especially be expensive. This is a great budget friendly option.

If you need to give a big conference via video conference, Prezi is the tool for you. Their software seamlessly integrates multimedia presentation tools with  live video . It works with a wide range of video meeting software, including Zoom, Webex, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Slack. Their presentation tools—both free and paid—are fully integrated and second to none.

3) Design your slides

One of the classic rookie mistakes in presentations is carefully outlining your content, but not paying attention to your imagery. Details from even your line shape need to look professional. Presentation design is a crucial step that shouldn’t be overlooked. If you happen to have a lot of design know-how, you can do this yourself. Otherwise, you’re left with three options:

• Use a free template
• Use a paid template
• Hire a professional (freelancer, agency, or  design service )

This article  walks you through the best places to find each of these options. Here are a few crucial things to consider when creating your PowerPoint design.

Color schemes

Ensure that you’re properly using  color theory  when designing your slides. For a business presentation, use colors that are part of your brand identity or featured in your logo. Tools like  Coolors  can help you generate full color schemes.

Visual themes

Consider expressing the message of your presentation with visual themes and metaphors. For instance, if your message is aspirational, you can use space or mountain imagery to signify shooting for the stars. If your business is cutting-edge, circuits and sci-fi imagery can help convey a sense of futurism.

Dynamic imagery

Try unique photo frames and geometric design flourishes. Use alternate slide designs with reversed colors or positions. 

Pair different fonts  and employ all different types of slides. Consistency is key, but every slide should be distinctive in some way to keep your audience invested.

4) Prepare your media

Since you’ve planned ahead, you probably have a good idea for what media you want to include in your presentation. Now that your slides are designed, it’s a good idea to get your multimedia elements ready so you can easily drop them in during the editing process.

Narration:  Pick out your favorite  recording software  or DAW (digital audio workstation) and hop to it! For a professional presentation, you want to make sure your audio is fairly high quality. Use a large closet or other audio-friendly space for recording if you don’t have an audio setup.

Music:  You can use any music you want for an internal presentation, but for a public conference, you should definitely seek out some  royalty-free audio .

Video:  Whether you’re using pre-recorded or live video, you’ll want to make sure you have the right setup. As with narration, you’ll want high-quality sound, along with a decent camera. For live video, try to use an area with a strong internet connection to ensure you don’t suffer technical difficulties.

Interactive elements:  Creating these can be part of the slide design process (for instance, if you’re incorporating a game into your presentation). Creating these from scratch requires a great deal of technical know-how, but you can also find lots of pre-made  templates  out there.

GIFs and animations:  These are also included in many templates, since they’re such a vital part of creating a dynamic multimedia presentation. You may consider using animations for clever transitions, to spice up  infographics , or just to add color to your slides.

5) Write, write, write!

Once you have a thorough outline, writing text for your presentation should be a breeze. Remember, most of the words should come out of your mouth, with only the bare fundamentals on your slides.

Still, this is the step where you’re actually using your software and creating your presentation. However much prep you’ve done, it can feel like a momentous occasion.

Don’t be afraid to make changes at this point in the process. It’s good to have a thorough outline, but you’re not bound by it. If you made space for an infographic but you feel your data would be better served with a text slide, feel free to make changes.

In terms of  writing  style, while your presentation will likely be structured like an essay, it should be written like ad copy. Keep everything short, sweet, and punchy, conveying your concepts as concisely as possible. You can actually be even less specific than you would in an ad, since you’ll be delivering the presentation yourself. But remember to include any details you want to stick in your audience’s head.

Beyond that, play around with style. Try to use writing that suits your brand or the meaning behind your presentation. A jovial, meme-y style might be perfect for a team-building meeting, while an inspirational, important tone better suits a keynote address.

6) Add your multimedia elements

Once you’ve got everything laid out, it’s time to add the fun stuff. Keynote, PowerPoint, and Google Slides all have accessible tools for adding multimedia elements, as do the other software examples listed above.

While preparing your media is a challenge, you’ll also have to spend some time figuring out the best way to integrate them. Technical difficulties can be a death sentence for any presentation, so you’ll want to prepare in advance to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Typically, you’ll be able to control what settings cause the media to play. For instance, Google Slides lets you set elements to play automatically, manually, or with a click. Regardless, you should be sure to preview your slideshow and make sure that everything looks right and plays on cue.

7) Review, revise, and present

Preview your multimedia presentation a few times over. This will help you make sure everything is in working order. How long is it? Does it ever lag? Is it engaging?

If you had any  presentation ideas  you failed to include, this is your last chance to bring them in. Don’t put too much pressure on it, but make sure it’s good enough to go before you finalize it. A multimedia presentation is more complex than a regular one, which means it may take you a little longer to fine-tune it.

Once it’s done, get ready to present it. On top of getting it ready to share through whatever channels you use, you should also consider making the  slide deck  available to your audience after the show. Especially for a pitch, this can help ensure they keep you and your ideas in mind.

Making a multimedia presentation isn’t easy. There are plenty of tools and templates out there to help you make great slides, but if you need something custom, you may be out of luck. That’s where Penji comes in.

Penji is an unlimited graphic design service offering access to world-class design talent for a simple monthly price. If you need regular, high-quality presentations or other designs for your business, Penji can help bring your vision to life.

With a  Team  subscription, you get access to unlimited presentations and animated graphics. Just share your design needs with Penji and let our A.I. pair you with the perfect designer(s) for your project. After that, you can expect results within days, even for complex projects.

What are you waiting for? Sign up for a demo today and put your business on the road to success.

Related articles

How to Hire a Logo Designer (5 Different Options)

38 Graphic Design Firms You Need to Know in 2024

What Is a Drop Service? 15 Examples

What is a Creative Strategy (+ FREE Template)

Unlimited graphic design starting at $499/m

Conference "International Relations: History, Theory, Practice"

Discovering Multimedia Presentations: Definition and Uses

Discover the power of multimedia presentations—a captivating way to effectively communicate ideas and messages to your audience. By blending various media elements such as text, audio, video, and images, these presentations breathe life into information like never before. Whether you’re aiming to market a product, conduct training sessions, or deliver educational content, multimedia presentations serve a wide range of purposes. Join us as we delve deeper into this dynamic communication tool, exploring its components, uses, and much more. Keep reading to unlock the secrets of engaging multimedia presentations!

Multimedia Presentations: A Dynamic Communication Tool

Let’s explore the fascinating world of multimedia presentations—a captivating blend of various media types that work together to communicate information effectively. This flexible format combines elements like text, audio, video, images, animations, and interactive features. The term “multimedia” itself indicates the use of multiple forms within a single piece of work. Creating these presentations is made easy with popular software like Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote, or Prezi. However, other tools such as video editing software and audio recording programs can also be used to craft engaging multimedia presentations.

These presentations are widely embraced in corporate settings as powerful communication tools to convey ideas to both employees and customers. Additionally, they prove invaluable in training sessions and educational environments, where they effectively teach new concepts and disseminate information.

Exploring the Components of Multimedia Presentations

The backbone of a multimedia presentation, text encompasses headlines, body text, and captions. Using concise and reader-friendly text is crucial to ensure clarity and comprehension. Multimedia presentations consist of four main categories that play integral roles in conveying information effectively:

• Audio: Adding depth and dimension to the presentation, audio can provide background information or narrate slides. Well-executed audio keeps the audience engaged and enhances the overall memorability of the presentation.
• Video: Increasingly popular, video segments are used to demonstrate processes, explain complex concepts, or narrate compelling stories. Integrating video into a presentation effectively captivates the audience and leaves a lasting impact.
• Images: Another essential component, images contribute visual interest, illustrate points, and present data through charts and graphs. High-quality and relevant images further enhance the topic’s understanding.
• Additional Elements: Multimedia presentations can incorporate various other elements, including animations, music, charts, infographics, and sound effects. To elevate viewer engagement, interactive features like buttons or links can also be included. By utilizing this diverse range of components, multimedia presentations become powerful tools for effective communication and captivating storytelling.

The Versatile Applications of Multimedia Presentations

Multimedia presentations have an array of applications, and their effectiveness in sharing messages and ideas is unmatched.

In the corporate world, these presentations prove invaluable as powerful tools to communicate ideas with employees and consumers alike. They are frequently used in board meetings, investor pitches, and various business-related contexts to effectively convey essential information.

Within educational settings, multimedia displays play a crucial role in elucidating complex topics and concepts. Teachers often depend on them in classrooms and during lectures to facilitate more effective learning for students.

What makes multimedia exhibits truly remarkable is their flexibility to fit any audience and occasion, making them suitable for both formal and informal environments. Depending on the specific requirements, communicators can modify the amount of information included and select different media elements to effectively convey their message. Whether it’s a business meeting, a classroom, or any other scenario, multimedia displays provide an engaging and impactful means of communication.

How to Prepare a Multimedia Presentation

Now that you have a grasp of multimedia presentations, let’s delve into the steps to create one.

Tips for Crafting Effective Multimedia Presentations

• Tip 1: Begin with a Captivating Introduction

The opening of your presentation is crucial. To make a lasting impact, start with a strong and engaging introduction that immediately captures your audience’s attention. This initial moment sets the tone for the rest of your presentation, so be creative and captivating from the outset.

• Tip 2: Embrace Simplicity in Slide Design

A cluttered slide can overwhelm your audience and hinder their understanding. Instead, opt for simplicity in your slide design. Keep visuals and text minimal, ensuring that each element enhances readability and comprehension. Your slides should complement your message, not distract from it.

• Tip 3: Keep it Concise

Respecting your audience’s attention span is vital for maintaining engagement. On average, people’s focus tends to wane after about 20 minutes. Aim to deliver your presentation within 15 minutes or less, allowing for better retention and attention from your listeners.

• Tip 4: Harness the Power of Visual Aids

Visual aids can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your multimedia presentation. They simplify complex concepts, add visual appeal, and make your content more compelling. Integrate relevant images, graphs, or charts that complement your narrative and help convey your ideas clearly.

• Tip 5: Practice for Perfection

Rehearsing your presentation multiple times before the actual event is key to success. Practice boosts your confidence, familiarizes you with the flow of your speech, and allows you to refine your delivery. Moreover, it helps you anticipate and address any potential challenges or questions that may arise during your presentation.

Top Multimedia Presentation-Making Software

Explore these outstanding multimedia presentation-making software options:

Multimedia presentation is a powerful and versatile communication tool that blends various media elements to effectively convey information and ideas. From written content, audio clips, videos, and images to interactive elements and animations, this captivating format brings information to life in a way that captivates and connects with audiences. In corporate environments, multimedia displays serve as invaluable tools to communicate with employees, customers, and stakeholders, facilitating clear and impactful message delivery in board meetings, investor pitches, and various business-related situations. Within academic settings, these exhibits play a crucial role in facilitating effective learning and comprehension of intricate topics. Educators employ multimedia exhibits to engage students, making the learning experience more enjoyable and fruitful.

The use of visual aids further enhances the effectiveness of multimedia exhibits, simplifying intricate concepts and adding visual appeal to the content. Through practice and rehearsal of the display multiple times, presenters can boost their confidence, deliver a smoother performance, and be better prepared to address any challenges that may arise during the actual event.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Home Blog Design Multimedia Presentation: Insights & Techniques to Maximize Engagement

Multimedia Presentation: Insights & Techniques to Maximize Engagement

Effective public speaking is a crucial skill often overlooked. Multimedia presentations, such as digital stories, offer an opportunity to cultivate this skill. When appropriately executed, they blend visuals, text, and compelling speech in any setting. This article explores multimedia presentation, focusing on its definition, components, and the advantages it brings to the table.

Table of Contents

What is a Multimedia Presentation?

Types of mediums used in a multimedia presentation, advantages of multimedia presentation, how to create a multimedia presentation.

• How to Deliver a Multimedia Presentation?

Recommended Templates for Multimedia Presentations

Final words.

Multimedia originates from the combination of “multi” and “media,” where “multi” denotes “many” [1]. It represents a medium facilitating the seamless transfer of information between locations. Multimedia encompasses the computer-assisted integration of various elements like text, drawings, still and moving images (videos), graphics, audio, animation, and other forms of media [1]. It allows the expression, storage, communication, and digital information processing.

A multimedia presentation goes beyond traditional slides to convey information. It is a dynamic approach that enhances engagement and boosts information retention among the audience. With the use of technology, it requires thoughtful design, pacing, and interactive components. Multimedia presentations deliver information through various channels, offering a multi-sensorial experience. As a consequence, they accommodate different learning preferences.

To create a truly immersive experience, multimedia presentations leverage different mediums. Video clips offer dynamic visual content, infographics provide concise information, audio snippets add a layer of narration, and animations bring concepts to life. The synergy of these elements elevates the overall impact of the presentation.

Multimedia presentations employ diverse mediums to construct a comprehensive and immersive experience.

Video Clips

Video content consists of photographic images displayed in apparent motion at speeds ranging from 24 to 30 frames per second, and even higher values depending on the topic. The term “video” denotes a moving image accompanied by sound, commonly seen in television broadcasts [2]. Text can be incorporated into videos through captions or embedded in images, as seen in slide presentations. It provides a captivating element to the presentation. 

By incorporating motion and imagery, video clips enhance audience understanding and retention, as they can be introduced as a refreshing break during the course of the presentation. It offers the presenter a moment to regroup, especially in lengthy presentations. Videos can emotionally engage audiences through narratives, but their inclusion alone doesn’t guarantee benefits. For effective integration, videos have to follow the narrative of the speech the presenter is sharing. This implies that no random video can be added to a multimedia presentation, and presenters should also take extra care in unrequired effects that don’t contribute to the overall impact of the speech (i.e., abusing VFX or unprofessional transitions).  

Now we know why and how videos help a presentation, those who are unfamiliar can learn how to embed a video on a Google Slide .

Infographics

Infographics contribute to the attractiveness of multimedia applications. In numerous situations, the audience prefers visuals over extensive text. It aids in the clarification of concepts and provides background information. In contrast to regular graphics, infographics are commonly acknowledged as a better medium to communicate data extracted from charts and graphs [3]. Their visually appealing format ensures clarity without overwhelming the viewer, making data more digestible.

Text [4] is used in multimedia presentations because it is a familiar media channel. It includes characters of different sizes and styles, making words, phrases, and paragraphs. The text requires less effort compared to a video. But this doesn’t mean presenters shouldn’t care about formatting.

Different fonts and sizes in text matter. Using the wrong font shows a lack of professionalism. Multimedia uses text to share information or enhance other media. Therefore, fonts and sizes can be varied for a cohesive aesthetic.

Graphic Design effects, like text on portrait, are mighty in presentations. This technique, featuring phrases alongside visuals of well-known public figures, enhances interest and reinforces key messages.  Choosing the right colors and contrast in text design has a psychological appeal. It increases the audience’s interest.

Text design should also consider those with visual impairments.  Hence, the text to be used has to follow specific guidelines. Multimedia follows this by presenting text in various formats. This helps everyone understand the message quickly. They make information accessible instantly.

Audio Snippets

Adding audio into a media presentation gives users information that may be challenging to convey through other mediums. Certain types of information, like a motivational speech or enlightening music, are best conveyed through audio. It is a common practice in the motivational presentation niche to use audio as a resource to accompany exercises, like meditational practices, group activities, and storytelling techniques in which the audience has to place themselves in the shoes of the “character” in the story, and the list goes on.

Research indicates that presenting information through multiple senses improves retention [6]. Importantly, audio can make communication accessible for users who present visual impairments.

Animation is a series of static images rapidly flipped through, creating the illusion of movement [5]. Animation involves making a still image appear to be in motion. It enhances the visual appeal of a presentation. Animation is used for illustrating concepts related to movement, such as playing a guitar or hitting a golf ball. These actions are challenging to depict accurately with static images or text alone.  

Likewise, animated sequences can guide employees to respond correctly to different threat scenarios. For instance, showing threat scenarios through animation can enhance employees’ ability to recognize and respond to potential risks. Through movement and visual storytelling, animated templates contribute to a deeper understanding of intricate ideas.

Multimedia presentations emerge as a powerful tool for effective communication, offering engagement, retention, and adaptability in professional and educational settings.

Enhanced Engagement

Multimedia presentations excel in captivating audiences through a customized approach to diverse learning preferences. Multimedia presentations stimulate interest and maintain active engagement by integrating visuals and audio.

Improved Information Retention

Research conducted by Saini and Baba underscores the efficacy of multimedia presentations in enhancing information retention [7]. The combination of visual and auditory stimuli helps understanding quickly. It improves the audience’s ability to grasp and remember key concepts.

Professional Appeal

In professional settings, adopting multimedia presentations contributes to elevated sophistication. This method showcases a commitment to deliver information dynamically and accessibly. Thus, presentation on multimedia positively reflects on both the presenter and the organization.

Flexibility in Communication

Multimedia presentations offer flexibility in conveying complex concepts . Incorporating various mediums allows presenters to adapt their communication style to suit the nature of the information. It makes it more accessible to a broader audience.

Increased Accessibility

The inclusion of diverse mediums enhances accessibility for a wider audience. Visual elements cater to visual learners, while auditory components appeal to those who learn best through listening. This inclusive approach ensures that the message resonates with different audiences.

Enhanced Persuasion

The dynamic nature of multimedia presentations facilitates a persuasive delivery . Engaging visuals, coupled with compelling narration, influence opinions. It effectively conveys the presenter’s message, making it more memorable and impactful.

Real-time Demonstration

Multimedia presentations enable real-time demonstration of concepts and ideas. Whether showcasing product features or illustrating complex processes, integrating videos, animations, and live demonstrations leave a lasting impression.

Adaptability to Technological Advances

By using multimedia presentations, presenters showcase adaptability to technological advances [8]. Multimedia presentation aligns with contemporary communication trends. It positions the presenter as forward-thinking and responsive to evolving methods of information delivery.

Crafting an effective multimedia presentation involves thoughtful planning and execution. A well-structured and engaging multimedia presentation is created by following several steps

Define Presentation Objectives

The goals and objectives of the presentation must be clearly outlined [9]. A presenter should identify the key message that is conveyed to the audience. This initial step guides the selection of multimedia elements based on the nature of the content. For instance, data presentations involve the use of infographics. On the other hand, motivational presentations may require photos, illustrations, and videos. Likewise, Business presentations may include interactive graphs and infographics.

Audience Research

Understand the target audience to customize content. Choose multimedia elements that resonate with them [9]. Consider the audience’s demographics, preferences, and expectations to create a presentation that captures their interest.

Select Media Channels

Choose appropriate multimedia channels, such as GIFs, videos, infographics, and animated charts, per the defined objectives. Different media channels convey information in distinct ways. Selecting the right ones enhances the overall impact of the presentation. Otherwise, the presenter can learn about design ideas in detail from SlideModel.

Write the Presentation Story

Develop a structured storyboard outlining the sequence of content, visuals, and multimedia elements. The story should have a logical flow. It captures the audience’s attention and maintains their interest throughout the presentation.

Select a SlideModel Template

Use a SlideModel template to maintain consistency and professionalism in design, including fonts, colors, and layout. Templates provide a cohesive visual identity. These templates reinforce the message and facilitate a clear understanding of the content. There are plenty of templates available that can assist in creating a multimedia presentation.

Create Narrations or Captions

Develop concise and focused content that supports the key message. This contributes to the overall narrative. Narrations provide spoken explanations, while captions offer written context. Narrations or captions should complement the visuals. They provide context and enhance the audience’s understanding.

Create Deliverables

Deliverables include the finalized presentation file. It ensures compatibility with the chosen presentation software. Generate deliverables for the multimedia presentation. Optimize files for seamless integration and playback. Pay attention to file sizes and formats.

Transitions and Timings

Incorporate smooth slide transitions for a seamless flow between content. Avoid excessive transitions that may distract from the message. Set appropriate timings to maintain a well-paced presentation. Keep the audience engaged.

Speaker Notes

Prepare speaker notes to guide the presenter during the delivery. Attention must be paid to timing and the use of multimedia elements. Speaker notes serve as a roadmap. It ensures a confident and well-timed presentation.

How to Deliver a Multimedia Presentation

Delivering a multimedia presentation with impact involves a strategic approach.

Testing Presentation on Arrival

Prioritize testing upon arrival to prevent any technical inconveniences. Verify the compatibility of multimedia elements and the presentation software with the venue’s system. A smooth technical setup is essential for a flawless multimedia presentation.

Timing of Multimedia Elements

Study the timing of multimedia elements.  Especially when introducing videos. Allocate time for a Q&A session post-presentation. This strategic timing ensures audience commitment, thus providing a platform for clarifications and discussions.

Avoid Inconsistent Perceptual Mediums

Leverage various perceptual channels, like hearing and vision, to enhance comprehension. Clarify infographics through spoken explanations. Steer clear of concurrent speech and sound sources to prevent interference and distractions. Seamless integration of multiple media sources is paramount for an effective presentation [10].

Professional Tone

Uphold a professional and authoritative tone throughout the presentation. Stay away from overly casual language to underscore the gravity of your message. Opt for a direct approach, aligning with the formality expected in a multimedia presentation.

Body Language

Pay attention to your body language, a critical aspect of multimedia presentations. Show confident and open postures. It reinforces the verbal communication. Effective body language contributes to the audience’s understanding.

Strategic Pauses for Multimedia Absorption

Introduce strategic pauses at key junctures to allow the audience to absorb multimedia information. Recognize that multimedia elements often require additional processing time. Strategic breaks enhance understanding. This prevents information overload and ensures a smooth flow throughout the presentation.

Visual Commitment through Multimedia

Pay close attention to the effective use of multimedia elements. Use body language to complement multimedia content. It will enhance the audience’s connection with the presentation. Effective visual engagement is crucial for a successful multimedia delivery.

1. Pitch Deck for Multimedia Presentation PowerPoint Template

If you are looking for multimedia presentation examples, in this article, we used one slide of this investor pitch deck to showcase why graphics matter in first impressions. Customize this presentation template to meet the requirements of your company; it just takes a couple of clicks!

Use This Template

2. Multimedia Annual Report PowerPoint & Google Slides Template

Rather than delivering a plain MS Excel sheet, create your report presentation by using this presentation on multimedia format template. Entirely customizable, you can adapt the presentation theme to any color scheme you choose. Download it today and make your annual report presentation the highlight of this year!

3. CV Template for Interview Meetings with Multimedia Effects

Long gone are the days in which resumes were a blank piece of paper with text and a bad-quality photo. Impress recruiters with a well-designed curriculum vitae by harnessing the advantages of multimedia presentations.

4. Collection of Infographic PPT Templates for Multimedia Presentations

For those who don’t know where to start with infographics, this slide deck has it all. Bubbles, demographics, iceberg metaphor, funnels, and more. Access now and customize the graphics in this high-quality infographics template for PowerPoint – fully compatible with Google Slides and Keynote.

Multimedia presentations are at the forefront of the transformation of public speaking. Using various mediums, presenters create engaging experiences for their audience. Integrating multimedia elements in business or academia raises presentations to new heights.

[1] Li, Z.N., Drew, M.S. and Liu, J., 2004. Fundamentals of multimedia (pp. 253-265). Upper Saddle River (NJ): Pearson Prentice Hall. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57105399-fundamentals-of-multimedia

[2] Bowen, C., 2017. Grammar of the Edit . Routledge. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/546377

[3] Siricharoen, W.V., 2013, May. Infographics: the new communication tools in digital age. In The international conference on e-technologies and business on the web (ebw2013) (Vol. 169174). https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Waralak-Siricharoen/publication/256504130_Infographics_the_new_communication_tools_in_digital_age/links/0c9605232e6f666b1f000000/Infographics-the-new-communication-tools-in-digital-age.pdf

[4] Malhotra, R. and Verma, N., 2020. An impact of using multimedia presentations on engineering education. Procedia Computer Science , 172 , pp.71-76.

[5] Pavithra, A., Aathilingam, M. and Prakash, S.M., 2018. Multimedia and its applications. International journal for research & development in technology , 10 (5), pp.271-276.

[6] Henmon, V.A.C., 1912. The relation between mode of presentation and retention. Psychological Review , 19 (2), p.79. https://ia600708.us.archive.org/view_archive.php?archive=/28/items/crossref-pre-1923-scholarly-works/10.1037%252Fh0072137.zip&file=10.1037%252Fh0072813.pdf

[7] Saini, G. and Baba, M.M., 2023. Psychological expedient of multimedia in blended learning and metamemory satisfaction. The Learning Organization . https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/TLO-11-2022-0130/full/html

[8] Lauer, C., 2009. Contending with terms: “Multimodal” and “multimedia” in the academic and public spheres. Computers and composition , 26 (4), pp.225-239. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=1dd08158225c41e82243a7efe74e61c140293775

[9] Hosseini, Z. and Kamal, A., 2013. How to design effective multimedia presentations. In 7th International Symposium on Advances in Science and Technology (7th SASTech 2013) Pp (pp. 7-8).

[10] Sutcliffe, A.G., 1999. A design method for effective information delivery in multimedia presentations. New review of hypermedia and multimedia, 5(1), pp.29-58. https://doi.org/10.1080/13614569908914707

Like this article? Please share

Design, Presentation Approaches Filed under Design

Related Articles

Filed under Design • March 27th, 2024

How to Make a Presentation Graph

Detailed step-by-step instructions to master the art of how to make a presentation graph in PowerPoint and Google Slides. Check it out!

Filed under Presentation Ideas • February 29th, 2024

How to Make a Fundraising Presentation (with Thermometer Templates & Slides)

Meet a new framework to design fundraising presentations by harnessing the power of fundraising thermometer templates. Detailed guide with examples.

Filed under Presentation Ideas • February 15th, 2024

How to Create a 5 Minutes Presentation

Master the art of short-format speeches like the 5 minutes presentation with this article. Insights on content structure, audience engagement and more.

Leave a Reply

We use essential cookies to make Venngage work. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Manage Cookies

Cookies and similar technologies collect certain information about how you’re using our website. Some of them are essential, and without them you wouldn’t be able to use Venngage. But others are optional, and you get to choose whether we use them or not.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are always on, as they’re essential for making Venngage work, and making it safe. Without these cookies, services you’ve asked for can’t be provided.

Show cookie providers

• Google Login

Functionality Cookies

These cookies help us provide enhanced functionality and personalisation, and remember your settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers.

Performance Cookies

These cookies help us analyze how many people are using Venngage, where they come from and how they're using it. If you opt out of these cookies, we can’t get feedback to make Venngage better for you and all our users.

• Google Analytics

Targeting Cookies

These cookies are set by our advertising partners to track your activity and show you relevant Venngage ads on other sites as you browse the internet.

• Google Tag Manager
• Infographics
• Daily Infographics
• Graphic Design
• Graphs and Charts
• Data Visualization
• Human Resources
• Training and Development
• Beginner Guides

Blog Graphic Design

15 Effective Visual Presentation Tips To Wow Your Audience

By Krystle Wong , Sep 28, 2023

So, you’re gearing up for that big presentation and you want it to be more than just another snooze-fest with slides. You want it to be engaging, memorable and downright impressive. 

Well, you’ve come to the right place — I’ve got some slick tips on how to create a visual presentation that’ll take your presentation game up a notch. 

Packed with presentation templates that are easily customizable, keep reading this blog post to learn the secret sauce behind crafting presentations that captivate, inform and remain etched in the memory of your audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What is a visual presentation & why is it important?

15 effective tips to make your visual presentations more engaging, 6 major types of visual presentation you should know , what are some common mistakes to avoid in visual presentations, visual presentation faqs, 5 steps to create a visual presentation with venngage.

A visual presentation is a communication method that utilizes visual elements such as images, graphics, charts, slides and other visual aids to convey information, ideas or messages to an audience. 

Visual presentations aim to enhance comprehension engagement and the overall impact of the message through the strategic use of visuals. People remember what they see, making your point last longer in their heads. 

Without further ado, let’s jump right into some great visual presentation examples that would do a great job in keeping your audience interested and getting your point across.

In today’s fast-paced world, where information is constantly bombarding our senses, creating engaging visual presentations has never been more crucial. To help you design a presentation that’ll leave a lasting impression, I’ve compiled these examples of visual presentations that will elevate your game.

1. Use the rule of thirds for layout

Ever heard of the rule of thirds? It’s a presentation layout trick that can instantly up your slide game. Imagine dividing your slide into a 3×3 grid and then placing your text and visuals at the intersection points or along the lines. This simple tweak creates a balanced and seriously pleasing layout that’ll draw everyone’s eyes.

2. Get creative with visual metaphors

Got a complex idea to explain? Skip the jargon and use visual metaphors. Throw in images that symbolize your point – for example, using a road map to show your journey towards a goal or using metaphors to represent answer choices or progress indicators in an interactive quiz or poll.

3. Visualize your data with charts and graphs

The right data visualization tools not only make content more appealing but also aid comprehension and retention. Choosing the right visual presentation for your data is all about finding a good match. 

For ordinal data, where things have a clear order, consider using ordered bar charts or dot plots. When it comes to nominal data, where categories are on an equal footing, stick with the classics like bar charts, pie charts or simple frequency tables. And for interval-ratio data, where there’s a meaningful order, go for histograms, line graphs, scatterplots or box plots to help your data shine.

In an increasingly visual world, effective visual communication is a valuable skill for conveying messages. Here’s a guide on how to use visual communication to engage your audience while avoiding information overload.

4. Employ the power of contrast

Want your important stuff to pop? That’s where contrast comes in. Mix things up with contrasting colors, fonts or shapes. It’s like highlighting your key points with a neon marker – an instant attention grabber.

5. Tell a visual story

Structure your slides like a storybook and create a visual narrative by arranging your slides in a way that tells a story. Each slide should flow into the next, creating a visual narrative that keeps your audience hooked till the very end.

Icons and images are essential for adding visual appeal and clarity to your presentation. Venngage provides a vast library of icons and images, allowing you to choose visuals that resonate with your audience and complement your message. 

6. Show the “before and after” magic

Want to drive home the impact of your message or solution? Whip out the “before and after” technique. Show the current state (before) and the desired state (after) in a visual way. It’s like showing a makeover transformation, but for your ideas.

7. Add fun with visual quizzes and polls

To break the monotony and see if your audience is still with you, throw in some quick quizzes or polls. It’s like a mini-game break in your presentation — your audience gets involved and it makes your presentation way more dynamic and memorable.

8. End with a powerful visual punch

Your presentation closing should be a showstopper. Think a stunning clip art that wraps up your message with a visual bow, a killer quote that lingers in minds or a call to action that gets hearts racing.

9. Engage with storytelling through data

Use storytelling magic to bring your data to life. Don’t just throw numbers at your audience—explain what they mean, why they matter and add a bit of human touch. Turn those stats into relatable tales and watch your audience’s eyes light up with understanding.

10. Use visuals wisely

Your visuals are the secret sauce of a great presentation. Cherry-pick high-quality images, graphics, charts and videos that not only look good but also align with your message’s vibe. Each visual should have a purpose – they’re not just there for decoration. 

11. Utilize visual hierarchy

Employ design principles like contrast, alignment and proximity to make your key info stand out. Play around with fonts, colors and placement to make sure your audience can’t miss the important stuff.

12. Engage with multimedia

Static slides are so last year. Give your presentation some sizzle by tossing in multimedia elements. Think short video clips, animations, or a touch of sound when it makes sense, including an animated logo . But remember, these are sidekicks, not the main act, so use them smartly.

13. Interact with your audience

Turn your presentation into a two-way street. Start your presentation by encouraging your audience to join in with thought-provoking questions, quick polls or using interactive tools. Get them chatting and watch your presentation come alive.

When it comes to delivering a group presentation, it’s important to have everyone on the team on the same page. Venngage’s real-time collaboration tools enable you and your team to work together seamlessly, regardless of geographical locations. Collaborators can provide input, make edits and offer suggestions in real time. 

14. Incorporate stories and examples

Weave in relatable stories, personal anecdotes or real-life examples to illustrate your points. It’s like adding a dash of spice to your content – it becomes more memorable and relatable.

15. Nail that delivery

Don’t just stand there and recite facts like a robot — be a confident and engaging presenter. Lock eyes with your audience, mix up your tone and pace and use some gestures to drive your points home. Practice and brush up your presentation skills until you’ve got it down pat for a persuasive presentation that flows like a pro.

Venngage offers a wide selection of professionally designed presentation templates, each tailored for different purposes and styles. By choosing a template that aligns with your content and goals, you can create a visually cohesive and polished presentation that captivates your audience.

Looking for more presentation ideas ? Why not try using a presentation software that will take your presentations to the next level with a combination of user-friendly interfaces, stunning visuals, collaboration features and innovative functionalities that will take your presentations to the next level. 

Visual presentations come in various formats, each uniquely suited to convey information and engage audiences effectively. Here are six major types of visual presentations that you should be familiar with:

1. Slideshows or PowerPoint presentations

Slideshows are one of the most common forms of visual presentations. They typically consist of a series of slides containing text, images, charts, graphs and other visual elements. Slideshows are used for various purposes, including business presentations, educational lectures and conference talks.

2. Infographics

Infographics are visual representations of information, data or knowledge. They combine text, images and graphics to convey complex concepts or data in a concise and visually appealing manner. Infographics are often used in marketing, reporting and educational materials.

Don’t worry, they are also super easy to create thanks to Venngage’s fully customizable infographics templates that are professionally designed to bring your information to life. Be sure to try it out for your next visual presentation!

3. Video presentation

Videos are your dynamic storytellers. Whether it’s pre-recorded or happening in real-time, videos are the showstoppers. You can have interviews, demos, animations or even your own mini-documentary. Video presentations are highly engaging and can be shared in both in-person and virtual presentations .

4. Charts and graphs

Charts and graphs are visual representations of data that make it easier to understand and analyze numerical information. Common types include bar charts, line graphs, pie charts and scatterplots. They are commonly used in scientific research, business reports and academic presentations.

Effective data visualizations are crucial for simplifying complex information and Venngage has got you covered. Venngage’s tools enable you to create engaging charts, graphs,and infographics that enhance audience understanding and retention, leaving a lasting impression in your presentation.

5. Interactive presentations

Interactive presentations involve audience participation and engagement. These can include interactive polls, quizzes, games and multimedia elements that allow the audience to actively participate in the presentation. Interactive presentations are often used in workshops, training sessions and webinars.

Venngage’s interactive presentation tools enable you to create immersive experiences that leave a lasting impact and enhance audience retention. By incorporating features like clickable elements, quizzes and embedded multimedia, you can captivate your audience’s attention and encourage active participation.

6. Poster presentations

Poster presentations are the stars of the academic and research scene. They consist of a large poster that includes text, images and graphics to communicate research findings or project details and are usually used at conferences and exhibitions. For more poster ideas, browse through Venngage’s gallery of poster templates to inspire your next presentation.

Different visual presentations aside, different presentation methods also serve a unique purpose, tailored to specific objectives and audiences. Find out which type of presentation works best for the message you are sending across to better capture attention, maintain interest and leave a lasting impression. 

To make a good presentation , it’s crucial to be aware of common mistakes and how to avoid them. Without further ado, let’s explore some of these pitfalls along with valuable insights on how to sidestep them.

Overloading slides with text

Text heavy slides can be like trying to swallow a whole sandwich in one bite – overwhelming and unappetizing. Instead, opt for concise sentences and bullet points to keep your slides simple. Visuals can help convey your message in a more engaging way.

Using low-quality visuals

Grainy images and pixelated charts are the equivalent of a scratchy vinyl record at a DJ party. High-resolution visuals are your ticket to professionalism. Ensure that the images, charts and graphics you use are clear, relevant and sharp.

Choosing the right visuals for presentations is important. To find great visuals for your visual presentation, Browse Venngage’s extensive library of high-quality stock photos. These images can help you convey your message effectively, evoke emotions and create a visually pleasing narrative. 

Ignoring design consistency

Imagine a book with every chapter in a different font and color – it’s a visual mess. Consistency in fonts, colors and formatting throughout your presentation is key to a polished and professional look.

Reading directly from slides

Reading your slides word-for-word is like inviting your audience to a one-person audiobook session. Slides should complement your speech, not replace it. Use them as visual aids, offering key points and visuals to support your narrative.

Lack of visual hierarchy

Neglecting visual hierarchy is like trying to find Waldo in a crowd of clones. Use size, color and positioning to emphasize what’s most important. Guide your audience’s attention to key points so they don’t miss the forest for the trees.

Ignoring accessibility

Accessibility isn’t an option these days; it’s a must. Forgetting alt text for images, color contrast and closed captions for videos can exclude individuals with disabilities from understanding your presentation. 

Relying too heavily on animation

While animations can add pizzazz and draw attention, overdoing it can overshadow your message. Use animations sparingly and with purpose to enhance, not detract from your content.

Using jargon and complex language

Keep it simple. Use plain language and explain terms when needed. You want your message to resonate, not leave people scratching their heads.

Not testing interactive elements

Interactive elements can be the life of your whole presentation, but not testing them beforehand is like jumping into a pool without checking if there’s water. Ensure that all interactive features, from live polls to multimedia content, work seamlessly. A smooth experience keeps your audience engaged and avoids those awkward technical hiccups.

Presenting complex data and information in a clear and visually appealing way has never been easier with Venngage. Build professional-looking designs with our free visual chart slide templates for your next presentation.

What software or tools can I use to create visual presentations?

You can use various software and tools to create visual presentations, including Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Prezi and Venngage, among others.

What is the difference between a visual presentation and a written report?

The main difference between a visual presentation and a written report is the medium of communication. Visual presentations rely on visuals, such as slides, charts and images to convey information quickly, while written reports use text to provide detailed information in a linear format.

How do I effectively communicate data through visual presentations?

To effectively communicate data through visual presentations, simplify complex data into easily digestible charts and graphs, use clear labels and titles and ensure that your visuals support the key messages you want to convey.

Are there any accessibility considerations for visual presentations?

Accessibility considerations for visual presentations include providing alt text for images, ensuring good color contrast, using readable fonts and providing transcripts or captions for multimedia content to make the presentation inclusive.

Most design tools today make accessibility hard but Venngage’s Accessibility Design Tool comes with accessibility features baked in, including accessible-friendly and inclusive icons.

How do I choose the right visuals for my presentation?

Choose visuals that align with your content and message. Use charts for data, images for illustrating concepts, icons for emphasis and color to evoke emotions or convey themes.

What is the role of storytelling in visual presentations?

Storytelling plays a crucial role in visual presentations by providing a narrative structure that engages the audience, helps them relate to the content and makes the information more memorable.

How can I adapt my visual presentations for online or virtual audiences?

To adapt visual presentations for online or virtual audiences, focus on concise content, use engaging visuals, ensure clear audio, encourage audience interaction through chat or polls and rehearse for a smooth online delivery.

What is the role of data visualization in visual presentations?

Data visualization in visual presentations simplifies complex data by using charts, graphs and diagrams, making it easier for the audience to understand and interpret information.

How do I choose the right color scheme and fonts for my visual presentation?

Choose a color scheme that aligns with your content and brand and select fonts that are readable and appropriate for the message you want to convey.

How can I measure the effectiveness of my visual presentation?

Measure the effectiveness of your visual presentation by collecting feedback from the audience, tracking engagement metrics (e.g., click-through rates for online presentations) and evaluating whether the presentation achieved its intended objectives.

Ultimately, creating a memorable visual presentation isn’t just about throwing together pretty slides. It’s about mastering the art of making your message stick, captivating your audience and leaving a mark.

Lucky for you, Venngage simplifies the process of creating great presentations, empowering you to concentrate on delivering a compelling message. Follow the 5 simple steps below to make your entire presentation visually appealing and impactful:

1. Sign up and log In: Log in to your Venngage account or sign up for free and gain access to Venngage’s templates and design tools.

2. Choose a template: Browse through Venngage’s presentation template library and select one that best suits your presentation’s purpose and style. Venngage offers a variety of pre-designed templates for different types of visual presentations, including infographics, reports, posters and more.

3. Edit and customize your template: Replace the placeholder text, image and graphics with your own content and customize the colors, fonts and visual elements to align with your presentation’s theme or your organization’s branding.

4. Add visual elements: Venngage offers a wide range of visual elements, such as icons, illustrations, charts, graphs and images, that you can easily add to your presentation with the user-friendly drag-and-drop editor.

5. Save and export your presentation: Export your presentation in a format that suits your needs and then share it with your audience via email, social media or by embedding it on your website or blog .

So, as you gear up for your next presentation, whether it’s for business, education or pure creative expression, don’t forget to keep these visual presentation ideas in your back pocket.

Feel free to experiment and fine-tune your approach and let your passion and expertise shine through in your presentation. With practice, you’ll not only build presentations but also leave a lasting impact on your audience – one slide at a time.

What is a Multimedia Presentation?

A multimedia presentation is a collection of different types of media that are used to convey information. This type of presentation uses a variety of different media, such as text, audio, video, and images, to convey information.

• Multimedia presentations merge text, audio, video, and images to convey info.
• Popular creation tools: PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote, and Prezi.
• Used in business and academia to teach, market, or share ideas.
• Good presentations are clear, concise, and engaging.
• Creation steps: plan, select software, design, finalize.
• Top tips: keep it short, use visuals, and practice.
• Notable software: PowerPoint, Google Slides, Prezi, Keynote, Adobe Spark.

Multimedia presentations can be used for various purposes, such as marketing, training, or teaching. Interested to know more about multimedia presentations? Keep reading! Below, we will take a closer look at the multimedia presentation, its components, uses, and a variety of other things.

An Introduction to Multimedia Presentation

Where are multimedia presentations used, step 1: plan your content, step 2: choose your tool, step 3: design your presentation, step 4: finalize and save, start with a strong introduction, keep your slides simple, keep it short, use visual aids, practice, practice, practice, microsoft powerpoint, google slides, adobe spark.

Multimedia presentations combine various media forms such as text, audio, video, images, and even animations to convey information. “Multimedia” means integrating several media types into one cohesive work.

You can create these presentations with popular tools like Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote, and Prezi. There are also specialized tools like video editors and audio recorders for more specific tasks.

These presentations are commonly used in business to share ideas with colleagues or clients, as well as for training or educational purposes.

Components of a Multimedia Presentation

Multimedia presentations can be divided into four main categories: text, audio, video, and images.

Text is one of the essential components of a multimedia presentation. This could include headlines, body text, or captions. It is crucial to use concise and easy-to-read text when creating a multimedia presentation.

Audio can be used to add depth and dimension to a presentation. It can be used to provide background information or to narrate the slides. Good audio can help keep the audience engaged and make your presentation more memorable.

Video is an increasingly popular component of multimedia presentations. It can be used to show demonstrations, explain concepts, or tell a story. Video can be a very effective way to engage the audience and make your presentation memorable.

Images are another essential component of multimedia presentations. They can be used to add visual interest, illustrate points, or create charts and graphs. Images should be high-quality and relevant to the topic of the presentation.

Note that there are a lot of other elements that can be included in your multimedia presentation. These include animations, music, charts, infographics, and sound effects. You can even consider incorporating interactive features such as buttons or links to make the experience more engaging for viewers.

Multimedia presentations can be used for diverse purposes as they can effectively share a message or idea.

In corporate settings , multimedia presentations are often used to communicate ideas to employees or consumers. You can also use multimedia presentations in board meetings, investor pitches, and other business-related contexts.

In academic settings , multimedia presentations are used to explain complex topics and concepts. They can be shown in classrooms or during lectures to help students learn more effectively.

Multimedia presentations can be adapted to meet the needs of any audience, which makes them suitable for both formal and informal occasions. Depending on your needs, you can choose to include more or less information. You can also choose to use different media to convey your message.

How to Prepare a Multimedia Presentation?

Now that you know a little more about multimedia presentations let’s look at how to prepare one .

• Decide on your presentation’s main topic.
• Gather relevant materials: text, images, audio clips, videos.
• Consider your presentation’s layout: a basic outline or something intricate like an interactive timeline.
• Pick a platform: options include Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, and more.
• Factor in your expertise: some software caters to beginners, others to seasoned users.
• Start with a template or craft a unique design.
• Add your materials to the slides as per your planned outline.
• Integrate extra features like animations or sound effects if desired.
• Review for any spelling or grammatical errors.
• Insert a title slide if you missed it earlier.
• Once satisfied, save your work. Your multimedia presentation is now ready to shine!

In the ever-evolving world of technology, creating a captivating multimedia presentation is an art. With the right tools and a touch of creativity, you can communicate your ideas effectively and leave a lasting impression on your audience. Happy presenting!

Tips for Creating Effective Multimedia Presentations

Now that you know what multimedia presentations are and some of the components they include, let’s look at some tips for creating effective presentations.

Your introduction is the first thing viewers will see, so it’s essential to make a good first impression. Your introduction should be catchy and interesting, and it should capture the viewer’s attention.

Don’t overcrowd your slides. Use a limited number of images and text, or they could become difficult to read.

The average person has an attention span of about 20 minutes, so don’t go overboard with your presentation! It’s better to keep your presentation around 15 minutes or less.

Visual aids are a vital part of any multimedia presentation. They can help to explain complex concepts and make your presentation more attractive.

It’s always a good idea to practice your presentation before giving it. This will help you become more comfortable with it and ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Best Multimedia Presentation Making Software

Here are some of the best multimedia presentation-making software that you can use.

Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the most popular tools for creating presentations, and it’s also easy to use. It’s so perfect for beginners, but the only issue is it’s not free.

Google Slides is a free online tool that allows users to create presentations with text, images, videos, charts & graphs – all in one place.

Prezi is another popular presentation software that allows you to create presentations with zoom and motion effects. While it does have a paid subscription, there is also a free version available.

Keynote is an Apple product that can be used for making multimedia presentations. It’s easy to use and has many features that can help to make your presentation more interesting.

Adobe Spark is an excellent tool for making high-quality presentations, especially if you’re looking to add visual stories to your presentation.

Now that you know what multimedia presentations are and some of the best tips for creating them, it’s time to start putting your ideas into action! With these tools and suggestions, we hope you can create outstanding presentations that will impress your viewers.

Related Posts:

Just $59.95 for a limited time (normally $99.95).

Get Animated PowerPoint Templates, Customizable Graphics, Videos, and Royalty-Free Music.

Quickly edit online templates and customizable designs to create amazing creatives that come to life for PowerPoint, Google Slides, Social Media, Teaching, and Marketing Material.

New PowerPoint Templates

PROFESSIONAL DESIGNED & ANIMATED PowerPoint Template Themes & Slides

Use in Microsoft PP 2010 - PowerPoint 365. Need Google slides Templates? Download a PowerPoint template and open it in Google Slides.

We provide premium animated PowerPoint templates, customizable graphics, and designs to create outstanding presentations every time, in way less time.

"PresenterMedia provides me with the ready-made tools to take my PowerPoint presentations to the next level. I get nothing but compliments for my creativity and innovation when it's really your product that is earning the praise. Thank you!" Teresa G

*All Online Customization Tools are Included when you sign up! Try Free! There are no additional fees and no monthly limits.

SlideClips - Editable Video Templates

Also, videos work great for social marketing posts, advertising campaigns, and video projects.

You Don't Need to be a Pro Designer to Look Like One.

Easily create engaging graphics and animations featuring your message, pictures, and logo. Add your personal touch! Online customizer tool for creating fantastic standout graphics. Give your presentation template slides an incredible personalized touch!

Effortlessly generate custom creative content using our easy online tools.

• 3D Real-Time Graphics Maker Customize graphics with the 3D interactive viewer and personalized text, images, and colors with real-time feedback.
• Video Creator Customize ready-made video templates with your personalized edits and settings.
• Media Designer Edit the design area on custom-enabled clipart, animations, and videos.
• Word Cloud Generator Choose an icon shape to fill with your own words, and change colors, fonts, and layout.
• Graphics Color Changer Modify the colors of clipart illustrations or animated clips in Real-Time.

Easily edit graphics and animations to feature your message, pictures, and logo. Then, click "BUILD CUSTOM GRAPHIC" button and our machines will create your new design in seconds. They look amazing in PowerPoint, social posts, and teaching material!

"I don't pay for many graphic libraries but always renew and recommend PresenterMedia because they have customizable and animated graphics and powerpoint templates that are beautiful and often animated. The graphics always make such an impression!" Jody P.

Video Backgrounds You Can Customize!

Easily make personalized videos for powerpoint and more..

• --> First, add your message, images, or logo, and change colors. -->
• --> Next, click the "BUILD CUSTOM GRAPHIC" button. -->
• --> In just minutes, our machines build your new customized video. -->
• Then, insert the video into PowerPoint and wow your audience.

*All Customizers Included in Subscription! - There are no additional fees and no monthly limits.

Who is PresenterMedia?

We are a small business in the United States, started by four visionaries on a mission to make presentation design easier than ever. Learn more about us here.

Only Happy Customers Will Do

If our products don't help you better create standout designs, then tell us why not, and we will refund you (100% Money Back Guarantee)

Why are our customers so happy? See what they're saying.

Customer reviews.

OMG this is one of the most amazing sites, lets me save time and allows me to bring my training material to life. Thank you for keeping this site current and utterly awesome!!!

PresenterMedia is the best in the business! If you want engagement and excitement from your audience, I highly recommend their animated templates.

Love using Presenter Media for work and personal projects, I am always receiving comments and praise on the content and quality! Thank you!

This media has transformed so many of our eLearnings and presentations. It is so simple to use and the content always has just the right images, animations, or templates. Awesome!

This is the one subscription service I always renew. If you want to liven your Powerpoint presentations, you need this.

Working in a university, the ability to create customised graphics quickly is really important and gives the impression that a lot more work has been put in than actually has. An avid fan.

Extra benefits included with your subscription

Fresh new templates, videos, animations, and clipart added weekly..

New Featured Topics

New designs · customer suggestions · feature content · blog posts.

Click here to view all new content

Convert PPTX PowerPoint Slides to Google Slides

This quick read will show you how to open a PowerPoint (.pptx) file in Google Slides.

Do Your Images Paste Into PowerPoint with Black Backgrounds?

Help! Images have black background in PowerPoint | We have the Fix

Learn How to Insert Video in PowerPoint!

Unleash the Power of Visuals: Elevate Your Presentations with Video in PowerPoint! This how-to blog shows how to insert engaging videos into your PowerPoint presentations.

Easily Flip or rotate an Image in PowerPoint

Quickly learn how to flip an image in PowerPoint. We will also take a look at how to flip a customized image so the text reads the correct way.

Your presentations are going to be amazing! See Plans and Pricing

© 2009-2021 Eclipse Digital Imaging, Inc.

Quality PowerPoint Templates , Animations, videos, and 3D Clipart. PowerPoint® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Notification Title!

This is the message.

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

2 Article 2 Set: Importance of Representation in Media

There are NINE (9) article options in this set.

The Importance of Representation in Media

Huang, V. (2021, June 12).  The importance of representation in media. Race to a Cure. https://www.racetoacure.org/post/the-importance-of-representation-in-media

The comfort of finding a character you relate to. The pride of seeing your beliefs, culture, and traditions embraced on the big screens. The joy of seeing a hero that looks just like you. How many of us have experienced this, and how many have not?

Media, especially in the form of film and television, is at the forefront of the entertainment industry. Over the past century, it has rapidly evolved into a widespread medium for storytelling, art, knowledge, and enjoyment. We engage in these forms of media because they share something special—whether opening our eyes to a life vastly different than ours, enforcing a lesson previously beyond our perception, or unearthing our roots as individuals, society, and humanity as a whole. Yet too often, the media fails to accurately represent the people they portray. Too often is inclusivity swept aside by the Hollywood norm —the exclusion of diversity rather than its opposition. Misrepresentation and a lack of diversity in media negatively impacts marginalized communities, including racial, ethnic, and religious minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled people, and women. This issue is prevalent and important, and in this article, we will take a deeper look at media representation from the thoughts, experiences, and perspectives of today’s youth.

Image is courtesy of FOX .

Definition and Importance

The BBC defines representation as how societal aspects such as race, gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, and social issues are presented. When it comes to media, especially film and television, this audience is vast. Mass media broadens our scope of perception when it comes to society, multiculturalism, and the world. It holds, for many, an educational impact as it showcases unique experiences otherwise beyond reach. This is why representation is crucial. In a multicultural, diverse, multifaceted society, it is vital to amplify the voices and share the stories of all.

The Harmful Effects of Stereotypes

While a lack of representation is harmful in itself, the misrepresentation of underserved communities is a significant issue with damaging consequences. This concept is evident through stereotyping. The Arab Film & Media Institute describes stereotyping as assumptions or generalizations made and depicted of individuals due to their racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, religious, or other identities.

Stereotypes in media are often inaccurate and portray underrepresented groups in a negative light. These flawed portrayals can be easily internalized by both the individuals of a group being stereotyped and other members of society. All in all, it influences public opinion and the societal view of underrepresented communities.

“As a child, stereotypes that were portrayed in the media went over my head. I was just there to be entertained. However, as I got older and began to truly understand what it meant to be Black in society, those stereotypes that I once looked at with a blind eye began to get a little glaring. When I was younger, I always found myself drawn to shows with a Black character, but now that I look back, those shows never had a lot of Black actors. In addition, the beauty standards of those characters were quite Eurocentric. I didn’t look like the girls in that show. This was disheartening as a little girl, to not see people like me at that level of fame. Presently, I see more representation of Black people in the media but I struggle with the narrative. When I want to watch TV, I want to laugh, get lost in a story, relax, and forget about my troubles. Not be thrust into a world of discrimination and hardship that, although quite relevant, does not represent all aspects of life.”

– Lola, grade 12

As Lauren Washington discusses in an examination of film and media representation, stereotypical depictions create unconscious bias in viewers which can directly impact an individual’s thoughts and behaviours towards others. It is especially dangerous when bias is institutionalized, perpetuating the issues of discrimination and hate crimes, police brutality, mass incarceration of disadvantaged communities, and others.

“In my experience, stereotypes are the most prevalent issue in the media. They are literally everywhere, and create a very toxic environment for young people. Even the most positive stereotypes have negative connotations that are used to divide and hurt people who do not fit the standards that society expects from us. Whether it is racial stereotypes, gender stereotypes or others, it creates a playground for prejudice to grow throughout our society and formulates the idea that people do not need to think through their behaviour or give opportunities to certain people based on what they seem to be.

In most of the TV shows and movies I watched when I was younger, the woman would always fall in love and that would make her happy, or white people would always save the day. It made me feel like I had to be saved instead of taking action on my own and for the longest time, I just accepted it. It was not until I saw characters who were like me that I started to truly grow as a person. To imagine what I might’ve been like if I had those influences when I was younger hurts me a little because I always wish I could have more goals to reach, more determination, and that is swayed the most by what I take in through the media. In our media, schools, music and experiences, we need leaders to break these stereotypes and show that people are more than they are expected to be.”

– Tia, grade 11

The Arab Film & Media Institute further defines the issues of tokenism and typecasting. Tokenism is when individuals from minority groups are included for the sole purpose of exhibiting a seemingly diverse environment. This infamous tactic does not equate to equal representation, but is rather a demeaning concept that utilizes minority characters to fulfill an agenda. Typecasting in the entertainment industry occurs when individuals are consistently assigned roles due to their ability to fit a certain stereotype. This often targets actors belonging to underrepresented groups and limits their ability to grow in the industry beyond playing stereotypical roles.

Image is courtesy of Netflix Junkie.

Children and Teens

Underrepresentation, as a result, has the potential to establish harmful views and negative perceptions. For children who are developing their thoughts and behaviours, and for teenagers who are searching for identity and their place in society, media takes the role of a significant influence.

“I have felt a tremendous lack of diversity in the media while growing up. Often when characters looked like me, they fit a certain stereotype as the ‘supporting character’ or the ‘comedic relief.’ Rarely were Black and Brown characters seen as the protagonist or desirable and intelligent individuals and honestly, that took a toll on my self-esteem. A lack of diversity is harmful not only to the people being misrepresented but also to others who watch those shows or movies who then base their perception of a group solely on the media they consume. Luckily, there has been an increase in the diversity of characters of colour! But we have a long way to go to dismantle the many stereotypes that have been engraved in the history of television and film.”

– Hanna, 2nd year undergraduate

According to an article by Forbes , general media can escalate racial tensions and affect confidence and self-esteem. The author describes how predictions in the study of prolonged television exposure involve decreased self-esteem for girls and Black boys, which correlates with racial and gender biases in popular media. With the effects of underrepresentation so prevalent and impactful to youth, diverse and inclusive media representation must be prioritized as we move forward.

“Growing up, I definitely felt like it was hard to see myself represented in the media. Especially in the case of beauty standards, I feel that it has now become such a common story for Black women to go through a stage of not liking their features, and more specifically, their hair. For me, this was straightening my hair often, for others, it might have been relaxing their hair, but for many of us the cause was what was portrayed as ‘beautiful’ in the media. However, within the last few years, I have become a lot more comfortable in my identity and in wearing my hair out, as big as it is!

As far as we’ve come already, what I’m really waiting for is a coming-of-age movie starring a young Black girl that is not solely about her identity as a Black person. There is certainly a time and place for these kinds of movies, but I am so excited for when I can see myself represented in the media without having to think about all the problems that I may face as a Black woman.”

– Leah, grade 12

Image is courtesy of Girl Museum .

The Push for Greater On-Screen Diversity

The youth of today are passionate about inclusive representation, and they are making their voices heard on what they want to see more of in modern media.

“I feel like the groups that really need to be represented in the film, television, and the entertainment industry are minorities such as Black, Asian, Brown, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities. Especially people with disabilities because I hardly ever see them represented in the industry.

– Lemuela, grade 10

Progress is underway, but for representation to be achieved in all aspects, there must be greater inclusivity of underrepresented groups both on-screen and behind the scenes as writers, directors, producers, and more. The entertainment industry, media creators, and society can benefit significantly by confronting implicit bias and stereotypes and actively commit to fostering inclusive environments. Through this, may we begin the journey towards media that includes representation for all.

Article Author: Victoria Huang

Article Contributors: Lola Oyefeso, Tia Rose Desouza, Hanna Asheber, Leah Daniel, Lemuela Ajuwon

Article Editors: Maria Giroux, Stephanie Sahaeo

Article ii:

The importance of representation in film and media.

Washington, L. (2019, December 29).  The importance of representation in film and media. Medium. https://medium.com/@Laurenwash/the-importance-of-representation-in-film-and-media-2d006149cac9

Imagine the first time when young children see a superhero or an astronaut on screen whose image looks like them. It is 2018, and for some kids, the historic moment of seeing  Black Panther  was their first time seeing a superhero of color on screen. Better yet, this groundbreaking film which has netted over $900 million dollars, could have been the first time seeing a predominantly black cast with a black director, black costume designers, black hairstylists, and more, actively producing representation in a positive light. Sandra Bullock’s astronaut character, Dr. Ryan Stone, in the 2013 film,  Gravity , may have been the first occasion when young girls witnessed both a female astronaut and scientist on screen. The content our society views on screen is supposed to reflect its people, but all too often the entertainment and media industries tend to marginalize people of color, and women, just to name a few. Stories affect all areas of life in terms of how people view themselves, how they live their lives, and how they see others. Some of the content that these industries distribute to the public remains the only form of representation some individuals see, and these portrayals may be accurate or inaccurate. Media depicts stereotypical representations for people of color and women, whether through Hollywood or on the news, as violent criminals, the help, terrorists, submissive characters, highly sexualized beings, unintelligent people, and more. Similarly, there are concerns for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) populations and depictions of disabled persons. Seeing oneself on screen is crucial because society is not monolithic, but multifaceted.  The continued cycle of excluding diversity, inclusion, and ignoring misrepresentation in the entertainment and media industry showcase the importance of having diverse storytellers, actors, directors, and producers involved both on-screen and behind the scenes.

Historically, film and media industries have had a poor track record in accurately representing diversity. Hollywood is the biggest exporter of culture, yet has long ignored the importance of diversity since its creation (Burgin 2018). The roots of the industry involve systemic, institutionalized racist practices, “whether its appearing in disparaging roles or not appearing at all, minorities are the victim of an industry that relies on old ideas to appeal to the “majority” at the expense of the insignificant minority” (Horton, Price, and Brown 1999). Early 18th century practices presented African Americans in inhumane frameworks, as ignorant, clownish, and animalistic. Specifically, African Americans were not even afforded the opportunity to play themselves, as whites dressed in blackface to reinforce white supremacy, creating a cycle of negative effects with society’s perceptions (Horton, Price, and Brown). Following this period, there were voices of protest railing against stereotypical and demeaning representation; yet the industry still remained guilty of perpetuating false narratives and provided limited opportunities for minorities. Perhaps one of the most egregious and despicable films that served as a catalyst for African Americans to produce their own films was  The Birth of a Nation  in 1915 which glorified the Ku Klux Klan and reiterated blacks as inferior beings. Thereafter, a wave of films showcasing blacks in authentic, fully dimensional roles developed by African American filmmakers from independent black studios like at the Lincoln Motion Pictures Company and the Micheaux Film Corporation who challenged the notion of single narrative, stereotypical roles. (Horton, Price, and Brown). In contrast, although white executives deserve blame for lack of inclusion and inaccurate portrayals, there have been minorities over the years who further perpetuated horrible stereotypes as well. For instance, the first film to feature an all black cast,  Hearts in Dixi e, starred the black actor, Stephin Fetchit, who horrifically reinforced the “ stereotype of the lazy, stupid, good-for-nothing Negro who knows his place,” in not only that film but throughout his career (Horton, Price, and Brown). Fetchit became the standard for black roles until only in 1952 when Hollywood discontinued casting such characters, but even with the “statement,” negative stereotypes continue to plague minorities in films with degrading roles (Horton, Price, and Brown). In the early 20th century through the present, many diverse groups are scrutinizing all facets of the film and media industries’ transgressions (Gaydos and Gray 2016). Similarly, throughout history as the media industries of print and television evolved, their influence continued to shape public opinion about minorities.

The media industries’ evolution from mostly print to television increased the emphasis of the power of the mass media with heavier influence in portraying minorities inaccurately. With the rise of television, information became easily available to millions and “often gives people insights into worlds that are unfamiliar and vastly different from their own,” as it may be their only encounter with that part of society (Horton, Price, and Brown). Therefore, the influence that media has is a tremendously weighty responsibility and unfortunately, many of these studios have created harmful false narratives. As individuals continually see flashes of false information and a skewed depiction, it becomes mentally damaging because “when images and ideas presented at a young age take hold, and are reinforced over years of viewing, these images become reality and once these stereotypes and misconceptions become ingrained in the psyche of American children, they become self-perpetuating” (Horton, Price, and Brown). For far too long, the media executives reflected their versions of society which more often than not was exclusionary, damaging, and not objective. Although progress has been made, major television news outlets have traditionally not featured journalists of color and perpetuated one-sided narratives. “Oftentimes in newsrooms across the country, you don’t have a substantial representation of people of color in newsrooms who are making decisions to what’s going to be portrayed in the media.” (May 2018). Reportedly, men deliver 65% of political segments, 63% of science and technological stories, 67% of crime, and 64% of global issues; alternatively, females receive minimal on-air time allotted 32% screen time, and the stories they cover are limited to education and lifestyle stories (Alter 2015). Unfortunately, media biases are prominent in featuring portrayals of minorities primarily as criminals, terrorists, uneducated, highly sexualized people, and more. These depictions penetrate the minds of viewers and create unconscious biases which negatively affects the way individuals interact with each other. Ghandnoosh pointed out in 2015 that implicit biases have led to unnecessary discrimination and police shootings of black males. By extension, the media’s excessive and impartial coverages of “alleged black criminals” creates a domino effect in also impacting the justice system. Jury members, lawyers, as well as judges involved are consequently more inclined to deliver tougher punishments for blacks (Donaldson 2015). For these reasons and more, the necessity of having diverse journalists, executives, and producers on screen and behind the cameras is crucial. Society is multidimensional not monolithic, so the beautiful mosaic of all people should be represented. Cheriss May, photojournalist, and correspondent for the White House shared in 2018:

Representation matters so that the full story can be told, and so you don’t have a one-sided story that isn’t a fair representation of a diverse population. The media needs to represent the society that it serves because if people don’t see themselves, then it’s almost like a lack of care that’s communicated to people. There has to be some diverse voices that represent everyone in the society that can speak from the voice of those people because there are different issues and different things that are of importance to us. On Capitol Hill, for example, the photographers that shoot there and the newscasters that are shown are disproportionately white males. I think that there needs to be more of an effort to seek out diverse voices and diverse representation with a conscious effort (2018).

Overall, there needs to be an increased amount of heightened pressure to ensure that networks and producers do not leave marginalized groups out, or showcase them in harmful, inferior, or undesirable ways.

Moreover, filmmakers and media depictions have been negligent in including people of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, and those with disabilities on-screen and off-screen. In this current day and age, Hollywood continues to exclude people of color from television and film. Within the industry, there is this dynamic of white America being the majority owners and majority movers and shakers of creative ideas in Hollywood (Burgin 2018). Prominent African American filmmaker, Spike Lee, has long been a voice championing the importance of showcasing the positive realities of the black experience. Although the Oscars have recently spotlighted the void in recognizing diverse works, Lee recognizes the problem is larger than the award show. He noted: “As I see it, the Academy Awards is not where the ‘real’ battle is. It’s in the executive office of the Hollywood studios and TV and cable networks. This is where the gatekeepers decide what gets made and what gets jettisoned…This is what’s important. Those with ‘the green light’ vote” (Rainey and Gray 2016). Comparatively, those who are Muslims face similar exclusion and stereotypical misrepresentations. The horrific terrorism of 9/11 perpetuated negative connotations that continue to plague many Muslims who had no part in that tragedy. Xavier Burgin, filmmaker, and screenwriter, noted in 2018 that the entertainment industry is guilty of unfairly maligning and characterizing Muslims as brutal, cruel, inhumane terrorists:

For the most part when it comes to the entertainment industry, usually what people view and see as a Muslim individual, they’ll see a terrorist, which is absolutely ridiculous because it is a small, tiny segment of the population who are terrorists in the first place. But unfortunately, Hollywood tends to only suggest and put up those kind of portrayals when it deals with Muslim people.

Activist and actor, Riz Ahmed, in a 2017 speech further corroborated the victimization of Muslims. He explained the dangers that arise when there is a failure to represent Muslim civilians as everyday people. What arises instead is that people will gravitate towards negative tropes depicting Muslims as criminals, terrorists, or members of ISIS. Ahmed stated:

After the Brexit vote, hate crimes went up 41%, & against Muslims it went up 326%. Now if we fail to represent, I think we’re in danger of losing our in three ways, the three E’s. One, is we’re going to lose people to extremism; second, we’re going to lost out on an expansive idea of who we are as individuals and as a community; and thirdly, we’ll lose out on the economic benefits that proper representation can bring to our economy.

Sadly, realities surrounding inclusion and fair representations of women, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, LGBTQs, and disabled individuals are also bleak. “In total, 29.2% of all characters were from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, which is well below U.S. Census (38.7%) as well as the movie-going audience in this country” (Smith et al. 2017). A nine-year study by USC’s Annenberg School of Communication uncovered startling findings from 900 movies. With regard to the aforementioned groups, they found these groups have been consistently ignored by the entertainment industry (Smith et al. 2017). Within the industries, women have been limited in their opportunities and portrayals. In the event that females are miraculously cast, then, unfortunately, they “are much more likely than males to be shown in sexually revealing attire (F=25.9% vs. M=5.7%) and partially or fully naked (F=25.6% vs. M=9.2%)” (Smith et al. 2017). Throughout time, women have been limited in their representations with highly sexualized, helpless, or less intelligent identifications. “Movies perpetuate the sexualization of women from ‘other’ racial/ethnic groups, even as these female characters are least likely to be shown as parental figures” (Smith et al. 2017). Undeniably, when it comes to the powerful, behind the scenes jobs on a movie set, men dominate the playing field disproportionately for example, “ Focusing on directors, 120 helmers were attached to the sample of films with 4.2% (n=5) female and 95.8% (n=115) male. This is a gender ratio of 23 male directors to every 1 female director” (Smith et al. 2017). Furthermore, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians do not fare much better. There is such paucity in available roles for the aforementioned groups. If by chance, these ethnic groups are lucky enough to receive screen time, their speaking roles and influence are drastically limited. The same is true for behind the scenes work by directors, screenwriters, or producers, as the employment of minorities in these areas has not evolved:

Across 900 movies, only 5.6% (n=56) of all directors were Black. Perhaps most disturbingly, only 3 Black women (<1%) have helmed a top‐ grossing motion picture across the sample. Across 900 movies, only 3% of directors were Asian. Almost all of these directors were male except two. Perhaps the group that is most affected behind the camera are women of color, as only 3 Black and 2 Asian women worked across the sample time frame. Though not measured, only one Latina female director worked across the 900 movies (Smith et al. 2017).

People of color, LGBTQs, and those with disabilities need to be given positions in power on all levels because “The more perspectives that have a seat at the table to tell stories means more sources and different types of ideas, cultures, worlds and characters that can expand the possibilities for how stories are told” (Thomas 2018). Since 2007, the invisibility of ethnic minorities has severely lagged in comparison with the changing nature of white actors and actresses (see table 1).

Likewise, filmmakers and news outlets often ignore the voices of LGBTQ individuals and people with disabilities. As supporting roles have increased for LBGTQs, the findings are still troubling as the small percentage of roles do not reflect the larger population. Transgender representation is almost entirely invisible and there are very few roles for diverse ethnicities. Quite simply put, the typical narratives in existence today tend not to reflect the everyday lives of LGBTQs (Smith et al. 2017). Like most people in society, LGBTQs are individuals who fall in love, enjoy shopping, traveling, gardening, raising children, jogging in local parks, and they also experience the general rollercoaster malaise of life in general, as all humans do. Comparatively, those with both physical and mental disabilities accounted for about two percent in the top 100 films of 2016 (Smith et al. 2017). Similarly to the intersectional discrimination among LBGTQ representation, with characters of disability, there are more predominantly white, older males as opposed to ethnic minorities, LGBTQs, and younger representation (Smith et al. 2017). Through the extensive research presented from USC’s study, it is quite evident that inadequate representation and exclusion is a normalized practice ingrained in Hollywood with few fully dimensional roles for ethnic minorities. “If you look at white media and white people within American media and the entertainment industry, they wouldn’t change anything. They would keep it as is because it benefits them first and foremost” (Burgin 2018). Misrepresentations are not troubling to those in power as long as they benefit from profitable gains, while it is certainly damaging and harmful for cultural groups.

Unfortunately, although some roles exist for traditionally marginalized groups, tragically far too often, the portrayals are misrepresentations. For people of color, the entertainment and media industries often project stereotypical narratives. “The biggest problem is when you have negative stereotypes such as the thug, the pimp, the drug dealer, and that’s all you see and then all those types of roles are played by people of color” (Burgin 2018). Hollywood tends to repeat patterns of having white actors portray every race/ethnicity and culture. “One of the reasons for this might be that when there are roles for non-white actors, they still get played by white people” (Vox 2016). Industries tend to push prominent white actors at the forefront by whitewashing roles, for example, with Angelina Jolie playing an Afro-Chinese-Cuban in  A Mighty Heart , Emma Stone in  Aloha  as a part Hawaiian and Chinese character, or Tom Cruise in  Edge of Tomorrow  playing what was supposed to be a Japanese character (Sharf 2017). Misrepresentations cause an accumulation of negative effects. If there’s a failure to represent, there’s a danger of inaccurately portraying society. As African American filmmaker and screenwriter, Aaron Rahsaan Thomas, shared in a 2018 interview:

The term, misrepresentation, tends to be subjectively defined, depending on how the source views representation, its intention and how things should be presented. However, the lack of inclusion from diverse voices in storytelling tends to limit the possibilities of what stories might be told. The craft itself is therefore limited from reaching its potential and tends to encourage a narrower worldview as stories are shared across cultures. Finally, the lack of inclusion sends a hostile message, whether intended or not, that other voices are not valued or welcome to join the conversation.

Undeniably, filmmakers and news outlets do ignore the voices of marginalized groups; thus, these decisions result in damaging psychological effects. Across these groups, many of these people inevitably start to internalize the misrepresentations and start to believe the false realities. Disabled groups, for example, are tired of the continuous storylines that showcase them as sad and suffering characters to be pitied (Clark 2016). That cliche storyline dangerously glorifies and champions the allure of suicide for a higher purpose (Clark 2016). As a further illustration, the LGBTQ communities also suffer from single, stale, stereotypical narratives that can jeopardize healthy self-image. Unfortunately, “Too often, the few LGBT characters that make it to the big screen are the target of a punchline or token characters. It usually categorizes all of the LGBT people into just lesbian and gay” (Anderson 2016). Not seeing oneself is mentally and physically damaging, especially for young children. Young people are yearning to figure out their identities and Hollywood and media industries play a high role in affirming their views. As Burgin reminds, “What we see on screen dictates much of what we believe in real life. If you want the youth to have a positive view of themselves, then they should see themselves on screen being presented in a positive light, it makes a difference” (2018). Without accurate representation, there is the tragic erasure of the beautiful multifaceted society that exists in our world.

Positive results happen when diverse storytellers, actors, directors, and producers are involved both on-screen and behind the scenes. If there are not more diverse individuals who are included in the structures of power that disseminate the ideals through television and movies to the world, then nothing can change. It is statistically proven that more diverse films and stories through the media tend to perform better economically. “While minorities account for more than half of frequent US moviegoers, minority representation in films has dipped since 2013” (Guardian 2016). There is a long, pre-existing myth that inclusivity in Hollywood and the media will diminish box office sales or ratings. However, the rise of popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu are recognizing the demographics of audiences they can reach by incorporating diverse casts and creators. With more content creators behind the scenes working in the entertainment and media industries, accurate representation will increase and reflect society. For instance, the groundbreaking film  Black Panther  has defied all expectations and is proof that the public will support films featuring diverse people on and off-screen as it surpassed  Titanic  to become the third most successful film of all time in American history. Moreover, the film proved the power of how stories shape and dispel narratives, specifically across the globe, as  Black Panther  is the first film to be released in the highly restrictive culture of Saudi Arabia, in over 30 years (Jovanovic 2018). Furthermore, not only are there social effects of positive representation, there are substantial economic benefits too. Namely, “ Black Panther  generated $83.9 Million to Georgia’s economy and contributed over $26.5 million in wages to more than 3,100 workers across Georgia” (Deadline 2018). Marketing products like apparel, toys, and bedding accessories, just to name a few, are vastly being produced due to the film’s success. Larger benefits like the production of multiple sequel films and amusement theme parks are likely to attract billions of customers and generate billions of dollars. As more studios and executives hire diverse professionals such as journalists, anchors, actors, and directors, doors and opportunities for inclusion will finally open for the next generation of storytellers. When this ideal reaches fruition, individuals will be able to relish seeing an authentic mirroring of society.

The media has been historically, grossly irresponsible in their portrayals of people of color, women, LGBTQs and disabled persons. The depictions range from showing these groups in stereotypical lights to being virtually nonexistent. People feel validated and a sense of worth by seeing themselves reflected on screen. The integration of diverse filmmakers, directors, actors, and executives into the entertainment and media industries must increase. In order to eradicate the pattern of excluding diversity, inclusion, and misrepresentation, marginalized groups must gain access and have a voice in shaping culture.

Article iii:

 representation is everything.

Papcun, M. (2022, March 25).  Representation is everything.  The Daily Campus. https://dailycampus.com/2022/03/25/representation-is-everything/

Representation is one of the most important aspects of media, yet it is simultaneously where most media today is lacking. In general, we can think of  representation  as how media texts present to their audience different demographics, including gender, age, sexual orientation, race and religion, among others. And in Western media, many demographics are therefore  underrepresented , including women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, people of non-Christian religions, and people with body types other than thin.

It seems really simple to say that of course we want to see ourselves represented accurately in the media we consume. However, this is not reality. Hollywood is extremely white and male. And this leads the media produced by Hollywood to also be extremely white and male. While this is not to say that Hollywood is the only producer of media, all media will inherently have traces of the society and culture that created it, and is thus reflective of said society.

Looking at the statistical side of things can paint a better picture of the lack of representation for marginalized groups in the media. UCLA’s 2021 diversity  report  states that only in 2020 did people of color and women nearly reach proportionate representation among film leads when compared to their white male counterparts.

Perhaps this is a great stride given the film industry’s historical lack of representation for people of color and women in film leads, but we should be better than this overall. And behind the camera the statistics are worse. The report explains that people of color remained only 25.4% and 25.9% of film directors and film writers in 2020, respectively. Similarly, in 2020 women only accounted for 20.5% of film directors and 26% of film writers.

Interestingly enough, the same 2021 diversity report from UCLA found that films where less than 11% of the cast represented minority groups performed the poorest among global box office receipts in 2020. Thus, it is not a stretch to say that audiences want to see diverse casting in films created by diverse groups of people. We have made strides overall, but there is still a long way to go.

Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund, states in Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s 2011 documentary “Miss Representation,” “You can’t be what you can’t see.” It’s one of the standout quotes of the film, essentially meaning that audiences need to see people like themselves on screen and in positions of power to best understand that they can achieve similar things. The argument is not that you need an exact blueprint to “break the mold” so to speak and become something amazing. However, it is true that people need to have some idea or a glimpse into a reality where it can be done. Hence, the importance of representation of all demographics in the media is tenfold.

This is not just a rallying cry to diversity the numbers on paper. Overall, Hollywood and other types of media need to look more representative of America’s real population so they are true to the real world. Representation needs to exist, and it needs to be positive.

This requires characters being fully developed, rather than two-dimensional caricatures based on harmful stereotypes. For example, in order to have a positive effect, LGBTQIA+ representation needs to be more than  Pixar  placing an undefined lesbian couple briefly in “Finding Dory” in 2016. In this case, it should look more like  Officer Specter  in Pixar’s 2020 film “Onward,” who briefly mentions having a same-sex partner without it being a big deal or selling point of the movie.

Another good example would be the 2018 movie “ Crazy Rich Asians ”, which was the first film in 25 years to have a majority-Asian cast. “Crazy Rich Asians” is another step in the right direction, proving that a movie’s cast does not have to be mainly white for it to be a box-office success. Moreover, the characters in this movie are not based on offensive stereotypes, nor are they shallow or superficial.

Moreover, movies like the 2017 film “ Hidden Figures ”, that highlight the achievements of women and people of color in STEM fields, are additional examples of positive representation we should hope to see more of in our media consumption.

It’s not too much to ask for the media we consume on such a constant basis to be representative of the reality we live in. The world is diverse; our movies, television shows, books, magazines and video games should reflect this.

Article iv:

Why on-screen representation matters, according to these teens.

Elbaba, R. (2019, November 14).  Why on-screen representation matters, according to these teens. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/why-on-screen-representation-matters-according-to-these-teens

Why does representation in pop culture matter?

For some young students, portrayals of minorities in the media not only affect how others see them, but it affects how they see themselves.

“I do think it’s powerful for people of a minority race to be represented in pop culture to really show a message that everybody has a place in this world,” said Alec Fields, a junior at Forest Hills High School in Pennsylvania.

Fields was one of 144 middle and high school students who were interviewed about seeing themselves reflected — or not — on the screen. PBS NewsHour turned to our Student Reporting Labs from across the country to hear what students had to say a topic that research shows still has room for growth.

The success of recent films like “Black Panther” and “Crazy Rich Asians” have — again — sent a message about the importance of representation of minorities, not only in Hollywood but in other aspects of pop culture as well.

Only two out of every 10 lead film actors (or 19.8 percent) were people of color in 2017, this year’s  UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report  found. Still, that’s a jump from the year before, when people of color accounted for 13.9 percent of lead roles. People of color have yet to reach proportional representation within the film industry, but there have been gains in specific areas, including film leads and overall cast diversity.

According to  2018 U.S. Census Bureau estimates , the nation’s population is nearly 40 percent non-white. By 2055, the country’s racial makeup is expected to change dramatically, the U.S. will not have one racial or ethnic majority group by 2055, the  Pew Research Center estimated .

Some students said that not seeing yourself represented in elements of pop culture can affect mental health.

“It just makes you feel like, ‘Why don’t I see anybody like me?’ [It] kind of like brings your self-esteem down,” said Kimore Willis, a junior at Etiwanda High School in California.

Others said they often look to trends in pop culture when forming their own identities.

“We need to see people that look like ourselves and can say, ‘Oh, that looks like me!’ or ‘I identify with that,’” said Sonali Chhotalal, a junior at Cape May Technical High School in New Jersey.

Others, however, feel that Hollywood is overcompensating for their lack of diversity by depicting exaggerated and stereotypical characters.

Eric Wojtalewicz from Black River Falls High School in Wisconsin said that he sees a lot of gay characters that seem “over-the-top,” playing on old tropes. “I definitely think that not all gays are like that,” he said.

Kate Casper, a junior at T.C. Williams High School in Virginia, called Hollywood’s attempt at diversity “disingenuous.” Although there can never be enough diversity, Casper said, she feels that the entertainment industry is using diversity for economic benefit. “Diversity equals money in today’s world, which is cool, I guess,” she said, adding that “it’s cooler to have pure motives.”

The  UCLA report  agrees that diversity sells. It says that the median global box office has been the highest for films featuring casts that were more than 20-percent minority, making nearly $450 million in 2017.

Although public opinion  may be divided  about whether the entertainment industry is doing enough to represent all types of people, South Mountain High School student Dazhane Brown in Arizona said that feeling represented is “empowering.”

“If you see people who look like you and act like you and speak like you and come from the same place you come from … it serves as an inspiration,” Brown said.

PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs produced this story in an effort to highlight the importance of representation of minorities in popular culture. Students from 31 Labs across the country submitted these responses.

Why Seeing Yourself Represented on Screen Is So Important

Lawson, K. (2018, February 20).  Why seeing yourself represented on screen is so important.  Vice. https://www.vice.com/en/article/zmwq3x/why-diversity-on-screen-is-important-black-panther

Last year, researchers at USC Annenberg published their annual  report  on diversity—or, really, the lack thereof—in Hollywood. One again, they wrote, their findings “suggest that exclusion is the norm rather than the exception in Hollywood.”

And then  Black Panther —with its virtually all-black cast, fantastic representation of strong women, African setting, and nuanced characters and storylines—happened. For a brief two hours, our superhero is T’Challa, an African king hailing from a technologically advanced country who uses his superhuman strength to protect his people and their way of life. He’s surrounded by fierce women, including Shuri, his brilliant engineer/princess little sister; Okoye, the general who’s loyal to her country but is also someone’s beloved; and Nakia, the love of his life, a humanitarian, and a spy.

Stacy Smith, one of the authors of the diversity in Hollywood report,  tweeted  her congrats to the movie’s producers, adding, “There is more to be done but this weekend is a giant leap forward.”

The  record-breaking  response at the box office to the Marvel/Disney film, not to mention the surrounding social media flurry and subsequent thinkpieces, reveal just how hungry audiences are for stories like  Black Panther —stories that center those who are sorely underrepresented in mass media.

On Monday, former First Lady Michelle Obama offered some insight on the film’s cultural impact,  tweeting : “Congrats to the entire #blackpanther team! Because of you, young people will finally see superheroes that look like them on the big screen. I loved this movie and I know it will inspire people of all backgrounds to dig deep and find the courage to be heroes of their own stories.”

As Obama noted, representation matters. Carlos Cortes, a historian who wrote the book  The Children Are Watching: How the Media Teach About Diversity , offered an important example in  a 1987 article of what happens when it’s lacking: During an episode of the game show The $25,000 Pyramid, he wrote, two contestants linked the word “gangs” with East LA. Why? Because of the way mass media operates. When the only portrayals audiences see of minority characters are negative—in this case, he was talking about Latino gangs in East LA that were featured prominently by news media—those portrayals transcend to public image, he noted.

“First, whether intentionally or unintentionally, both the news and the entertainment media ‘teach’ the public about minorities, other ethnic groups and societal groups, such as women, gays, and the elderly,” Cortes wrote. “Second, this mass media curriculum has a particularly powerful educational impact on people who have little or no direct contact with members of the groups being treated.”

He continued: “Minorities realize—supported by research—that the media influence not only how others view them, but even how they view themselves.”

Sadly, little has changed since the 80s. A  2011 study conducted by The Opportunity Agenda found that black males in media are usually portrayed negatively, limited to a handful of “positive” stereotypes, painted as flat characters, or missing altogether. (Last year’s USC Annenberg report, for example, found that a quarter of the 900 movies analyzed didn’t have even one speaking or named black character.) Audiences—especially those with little exposure to those outside of their community—typically equate these limited, and harsh, media representations with the real world. That, in turn, can lead to “less attention from doctors to harsher sentencing by judges, lower likelihood of being hired for a job or admitted to school, lower odds of getting loans, and a higher likelihood of being shot by police,” the authors write.

The report also found that black males themselves were impacted by these media portrayals: “Negative media stereotypes (thugs, criminals, fools, and the disadvantaged) are demoralizing and reduce self-esteem and expectations,” they write, adding that they can also create stress and “drain cognitive resources in some contexts.”

A  2012 study  looking at representation on TV and its impact on children’s self-esteem had similar findings. In a survey of almost 400 black and white boys and girls, researchers found that the only demographic that didn’t experience lower self-esteem after watching TV was white boys. They pointed to racial stereotypes and the way black characters were portrayed as one explanation: “Black male characters are disproportionately shown as buffoons, or as menacing and unruly youths, and Black female characters are typically shown as exotic and sexually available,” the authors wrote. The TV portrayals of white boys, on the other hand, were “quite positive in nature.”

That’s why  Black Panther —whose only two white characters serve to move the story along—is so important. Danai Gurira, the actress who portrayed General Okoye Gurira in  Black Panther , told  IndieWire  she hopes the film will especially empower young girls. “Even if it’s a mindset of hers being shifted or a realization of how to experience and express her own ferocity and femininity,” Gurira said. “Those sort of things, that sort of impact, if little girls have that and have images now to refer to that are cool and empowered and hip, that they can say, ‘Listen, I don’t have to fall into anyone else’s ideology of what I can be,’ that’s everything. That’s just everything.”

Article vi:

Why representation matters in kids’ media.

Rogers, O. (2021, October 20).  Why representation matters in kids’ media. Common Sense. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/kids-action/articles/why-representation-matters-in-kids-media

Our new report highlights the instrumental role media can play in kids’ understanding of race and ethnicity.

The media we consume has a profound influence on how we see, understand, and treat people, both those within and different from our own race or ethnicity. Decades of research into how ethnic-racial representation in media affects adults has shown that very influential messages are communicated about who a culture views as “normal” and “good” or “different” and “bad.” And those representations have real-world implications as we continue to engage with media over time. For kids, media representations may be even more meaningful as they look for cues in their social environment to develop and shape their understanding of ethnic-racial groups.

Our latest report at Common Sense, “ The Inclusion Imperative: Why Media Representation Matters for Kids’ Ethnic-Racial Development, ” looks at current research into the impact of media on how kids build their understanding of race and ethnicity, as well as perspectives from parents and caregivers on how they use media as a tool to teach acceptance and inclusion. Our review integrated over 150 different journal articles, book chapters, reports, and other academic sources to get the best available understanding of how media can influence children’s ethnic-racial development. Here is what we learned:

Screen media continues to fall short on its portrayal of diverse races and ethnicities.

Our report reinforces that people of color are underrepresented in movie and TV roles across platforms, and when they are represented, they’re often stereotyped. For example, despite being 18% of the population, Latinos only make up 5% of speaking film roles. Characters of color in shows most watched by children age 2 to 13 are more likely to be depicted as violent, and women of all ethnic-racial groups in adult programming are more likely to appear in sexualized roles.

Parents and caregivers agree that the media their kids are watching still largely contains stereotypes of people of color. Most feel that White people are often portrayed in a positive light in the media their children are exposed to; one in four believe that portrayals of Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQIA+ people are more likely to be negative. And among families of color, feelings about current stereotypes in kids’ media are even stronger.

You can’t understand the effects of media on children’s understanding of race and ethnicity without understanding their development.

Importantly, our report shows the importance of considering media as part of children’s development, and specifically their ethnic-racial development. From the time they’re babies, children are taking in information about ethnicity and race from the people, images, and interactions around them. These experiences inform how children feel about, evaluate, and understand ethnicity-race for themselves and others. Understanding what children know about ethnicity-race at different ages can illuminate the kinds of media that may meaningfully affect them.

Media representation is important to how kids build their perspectives on their own ethnic-racial group, as well as that of others.

Our review of available research reinforced the idea that media can have both positive and negative impacts on kids’ ethnic-racial development. On the negative side, stereotypical portrayals of people of color can promote harmful views about and responses to people of color among White audiences. For example, heavy exposure to the stereotypic portrayals of Latinos on entertainment television is associated with increased belief that these representations are accurate reflections of Latinos in society. Exposure to negative representations can also negatively affect children’s future professional aspirations and undermine their sense of self.

But while exposure to negative media depictions of their own ethnic-racial groups can undermine children’s sense of self, high-quality children’s media can promote positive ethnic-racial attitudes and interactions. For example, among Black elementary school girls, exposure to liked Black TV characters is associated with more positive feelings about their own status, appearance, and happiness. And studies going back decades have shown that programs like Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood can have positive effects on children’s feelings about their own ethnic-racial group and on interracial relationships.

Adults want more from the media their kids watch.

In a nationally representative survey of over 1,100 parents and caregivers of children from 2 to 12 years old, they repeatedly told us that they believe media is a valuable tool to help their kids understand race and ethnicity. They’re looking to media creators to deliver content that better reflects the diversity of the world their kids are growing up in.

They want realistic, non stereotypical representations of their own culture. About six in ten parents (57%) say it is important for their children to see people of their own ethnicity/race in the media they consume. But it’s most important to Black parents, 75% of whom say representation is important. Also, 70% of parents want media that exposes children to more about their family’s culture, religion, or lifestyle.

They want stories that are inspirational and aspirational. About two in three parents (65%) feel that media has a big impact on their children’s professional aspirations, which underscores the importance of providing positive role models for Black, indigenous, and children of color.

They want diversity because it teaches acceptance and inclusion. Almost 6 in 10 (57%) parents say that the media their child consumes has prompted conversations about diversity, and 63% of parents believe that media has an impact on the information children have about people of other races, ethnicities, religions, and cultures

What comes next?

Parents and caregivers are looking for realistic, three-dimensional representations of diverse races and ethnicities that aren’t rife with stereotypes or cookie-cutter portrayals. The  new rating for diverse representations from Common Sense Media  will help families identify quality media that elevates quality portrayals and inclusion. Content creators have a responsibility to improve diversity and elevate inclusion in the media they’re creating for young audiences — even for the youngest viewers. They also have an incredible opportunity to use their power to tell the types of stories that will help us all shape the world we want to live in.

Dana Mastro, Ph.D., professor of communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is a co-author of this blog and the report.

Michael B. Robb, Ph.D., senior director of research at Common Sense, and Alanna Peebles, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication, media, and technology at San Diego State University are also co-authors of this report.

Article vii:

The importance of diversity in images.

Campaign Monitor. (2021, April 6).  The importance of diversity in images. https://www.campaignmonitor.com/blog/email-marketing/diverse-images-brand-value/

Most marketers and organization leaders would agree that diversity and inclusion matter for company performance.  Statistics reveal  that the more diverse a company is, the better its profitability.

But beyond profitability,  diversity in marketing  is important, affecting how consumers perceive a brand and possibly even how they perceive themselves and others.

For this reason, it’s crucial that marketers prioritize diversity in their campaigns, especially when it comes to the images they use.

What does diversity in images mean?

It’s important to have a complete, nuanced understanding of diversity, especially as it applies to choosing images for your marketing and branding.

A common myth  is that diversity refers exclusively to diversity of race and gender. However, while diverse race and gender are certainly a part of true diversity, it expands beyond that. True diversity in images includes representation from people of different races, gender identity, socio-economic status, age, disability, sexual orientation, culture, and more.

More than mere representation, diversity also requires  showing individuals as humans first  — rather than a representation of a group. That is, recognizing difference without implying that anyone is superior or inferior to anyone else.

This also includes avoiding tokenization. As  Vanderbilt University defines it , tokenization is “the practice of doing something (such as hiring a person who belongs to a minority group) only to prevent criticism and give the appearance that people are being treated fairly.”

With this definition in mind, we can now explore why it’s important to have diversity in your images.

Problems with non-diverse images in digital marketing

Images in marketing, media, and advertising have implications beyond the brand itself. These images shape our culture’s perception of reality, of what’s “normal” and what’s not.

When images lack diversity (showing, perhaps, only one person among many who is not white, able-bodied, thin, young, straight, and cis-gendered), the effects are far-reaching.

As Jenny Dorsey and Addy Zou recently wrote in  Studio ATAO , “People with marginalized identities are taught from an early age that there is room for only one of their kind in any given space.”

Let’s take a closer look at why non-diverse images are harmful.

Doesn’t accurately reflect reality

The United States is becoming  more culturally diverse every day , yet diversity is still lagging in marketing imagery. The majority of marketing doesn’t accurately reflect the reality of the diversity of the North American population.

And this lack of diversity in marketing extends beyond race, ethnicity, and culture. For example,  15% of the world population has a disability , but people with disabilities are portrayed in only  2% of media images .

Similarly, though data shows that searches for transgender representation in stock photo websites  has starkly increased , only  three  photos on top stock image websites showed transgender people engaging in everyday activities the way cisgendered people are shown. Instead, the top image results did not show the face of the person at all.

Statistics like these reveal a common theme in marketing images: White, able-bodied, thin, young, straight, and cisgendered people are over-represented, while others are underrepresented or are tokenized (or both).

Perpetuates stereotypes and impacts individuals

Lack of diversity in marketing and media images has real-life consequences for everyone observing them — which is nearly every member of our society.

Theories suggest  stereotypes are formed based on a collective observation of everyday life. And since Americans spend an average of  3-4 hours per day looking at TV or smart phones , much of our observations are dictated by representation there.

In other words, what we see in marketing and media shapes how we view the world and the people inside it. If marketing and media images lack diversity, perpetuate stereotypes, or tokenize individuals, many of us will internalize those ideas as indicative of reality.

As to how this affects lives, we can look to a  recent study that found  the self-esteem of girls and Black children of both genders decreases as TV consumption increases, but the reverse is true for white male children. The researchers concluded that  how and how often  your demographic is represented in the media directly impacts how you feel about yourself.

White male children, frequently shown images of heroes that look like them (think: Superman, Batman, Luke Skywalker), may internalize that confidence. Conversely, girls and children of color, with  half as many positive images  in the media, may internalize the idea that they are not as valuable or capable.

Audiences want to see more diversity

It’s very likely that your consumer base desires to see diversity in your marketing.

A Google survey  revealed that diverse marketing directly leads to more clicks, engagement,  and sales. In fact, 64% of respondents reported taking an action on an ad specifically because they thought the ad was inclusive or diverse. And this percentage was even higher among minority groups: 85% Latinx, 79% Black, 79% Asian/Pacific islander, 85% LGBTQ respondents reported taking an action on an ad because it was diverse.

Another survey  found that “nearly 80 percent of consumers globally said they expect that brands demonstrate a consistent commitment to inclusivity and diversity in their advertising.”

Importantly, this survey uncovered that the majority of consumers are sophisticated in their understanding of diversity — they see through surface-level tokenism and prefer a thoughtful approach to diversity and inclusion.

Diverse images in your marketing are likely to improve the effectiveness of your marketing, and less-diverse images may therefore diminish the effectiveness of your marketing.

How to include diverse images in your marketing

It’s clear that marketers should prioritize diversity in their images. However, as we’ve seen, diverse images go beyond simply including non-white people in your photoshoots or stock images.

Here are some strategies for making sure your images are truly diverse:

Don’t perpetuate stereotypes

Including diverse subjects isn’t enough. Images should also not reinforce a stereotypical version of the subject.

With Vice’s release of the  Gender Spectrum Collection  of stock images, the media company outlined a helpful guide for how to ensure images don’t perpetuate stereotypes:

“Understanding the stereotypes and tropes that have accompanied transgender media representation—such as trans subjects being cast only as sex workers, portrayed solely in states of apparent victimhood or crisis, and being characterized as deceptive and mentally unstable—can help you to avoid them. If your usage of one of these photos could feed into a stereotype or negative stigma, you probably shouldn’t use it.”

Though this statement refers to the trans community, the principle can be applied to every aspect of diversity and inclusion:  Understand the stereotypes of how different groups have historically been portrayed, and then take care to not choose images that reflect the stereotype. 

For example, portraying a disabled person in a hospital gown or with a sad, lonely expression reinforces the stereotype that  disabled people are tragic anomalies  incapable of a healthy and happy existence. The  image below  is an example of one such stereotypical stock image:

Instead, opt for an image that portrays a disabled person as they exist in reality, as happy, social, and productive members of society, just as able-bodied people. The image below from our Free Image Gallery, is a great example of an image that does not perpetuate negative stereotypes:

Think critically about image context

Part of true diversity in images involves the context of the subject.

It’s important to choose images that show subjects in a variety of settings or real-life scenes (at a restaurant, at work, with friends, etc.) rather than posed and non-contextual (in front of a blank wall, face blurred, alone, etc.).

Additionally, be mindful about tokenization or implied superiority. Often, tokenization in images looks like having a homogeneous group of people, with one different person as an attempt to not be so homogenous. Implied superiority often looks like featuring minorities as background characters in the scene rather than the main focus.

For example, the  image below  is not a truly diverse image: It shows a group of white, young, cis-gendered, and able-bodied people engaging in a discussion at work, while one person of color looks on in the background.

By contrast,  this image  shows a more diverse workplace setting: The group includes a variety of different races, genders, and ages, and no one is portrayed as inferior to anyone else.

Create a documented strategy for diverse and inclusive marketing

Diversity does not start or stop at choosing diverse images for your marketing; it should go all the way down into the core of your marketing strategy.

This not only makes it easier to spot and select truly diverse images, but it also helps avoid the pitfalls of tokenism or stereotyping (which consumers will see through).

What does a documented strategy for diverse and inclusive marketing look like?

To start, it means creating target audience personas that aren’t homogenous, ensuring your marketing team is diverse and inclusive, and making diversity a core value of your organization.

Questions to consider before creating or selecting an image

Once you’re ready to select an image for your next campaign, it can be helpful to have a checklist to refer to. Here are the questions we recommend you ask before choosing an image:

• Who is missing or excluded?
• Would I want to be portrayed this way?
• If this was a photo of me or someone I love, would I be okay with how they are represented?
• Are any stereotypes being perpetuated in the photo I am using?
• Am I depicting someone in the role our culture typically puts them in or making a more unexpected choice?
• Can everyone who might view the photo see someone like themselves represented in it?

Asking these questions helps you be mindful of diversity when creating or choosing your marketing images.

Diversity in marketing is a must to help your audience feel seen and safe in your online spaces. Additionally, diversity in marketing also reflects the diversity of your company on a deeper level, which is vital to your revenue and company performance.

Though diversity in your marketing doesn’t begin and end with your images, having diverse images is a clear way to signal to consumers that your organization holds diversity and inclusion as a core value.

To make it easier to gather diverse images, Campaign Monitor has created a Free Image Gallery of diverse and inclusive stock images right inside your email builder.

Article viii:

Why it matters that you’re seeing more lgbtq+ people onscreen.

Middleton, L. (n.d.).  Why it matters that you’re seeing more LGBTQ+ people onscreen.  Pocket. https://getpocket.com/collections/why-it-matters-that-youre-seeing-more-lgbtq-people-onscreen?utm_source=pocket-newtab

TO BE UPDATED

Article ix:

Explainer – should non-lgbtq+ actors play trans or gay characters.

Greenhalgh, H. (2023, February 6).  EXPLAINER – Should non-LGBTQ+ actors play trans or gay characters? Openly. https://www.openlynews.com/i/?id=a4668c87-1a38-4541-9650-100776a81a8b&utm_source=pocket_collection_story

​Nick Offerman’s portrayal of a gay man in ‘The Last of Us’ has fueled debate over whether straight actors should play LGBTQ+ roles

• Controversy as actor Nick Offerman plays gay man
• Critics say non-LGBTQ+ castings a blow to equality
• Others cite gay, trans actors in straight, cisgender roles

By Hugo Greenhalgh

LONDON, Feb 6 (Openly) – LGBTQ+ fans of “The Last of Us” are split over the casting of Nick Offerman as a gay character in the hit TV series, reigniting a long-running debate over whether straight or non-transgender actors should play gay or trans roles.

“Nick Offerman is the only straight man I’m okay with being cast as a gay character. He is the exception to the rule,” one viewer tweeted after the third episode of the HBO/Sky series, which features two men, including Offerman’s character, falling in love.

Critics say casting straight actors in LGBTQ+ roles deprives gay, bisexual and trans actors of opportunities to appear on screen and stage as characters they are best placed to represent.

Others point to the many LGBTQ+ actors who play straight characters, arguing that the mark of a talented actor is the ability to convincingly portray a wide range of different characters – regardless of their sexuality or gender identity.

Here’s what you need to know about the debate:

What is the controversy about?

Influential figures in the arts and some LGBTQ+ rights campaigners have spoken out about straight or cisgender – non-trans – actors playing gay or trans parts.

Accepting his 2016 Emmy for playing a trans woman in Amazon series “Transparent”, actor Jeffrey Tambor told the audience, “I would not be unhappy were I the last cisgender male to play a transgender character on television.”

Leading British TV writer Russell T Davies, who won plaudits recently for the 1980s AIDS drama “It’s A Sin”, said in 2021 he was “going to war” over the issue of straight actors playing gay characters, which he says deprives LGBTQ+ actors of opportunities.

“It is not a fair playing field,” Davies  told the New York Times . “The equality notion is based on 50% this way, 50% that way. But 90% of actors are straight and 10% of parts are gay.”

But many actors say playing someone different is the essence of their profession, pointing to the wealth of LGBTQ+ actors, from Elliot Page to Jodie Foster and Matt Bomer, playing straight or non-trans roles.

The Oscars have frequently recognised heterosexual and non-trans actors for playing LGBTQ+ roles.

They include Tom Hanks for “Philadelphia”, Hilary Swank playing a trans man in “Boys Don’t Cry” and Rami Malek for portraying Queen’s lead singer Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

What does Hollywood say?

Following increased scrutiny over the issue in recent years, greater consideration is now being paid to hiring LGBTQ+ performers, and actors have sometimes turned down roles in response to criticism.

A few years ago, Oscar-winner Halle Berry  pulled out  of a trans film role.

Others come prepared for questions if they accept roles portraying people from sexual or gender minorities.

Oscar-nominated star Viggo Mortensen, who played a gay man in his directorial debut “Falling”,  told Openly  in 2020 that actors are actors – whether playing gay characters or anyone else whose life experiences are different to their own.

“I apologise to all the proctologists for casting David Cronenberg,” Mortensen said of his decision to cast the renowned Canadian director as a colorectal surgeon in the film.

Are there similar debates for other minority groups?

Today, no casting director would hire a white actor to play a person of colour, but in the past it was common.

Infamously, British star Laurence Olivier adopted “blackface” makeup in the 1965 film “Othello”, which is now banned in many schools in both the United States and Britain.

It remains common for non-disabled actors to pick up roles as disabled characters, though some campaigners say that should also be challenged.

Speaking with Openly in 2020, the directors of a British film about a love affair between two teenagers, one of whom has Down’s syndrome, called for more honest  media portrayals of disability .

“You’re still seeing actors portraying people with disabilities that don’t have a disability,” said Lloyd Eyre-Morgan.

“Yet there are so many brilliant actors out there that do have a disability and they’re not getting a look in.”

Related stories:

Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry apologizes for considering trans role

‘They can love’: UK film focuses on untold story of LGBT+ disabled teens

‘Lord of the Rings’ actor Viggo Mortensen defends decision to play gay role

(Reporting by Hugo Greenhalgh @hugo_greenhalgh; Editing by Helen Popper. Please credit Openly, the LGBTQ+ news website from the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters. Visit  https://www.openlynews.com )

Openly is an initiative of the Thomson Reuters Foundation dedicated to impartial coverage of LGBT+ issues from around the world.

Our Standards:  The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles .​

CS 050: College Writing Media Theme Copyright © by Confederation College Communications Department and Paterson Library Commons is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

RACE TO A CURE

• Jun 12, 2021

The Importance of Representation in Media

The comfort of finding a character you relate to. The pride of seeing your beliefs, culture, and traditions embraced on the big screens. The joy of seeing a hero that looks just like you. How many of us have experienced this, and how many have not?

Media, especially in the form of film and television, is at the forefront of the entertainment industry. Over the past century, it has rapidly evolved into a widespread medium for storytelling, art, knowledge, and enjoyment. We engage in these forms of media because they share something special—whether opening our eyes to a life vastly different than ours, enforcing a lesson previously beyond our perception, or unearthing our roots as individuals, society, and humanity as a whole. Yet too often, the media fails to accurately represent the people they portray. Too often is inclusivity swept aside by the Hollywood norm —the exclusion of diversity rather than its opposition. Misrepresentation and a lack of diversity in media negatively impacts marginalized communities, including racial, ethnic, and religious minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled people, and women. This issue is prevalent and important, and in this article, we will take a deeper look at media representation from the thoughts, experiences, and perspectives of today’s youth.

Image is courtesy of FOX .

Definition and Importance

The BBC defines representation as how societal aspects such as race, gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, and social issues are presented. When it comes to media, especially film and television, this audience is vast. Mass media broadens our scope of perception when it comes to society, multiculturalism, and the world. It holds, for many, an educational impact as it showcases unique experiences otherwise beyond reach. This is why representation is crucial. In a multicultural, diverse, multifaceted society, it is vital to amplify the voices and share the stories of all.

The Harmful Effects of Stereotypes

While a lack of representation is harmful in itself, the misrepresentation of underserved communities is a significant issue with damaging consequences. This concept is evident through stereotyping. The Arab Film & Media Institute describes stereotyping as assumptions or generalizations made and depicted of individuals due to their racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, religious, or other identities.

Stereotypes in media are often inaccurate and portray underrepresented groups in a negative light. These flawed portrayals can be easily internalized by both the individuals of a group being stereotyped and other members of society. All in all, it influences public opinion and the societal view of underrepresented communities.

“As a child, stereotypes that were portrayed in the media went over my head. I was just there to be entertained. However, as I got older and began to truly understand what it meant to be Black in society, those stereotypes that I once looked at with a blind eye began to get a little glaring. When I was younger, I always found myself drawn to shows with a Black character, but now that I look back, those shows never had a lot of Black actors. In addition, the beauty standards of those characters were quite Eurocentric. I didn’t look like the girls in that show. This was disheartening as a little girl, to not see people like me at that level of fame. Presently, I see more representation of Black people in the media but I struggle with the narrative. When I want to watch TV, I want to laugh, get lost in a story, relax, and forget about my troubles. Not be thrust into a world of discrimination and hardship that, although quite relevant, does not represent all aspects of life.”

- Lola, grade 12

As Lauren Washington discusses in an examination of film and media representation, stereotypical depictions create unconscious bias in viewers which can directly impact an individual’s thoughts and behaviours towards others. It is especially dangerous when bias is institutionalized, perpetuating the issues of discrimination and hate crimes, police brutality, mass incarceration of disadvantaged communities, and others.

“In my experience, stereotypes are the most prevalent issue in the media. They are literally everywhere, and create a very toxic environment for young people. Even the most positive stereotypes have negative connotations that are used to divide and hurt people who do not fit the standards that society expects from us. Whether it is racial stereotypes, gender stereotypes or others, it creates a playground for prejudice to grow throughout our society and formulates the idea that people do not need to think through their behaviour or give opportunities to certain people based on what they seem to be.

In most of the TV shows and movies I watched when I was younger, the woman would always fall in love and that would make her happy, or white people would always save the day. It made me feel like I had to be saved instead of taking action on my own and for the longest time, I just accepted it. It was not until I saw characters who were like me that I started to truly grow as a person. To imagine what I might’ve been like if I had those influences when I was younger hurts me a little because I always wish I could have more goals to reach, more determination, and that is swayed the most by what I take in through the media. In our media, schools, music and experiences, we need leaders to break these stereotypes and show that people are more than they are expected to be.”

- Tia, grade 11

The Arab Film & Media Institute further defines the issues of tokenism and typecasting. Tokenism is when individuals from minority groups are included for the sole purpose of exhibiting a seemingly diverse environment. This infamous tactic does not equate to equal representation, but is rather a demeaning concept that utilizes minority characters to fulfill an agenda. Typecasting in the entertainment industry occurs when individuals are consistently assigned roles due to their ability to fit a certain stereotype. This often targets actors belonging to underrepresented groups and limits their ability to grow in the industry beyond playing stereotypical roles.

Image is courtesy of Netflix Junkie.

Children and Teens

Underrepresentation, as a result, has the potential to establish harmful views and negative perceptions. For children who are developing their thoughts and behaviours, and for teenagers who are searching for identity and their place in society, media takes the role of a significant influence.

“I have felt a tremendous lack of diversity in the media while growing up. Often when characters looked like me, they fit a certain stereotype as the ‘supporting character’ or the ‘comedic relief.’ Rarely were Black and Brown characters seen as the protagonist or desirable and intelligent individuals and honestly, that took a toll on my self-esteem. A lack of diversity is harmful not only to the people being misrepresented but also to others who watch those shows or movies who then base their perception of a group solely on the media they consume. Luckily, there has been an increase in the diversity of characters of colour! But we have a long way to go to dismantle the many stereotypes that have been engraved in the history of television and film.”

- Hanna, 2nd year undergraduate

According to an article by Forbes , general media can escalate racial tensions and affect confidence and self-esteem. The author describes how predictions in the study of prolonged television exposure involve decreased self-esteem for girls and Black boys, which correlates with racial and gender biases in popular media. With the effects of underrepresentation so prevalent and impactful to youth, diverse and inclusive media representation must be prioritized as we move forward.

“Growing up, I definitely felt like it was hard to see myself represented in the media. Especially in the case of beauty standards, I feel that it has now become such a common story for Black women to go through a stage of not liking their features, and more specifically, their hair. For me, this was straightening my hair often, for others, it might have been relaxing their hair, but for many of us the cause was what was portrayed as ‘beautiful’ in the media. However, within the last few years, I have become a lot more comfortable in my identity and in wearing my hair out, as big as it is!

As far as we’ve come already, what I’m really waiting for is a coming-of-age movie starring a young Black girl that is not solely about her identity as a Black person. There is certainly a time and place for these kinds of movies, but I am so excited for when I can see myself represented in the media without having to think about all the problems that I may face as a Black woman.”

- Leah, grade 12

Image is courtesy of Girl Museum .

The Push for Greater On-Screen Diversity

The youth of today are passionate about inclusive representation, and they are making their voices heard on what they want to see more of in modern media.

“I feel like the groups that really need to be represented in the film, television, and the entertainment industry are minorities such as Black, Asian, Brown, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities. Especially people with disabilities because I hardly ever see them represented in the industry.

- Lemuela, grade 10

Progress is underway, but for representation to be achieved in all aspects, there must be greater inclusivity of underrepresented groups both on-screen and behind the scenes as writers, directors, producers, and more. The entertainment industry, media creators, and society can benefit significantly by confronting implicit bias and stereotypes and actively commit to fostering inclusive environments. Through this, may we begin the journey towards media that includes representation for all.

Article Author: Victoria Huang

Article Contributors: Lola Oyefeso, Tia Rose Desouza, Hanna Asheber, Leah Daniel, Lemuela Ajuwon

Article Editors: Maria Giroux, Stephanie Sahaeo

• Social Initiatives

Recent Posts

Leatherback Sea Turtles: An Endangered Species

Who Was W.E.B. Du Bois

What is Cultural Appropriation?

Got any suggestions?

We want to hear from you! Send us a message and help improve Slidesgo

Top searches

Trending searches

solar eclipse

25 templates

12 templates

north korea

7 templates

21 templates

48 templates

Travel Guide: Moscow

Travel guide: moscow presentation, free google slides theme and powerpoint template.

Do you know some acquaintances that want to travel to Russia, the biggest country in this planet? Now you can be their own tour guide with this template. Include as much information as possible about tourist attractions, monuments and things to do in Moscow. Let the simplicity of these slides and their cool illustrations speak in favor too!

Features of this template

• 100% editable and easy to modify
• 25 different slides to impress your audience
• Contains easy-to-edit graphics such as graphs, maps, tables, timelines and mockups
• Includes 500+ icons and Flaticon’s extension for customizing your slides
• Designed to be used in Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint
• 16:9 widescreen format suitable for all types of screens
• Includes information about fonts, colors, and credits of the free resources used

How can I use the template?

Am I free to use the templates?

How to attribute?

Attribution required If you are a free user, you must attribute Slidesgo by keeping the slide where the credits appear. How to attribute?

Related posts on our blog.

How to Add, Duplicate, Move, Delete or Hide Slides in Google Slides

How to Change Layouts in PowerPoint

How to Change the Slide Size in Google Slides

Related presentations.

Premium template

Unlock this template and gain unlimited access

• Newsletters

IE 11 Not Supported

Nsba 2024: youth social media issues and 60 days of disconnect, amid a growing body of research and lawsuits related to the subject, social media addiction was the focus of a presentation at the national school boards association conference this week, featuring a student with firsthand experience..

Create Free Account or

• Acute Coronary Syndromes
• Anticoagulation Management
• Arrhythmias and Clinical EP
• Cardiac Surgery
• Cardio-Oncology
• Cardiovascular Care Team
• Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology
• COVID-19 Hub
• Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Disease
• Dyslipidemia
• Geriatric Cardiology
• Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies
• Invasive Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention
• Noninvasive Imaging
• Pericardial Disease
• Pulmonary Hypertension and Venous Thromboembolism
• Sports and Exercise Cardiology
• Stable Ischemic Heart Disease
• Valvular Heart Disease
• Vascular Medicine
• Clinical Updates & Discoveries
• Advocacy & Policy
• Perspectives & Analysis
• Meeting Coverage
• ACC Member Publications
• ACC Podcasts
• View All Cardiology Updates
• Earn Credit
• View the Education Catalog
• ACC Anywhere: The Cardiology Video Library
• CardioSource Plus for Institutions and Practices
• ECG Drill and Practice
• Heart Songs
• Nuclear Cardiology
• Online Courses
• Collaborative Maintenance Pathway (CMP)
• Understanding MOC
• Image and Slide Gallery
• Annual Scientific Session and Related Events
• Chapter Meetings
• Live Meetings
• Live Meetings - International
• Webinars - Live
• Webinars - OnDemand
• Certificates and Certifications
• ACC Accreditation Services
• ACC Quality Improvement for Institutions Program
• CardioSmart
• National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR)
• Advocacy at the ACC
• Cardiology as a Career Path
• Cardiology Careers
• Cardiovascular Buyers Guide
• Clinical Solutions
• Clinician Well-Being Portal
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Infographics
• Innovation Program
• Mobile and Web Apps

ACC.24 Presentation Slides | RELIEVE-HF

•  Print

Download File

Image Modality: Illustration Table Figure

Date: April 06, 2024    

Clinical Topics: Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies, Acute Heart Failure

Keywords: ACC Annual Scientific Session, ACC24Slides, Heart Failure, Implantable Devices

You must be logged in to save to your library.

Jacc journals on acc.org.

• JACC: Advances
• JACC: Basic to Translational Science
• JACC: CardioOncology
• JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging
• JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions
• JACC: Case Reports
• JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology
• JACC: Heart Failure
• Current Members
• Campaign for the Future
• Become a Member
• Renew Your Membership
• Member Benefits and Resources
• Member Sections
• ACC Member Directory
• ACC Innovation Program
• Our Strategic Direction
• Our History
• Our Bylaws and Code of Ethics
• Leadership and Governance
• Annual Report
• Industry Relations
• Support the ACC
• Jobs at the ACC
• Press Releases
• Social Media
• Book Our Conference Center

Clinical Topics

• Chronic Angina
• Congenital Heart Disease and     Pediatric Cardiology
• Diabetes and Cardiometabolic     Disease
• Hypertriglyceridemia
• Invasive Cardiovascular Angiography    and Intervention
• Pulmonary Hypertension and Venous     Thromboembolism

Latest in Cardiology

Education and meetings.

• Online Learning Catalog
• Products and Resources
• Annual Scientific Session

Tools and Practice Support

• Quality Improvement for Institutions
• Accreditation Services
• Practice Solutions

Heart House

• 2400 N St. NW
• Washington , DC 20037
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 1-202-375-6000
• Toll Free: 1-800-253-4636
• Fax: 1-202-375-6842
• Media Center
• ACC.org Quick Start Guide
• Advertising & Sponsorship Policy
• Clinical Content Disclaimer
• Editorial Board
• Privacy Policy
• Registered User Agreement
• Terms of Service
• Cookie Policy

© 2024 American College of Cardiology Foundation. All rights reserved.

AVSIM Library System Version 2.00 -- 2004-May-01 © 2001-2024 AVSIM Online All Rights Reserved

Follow Polygon online:

• Follow Polygon on Facebook
• Follow Polygon on Youtube
• Follow Polygon on Instagram

Site search

• Dragon’s Dogma 2
• FF7 Rebirth
• Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• PlayStation
• Dungeons & Dragons
• Magic: The Gathering
• Board Games
• All Tabletop
• All Entertainment
• What to Watch
• What to Play
• Buyer’s Guides

Filed under:

• Entertainment

Shōgun has a hidden Star Wars influence

Justin Marks wanted to match George Lucas’ intention with this choice

Share this story

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on Reddit
• Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: Shōgun has a hidden Star Wars influence

If you ask co-creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo about the subtitles of their FX adaptation of Shōgun , they’re going to tell you about it in depth. As they should; like with so many decisions in making Shōgun , the details are crucial.

“Too often, as filmmakers, we like to pretend the subtitles don’t exist,” Marks says. “Like, if only we could just teleport the words into the audiences’ heads! But we can’t do that. So we have to put these words on screen — and if we’re going to do that, let’s not make that an afterthought anymore.”

Shōgun is a show heavy on translation. This is true for the English-speaking audience, as the majority of the series is in Japanese. But it’s also true for the show itself, with so much of the interplay between Japanese-speakers and foreigners being interpreted by translators. It matters how thoughts and ideas get presented, and how those words spread and inspire action. This is a war fought with the tongue as much as it is the sword or the cannon. To that end, Marks and Kondo knew that their subtitles had to be on point.

“As [episode 1 director] Jonathan van Tulleken said, there’s always this layer of, like, museum dust over stories like this. And we wanted to get to an urgency that was a little different,” Marks says.

That meant a ton of tiny changes the viewer might not think too hard about as they watch, but that Marks, Kondo, and the rest of the Shōgun team put in place specifically to engage the audience — having the words bigger, closer to the middle of the screen so the “dive” between the actors’ eyes and the words wasn’t so big, and even writing dialogue in ways that considered the amount of subtitles that would need to be on screen. They paid close attention in the editing process, like having a particular word on screen when Mariko’s face changes, as opposed to relying on a sentence structure that might deny us that moment. Perhaps most importantly, they grabbed a font that felt like it could make an impact.

“‘Let’s look to science fiction,’” Marks recalls saying, hoping to evoke the propulsiveness of the genre. “And there was a font in the original 1977 Star Wars that was used for a couple of lines, and we found this font [...] that seemed vaguely similar enough to it, which was also large enough to be read — which was probably what Lucas’ intent was, to make sure it could be read by young Europeans. So it just felt more inviting.”

Marks doesn’t think they’re alone out there paying attention to subtitling; he shouts out Marvel as using a “cool font, and they’re inspiring a whole generation to not be afraid of subtitles,” alongside the bevy of international and translated content, like Shōgun , more readily available to modern audiences . He’s glad to be just one of many productions that seems to see this sort of accessibility as part of the overall presentation of art.

“We were shooting on these beautiful anamorphic lenses, and spherical, to get the audience real close to faces,” Marks says. “And instead of a font that felt like we pulled it out of our grandparents’ dustbin and put it on screen, [we wanted] something that would just suddenly cue the audience that we’re after something else.”

Shōgun is now streaming on Hulu. New episodes debut every Tuesday.

The next level of puzzles.

Take a break from your day by playing a puzzle or two! We’ve got SpellTower, Typeshift, crosswords, and more.

Sign up for the newsletter Patch Notes

A weekly roundup of the best things from Polygon

Just one more thing!

Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity.

Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again.

Loading comments...

Blizzard announces a remix for one of World of Warcraft’s best expansions

• Final Fantasy 14 guides, tips, tricks, and walkthroughs

How to unlock glamour in FFXIV

How to dye your gear in FFXIV

X-Men ’97 has entered the X-Men’s ‘Magneto was right’ era with a bloodbath

Nintendo 3DS fans say goodbye to the beloved handheld

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and its huge Booster Course Pass are cheaper than ever

site categories

Henry cavill shows up at lionsgate cinemacon, teases ‘highlander’; new guy ritchie 2025 movie gets title, ‘beetlejuice, beetlejuice’: michael keaton makes surprise appearance at cinemacon & calls pic “really f*cking good”.

By Anthony D'Alessandro , Nancy Tartaglione

Michael Keaton, Beetlejuice himself, showed up at Warner Bros ‘ CinemaCon presentation for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Keaton, who already has seen the movie twice, said: “Truthfully, I don’t think it’s a secret anymore, but [Tim Burton] and I over the years kicked the notion around. Three or five years passed, we’d say, ‘What do you think?’ Finally we got it right. But also the script — it’s very difficult thing to write. Frankly, I followed his lead. I’ll tell you this, though, it’s really f*cking good. In fact, it’s great.”

Related Stories

‘Furiosa’: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth & George Miller Kick Off Warner Bros CinemaCon 2024 With Extended First Look

‘Joker: Folie A Deux’ Trailer: Joaquin Phoenix’s Villain & Lady Gaga’s Harley Are Madly, Deeply In Love

RELATED: Robert Pattinson Dies Many Times In ‘Mickey 17’ First Look: Bong Joon Ho Pic Previews At CinemaCon

“There is a spirit of improvisation,” said Burton about the set.

Also onstage were pic’s actors Monica Belluci, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux and original castmember O’Hara.

“There is no sequel without Catherine,” said Keaton. The actress was concerned she’d never come back for Part 2. The extended trailer, very similar to the teaser, shows VFX-palooza with a Beetlejuice snake in the clouds, a subway station scene, Ryder summoning Beetlejuice and her character wondering if the living and the dead can co-exist in the same world. There’s a plane falling from the sky and Keaton’s Beetlejuice hitting on O’Hara’s Delia Deetz.

RELATED: ‘Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story’ To Hit Theaters In September – CinemaCon

The pic comes out September 6. Don’t be shocked if this film’s domestic opening approaches September-record levels, the highest being It with $123.4M in 2018.

Must Read Stories

‘michael’ first look; lionsgate & ‘barbie’ producer play ‘monopoly’; more.

Disney Seeks To Ax ‘Mandalorian’ Firing Suit, Says Carano “Trivialized Holocaust”

‘candyman’ helmer nia dacosta in talks to direct part 2 of new ’28 years later’ trilogy, andrew scott video interview on ‘ripley’, ‘vanya’, ‘fleabag’ & more.

Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.

Read More About:

Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

The IFRS Foundation is a not-for-profit, public interest organisation established to develop high-quality, understandable, enforceable and globally accepted accounting and sustainability disclosure standards.

Our Standards are developed by our two standard-setting boards, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). 

About the IFRS Foundation

Ifrs foundation governance, stay updated.

IFRS Accounting Standards are developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The IASB is an independent standard-setting body within the IFRS Foundation.

IFRS Accounting Standards are, in effect, a global accounting language—companies in more than 140 jurisdictions are required to use them when reporting on their financial health. The IASB is supported by technical staff and a range of advisory bodies.

IFRS Accounting

Standards and frameworks, using the standards, project work, products and services.

IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards are developed by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). The ISSB is an independent standard-setting body within the IFRS Foundation.

IFRS Sustainability Standards are developed to enhance investor-company dialogue so that investors receive decision-useful, globally comparable sustainability-related disclosures that meet their information needs. The ISSB is supported by technical staff and a range of advisory bodies.

IFRS Sustainability

Education, membership and licensing, new ifrs accounting standard will aid investor analysis of companies’ financial performance.

You need to Sign in to use this feature

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) today completed its work to improve the usefulness of information presented and disclosed in financial statements. The new Standard, IFRS 18 Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements , will give investors more transparent and comparable information about companies’ financial performance, thereby enabling better investment decisions. It will affect all companies using IFRS Accounting Standards.

IFRS 18 introduces three sets of new requirements to improve companies’ reporting of financial performance and give investors a better basis for analysing and comparing companies:

Improved comparability in the statement of profit or loss (income statement)

Currently there is no specified structure for the income statement. Companies choose their own subtotals to include. Often companies report an operating profit but the way operating profit is calculated varies from company to company, reducing comparability. 1

IFRS 18 introduces three defined categories for income and expenses—operating, investing and financing—to improve the structure of the income statement, and requires all companies to provide new defined subtotals, including operating profit. The improved structure and new subtotals will give investors a consistent starting point for analysing companies’ performance and make it easier to compare companies.

Enhanced transparency of management-defined performance measures

Many companies provide company-specific measures, often referred to as alternative performance measures. Investors find this information useful. However, most companies don’t currently provide enough information to enable investors to understand how these measures are calculated and how they relate to the required measures in the income statement.

IFRS 18 therefore requires companies to disclose explanations of those company-specific measures that are related to the income statement, referred to as management-defined performance measures. The new requirements will improve the discipline and transparency of management-defined performance measures, and make them subject to audit.

More useful grouping of information in the financial statements

Investor analysis of companies’ performance is hampered if the information provided by companies is too summarised or too detailed. IFRS 18 sets out enhanced guidance on how to organise information and whether to provide it in the primary financial statements 2 or in the notes. The changes are expected to provide more detailed and useful information. IFRS 18 also requires companies to provide more transparency about operating expenses, helping investors to find and understand the information they need.

Andreas Barckow, IASB Chair, said:

IFRS 18 represents the most significant change to companies’ presentation of financial performance since IFRS Accounting Standards were introduced more than 20 years ago. It will give investors better information about companies’ financial performance and consistent anchor points for their analysis.

IFRS 18 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027, but companies can apply it earlier. Changes in companies’ reporting resulting from IFRS 18 will depend on their current reporting practices and IT systems.

IFRS 18 replaces IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements . It carries forward many requirements from IAS 1 unchanged. IFRS 18 is the culmination of the IASB’s Primary Financial Statements project. 

Access the Standard

IFRS 18, the Illustrative Examples and the Basis for Conclusions are available to IFRS Digital subscribers. You can purchase an IFRS Digital Subscription or a PDF version of the Standard from our web shop.

• IFRS 18  Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements
• Basis for Conclusions —explanation of the IASB’s considerations in developing the requirements in IFRS 18
• Illustrative Examples —worked examples for aspects of IFRS 18, including flowcharts relating to key requirements in IFRS 18

Access the supporting materials

Support to implement IFRS 18 will be available via the IFRS 18 implementation webpage .

The following documents, along with IFRS 18, are available from the completed project page :

• Short video of IASB Chair Andreas Barckow summarising the new requirements
• One-page quick view of IFRS 18
• Project Summary —overview of the project in non-technical language
• Effects Analysis —description of the likely benefits and costs of IFRS 18
• Feedback Statement —summary of feedback on proposals and the IASB’s response to feedback
• Reference materials —comparison table of requirements in IAS 1 and IFRS 18 showing changes to each paragraph of IAS 1

Watch Andreas Barckow explain the new requirements to improve companies’ financial performance reporting.

1 An IASB study of 100 companies showed that over 60 reported a figure for operating profit, using at least nine different ways to calculate it.

2 The primary financial statements consist of the statement of profit or loss (income statement); statement presenting comprehensive income; statement of financial position (balance sheet); statement of changes in equity; and statement of cash flows.

Related information

IFRS Accounting Standards Navigator

Supporting implementation for IFRS 18

Primary Financial Statements project

Followable tags

Your action was not processed, please try again later

Related news

Translated versions of this story.

Brazilian Portuguese translation

French translation

Japanese translation

Simplified Chinese translation

Spanish translation

Your privacy

IFRS Foundation cookies

We use cookies on ifrs.org to ensure the best user experience possible. For example, cookies allow us to manage registrations, meaning you can watch meetings and submit comment letters. Cookies that tell us how often certain content is accessed help us create better, more informative content for users.

We do not use cookies for advertising, and do not pass any individual data to third parties.

Some cookies are essential to the functioning of the site. Other cookies are optional. If you accept all cookies now you can always revisit your choice on our  privacy policy  page.

Cookie preferences

Essential cookies, always active.

Essential cookies are required for the website to function, and therefore cannot be switched off. They include managing registrations.

Analytics cookies

We use analytics cookies to generate aggregated information about the usage of our website. This helps guide our content strategy to provide better, more informative content for our users. It also helps us ensure that the website is functioning correctly and that it is available as widely as possible. None of this information can be tracked to individual users.

Preference cookies

Preference cookies allow us to offer additional functionality to improve the user experience on the site. Examples include choosing to stay logged in for longer than one session, or following specific content.

Share this page