A few noteworthy lessons were learned during the ISC’s
dive into IP-based media production from home. The team
developed a renewed awareness of the importance of
workforce dynamics such as patience, respect, and flexi-
bility. At the same time, effective and consistent commu-
nication— both internally and externally— remained a top
priority. Each ISC Media and Production project began with
a dialogue that focused within a single, shared document.
These documents became the framework that guided the
development of each program. They also formed the back-
bone for a new, collaborative process for efficient media
production, one that embraces uncertainty and new ideas
as well as the free flow of communication.
Although the year 2020 was challenging, the adjustment
to working in a virtual environment offered an opportunity
to reflect on best practices and improve efficiencies. A new
sense of place and potential paradigm shift for ocean explo-
ration media production was recognized in the cloud envi-
ronment. It is nimble and accessible and highlights the ISC’s
efforts to embrace modern approaches to communicating
science and enabling future capacities for the way people
connect to the world of ocean science and exploration.
comments in real time, and sharing questions with hosts
and experts during live broadcasts were the responsibility
of ISC staff working remotely from home. This enhanced
the impact of each program by allowing presenters to
focus on telling their stories and engaging with hosts and
audiences. Broadcast format transitioned from a more
standard, single speaker/presentation style to one that was
more interactive and conversation-based (Figure 2).
Guests and hosts alike noted the seamlessness of these
programs and appreciated the ease of discussion that
took place. The comfort level of teleconferencing helped
accelerate the early adoption of these programs in terms of
connecting with subject matter experts and sharing their
stories from home.
An IP-based approach to interactive programming also
allowed ship-based feeds to be incorporated into the same
browser-based broadcast studio. This created a unique
opportunity for an enhanced “watch-party” environment
with video and audio that included select shore-based
observers and ship personnel (Figure 3). As IP-based com-
munications replaced certain components of the traditional
broadcast environment, ISC production members could
also “hot-swap” their roles and responsibilities, even during
live programming. Such flexibility allowed for expanded
training opportunities for producers and communicators,
including those outside the ISC team.
From April through December 2020, the ISC produced
and/or hosted over 40 virtual and interactive programs,
including 17 Ocean Classroom Live episodes in collabora-
tion with the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School
of Oceanography (URI/GSO) (Figure 4). The programs
covered topics such as ocean careers, shark behavior and
biology, and hurricanes; they aired through outlets such as
YouTube and Facebook Live; and they have been archived
to these social media platforms as well as the URI/GSO
website with associated resources. As of December 2020,
the videos have received nearly 10,000 cumulative views
on Facebook and over 1,400 views on YouTube.
FIGURE 2. Remotely operated vehicle pilot and engineer, Jessica
Sandoval, speaks as a content expert in a Deep Sea Dialogues video
on underwater robotics. In addition to being a stand-alone media
piece, the video is also a supporting resource to NOAA OER’s virtual
professional development programs (supported by the ISC).
FIGURE 3. Hosted by Samantha Wishnak, Communications Manager
for the Ocean Exploration Trust, this Next on Nautilus: Channel
Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Santa Lucia Bank episode
featured the new ship broadcast studio and remote participants,
creating a “watch-party” environment between ship and shore.
FIGURE 4. During the 16th episode of the URI/GSO’s Ocean Classroom
Live, the ISC’s Alex DeCicco fields audience questions live, with
Colleen Peters and Kylie Pasternak of URI/GSO. The focus of this
episode was ship-based career stories.