COMED

Communication of medical research through film production and wide distribution

 Partecipanti

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'COMED is a Support Action to communicate the results and activities of contemporary health sciences to the general public by using information from EU-funded projects. The overall aim of COMED’s innovative communication strategy is to reach the maximum number of European citizens. Ten image films dealing with the subject of ten representative EU-funded HEALTH projects will be produced and widely distributed via TV and Internet/Mobile TV. COMED’s image films will be filmed in HDTV and distributed across Europe to TV broadcasting stations for the integration into science magazines. In order to extend the target group and to maximise the number of viewers, COMED will expand the traditional distribution channel TV by distributing and presenting the films via the internet as well. The objective of this ubiquitous multimedia distribution approach is to reach young recipients and target groups of high-school students and adolescents, who frequently use these channels. The content and style of the films will also have a positive impact on the young target group’s perception of natural sciences and focus on the daily life of young researchers working in EU-funded projects. COMED will also create a Multimedia Kit for each of the ten projects. The Kit will contain the films in various formats, 3D bio-animations, the film scripts, interviews, pictures, etc. It will provide them or other media with multimedia material for the generation of news, dissemination, presentations or press articles to communicate and therewith raise public perception of EU-funded health sciences. The COMED consortium consists of two complementary partners with long-term professional experience in film production and distribution and who have successfully collaborated in the FP6 SSA APPEAR: BROADVIEW TV, an international award-winning film and Internet production company and german united distributors, one of the largest German TV distributors, acting successfully on the international TV markets.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

EU-funded media experts distributed short documentaries via the internet to raise awareness of European research.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Typically, very little information finds its way to the public as funds are spent largely on communicating with research and funding communities to raise awareness and thus remain competitive. However, not only are EU citizens the indirect benefactors of research through the taxes they pay, they are also the direct beneficiaries of EU health research. As such, there is a need to bridge the gap between science and society.

Broadview TV (BTV), an international award-winning film and internet production company, and United Docs, one of the largest German TV distributors, became partners to reach the public at large. With EU-funding of the project 'Communication of medical research through film production and wide distribution' (COMED), they produced nine short videos and a trailer about EU-funded health-related research projects. The films show interviews with researchers and patients, and provide news about the projects in non-scientific language to inform the public and enhance young people's perceptions of science.

The creation of a project logo was an important marketing tool to increase recognition and awareness and it is present on all information disseminated. Partners exploited the medium most used by youth today, the internet. Videos were distributed via video-sharing portals such as YouTube, social networking services such as Facebook, podcasts, blogs, online magazines and the project website. They also distributed the videos to television broadcasters. Of course, dissemination would not have been complete without presentations at scientific conferences to raise awareness on the part of the research community and encourage more scientists to develop innovative ways of targeting the public.

COMED filled an important gap between science and society, using brief and snappy videos to generate excitement and enthusiasm about the potential of scientific research on the part of the public and particularly youth. While statistics are beyond the scope of the project, there is little doubt that COMED has changed the way young people view EU medical research.