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Multimedia in academic publications

by Bradley L Garrett

  • Guides for researchers,
  • Publishing and getting read

As multimedia becomes an increasingly ubiquitous part of our social lives, researchers are developing new ways to utilise audio, video, and photography in publications. Multimedia recordings allow us to change the pace of time, undertake minute analysis of events and empower people to share their stories directly with audiences in and beyond academia. In my work with urban explorers, for instance, I was able to use video and photography to give viewers a close sense of wonder and trepidation.

Yet these technologies also create new sets of difficulties for researchers around issues of ethics, permissions and ownership of recorded materials. As the novelty of ‘new’ media and online sharing platforms wears thin, people are naturally becoming more guarded about being recorded. Researchers must consider carefully the ways recordings can be used and misused, especially in the context of human geography.

Despite possible drawbacks, publishers have also been quick to adapt to these fast changing technologies and many major academic journals now accept multimedia material in both supplementary and standalone formats. Multimedia research can expand audiences through online platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo and at photo, film and arts festivals, which often complement academic articles well. Some journals have even begun accepting full ‘video articles’, a promising format still in its infancy. Using multimedia in publications can greatly increase the potential for sharing results and ideas and add, or even demand, more social relevance from our work.

About this guide

Publishing is a crucial, but sometimes daunting and unexplained, part of academic life. All academic geographers are supposed to do it, but there are few formal guidelines about how best it should be done. Many of us discover how to publish by trial and error or through the mentoring and support of colleagues. Publishing and academic landscapes also change, presenting new challenges to established academics. The publishing and getting read guides have four main aims: to provide clear, practical and constructive advice about how to publish research in a wide range of forms; to encourage you to think strategically about your publication profile and plans; to set out some of the opportunities and responsibilities you have as an author; and to support you in getting your published research read.

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