William & Mary launches new YouTube channel
W&M in video The new William & Mary YouTube channel features a wide variety of video subjects, from campus events and news features to alumni news, academics and campus life. Screenshot courtesy of Justin Schoonmaker
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The channel, which was created in partnership between the College's University Relations and Creative Services offices, features a wide variety of video subjects, from campus events and news features to alumni news, academics and campus life. The work of the College's professors is highlighted in videos such as "Book of the Month" and "Faculty Features," and the array of students' interests is seen in numerous videos, from service projects to performances. Soft launched in May, the page now has approximately 150 uploaded videos, more than 170 other YouTube channel subscribers, 95,500 total upload views and 16,600 channel views.
"There are a ton of great videos produced right here on campus - within our two offices and beyond - and YouTube gives us so many options to share and showcase this content to a broader audience," said Brian Whitson, director of university relations. "We're delighted the new page is off to such a great start."
Because William & Mary's videos are available on YouTube, news outlets, blogs and other internet sites are able to download or embed the pieces on their respective Web pages, increasing viewership of the videos and bringing William & Mary stories to a wider audience. Some of the channel's most watched pieces were picked up by news outlets and blogs. For instance, a video on the introduction of the College's new mascot has more 20,950 views and was embedded on several Washington Post blogs and ESPN.com. Additionally, the video in which President Taylor Reveley declares "Get me the Griffin" has more than 16,200 views and was picked up by a Chronicle of Higher Education blog and Sporting News.
The new channel is part of the YouTube EDU partner program, which allows the College more options for its video uploads and provides broader visibility for the campus' channel. Many offices and departments throughout campus maintain their own YouTube pages. For information on those and other social media outlets utilized by William & Mary people, visit http://www.wm.edu/communities.
Numerous departments, professional schools and offices across the College have provided videos to be used on the new channel, including the Alumni Association, Tribe Athletics, the School of Education, the Law School, the Mason School of Business, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Swem Library and the Office of Community Engagement and Scholarship. In the future, the channel's administrators hope to solicit more videos from students, faculty, staff and alumni via contests and other means.
"Because we are partnering with so many across campus, we have a rich and diverse selection of videos about William & Mary," said Susan T. Evans, director of creative services. "YouTube is the second-largest search engine and we know those connected with William & Mary want to find us there in abundance."
