Archiving video is an essential but often overlooked component of video advocacy. Learn about best practices for organizing, storing, preserving, and sharing your footage.
What is Archiving?
CREATE
Start archiving your video at the point of creation.
- Introduction
- What Metadata to Capture
- How to Capture Metadata & Documentation
- Outputting Edited Videos
TRANSFER
Move video and metadata from one device or location to another.
- Introduction
- Offloading from Cameras
- Uploading and Downloading Video
- Keeping Files Intact (and Proving It)
- Physical Transport
- Transferring Videos and Metadata Together
ACQUIRE
Receive video and metadata from a source and add it to your collection.
- Introduction
- Deciding What to Keep
- Acquiring Raw Video and Metadata
- Acquiring Edited Video and Elements
ORGANIZE
Organize your digital video files and documentation.
STORE
Store your videos, manage the storage environment, and recover from errors.
CATALOG
Create a structured and searchable system for creating and managing metadata, and finding your videos.
- Introduction
- Getting Started
- Types of Metadata
- Structure and Rules
- Tools for Inventories and Catalogs
PRESERVE
Ensure that your collection will be preserved and accessible far into the future.
- Introduction
- Aspects of Long-Term Preservation
- Prioritizing for Preservation
- Working with an Archive
- Other Preservation Options
SHARE
Make your collection accessible to others outside your organization.
- Introduction
- Identifying Your Users
- Helping Users Find Videos
- Providing Videos to Users
- Controlling Access
- Understanding Copyright
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
WITNESS is an international nonprofit organization that empowers human rights defenders to use video to fight injustice, and to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools that can pressure those in power or with power to act. By bringing often unseen images and seldom heard stories to the attention of key decision makers, the media, and the public–WITNESS catalyzes grassroots activism, political engagement, and lasting change. We bridge the worlds of human rights, media and technology by incorporating cutting-edge innovations into traditional approaches to advocacy. WITNESS’ unique contribution to the human rights community is to serve as global authority on best practices in the use of video for human rights purposes and a frontline resource for training and expertise.