You know how TV shows include the 1-minute recap of the important stuff from previous episodes?
This helps viewers who forgot what happened the week before … if they even tuned in at all.
We, on the other hand, are binge-watching our organization’s issues and engagements. As PAOs and spokesfolks, we don’t need the recap because we live it every day.
Sometimes, we need a healthy reminder that our audience needs a “previously, on” recap.
Our decision-makers are not binge-watching Our Organization. They shouldn’t have to, because they’re busy making other decisions while trusting us make problems disappear. They’re concerned with the whole network, not just our time slot. Maybe it’s been weeks since they saw the last episode of Our Organization, and in the meantime, they’ve been watching multiple seasons of Someone Else’s Organization. They’ve forgotten the major plot points and character development, even though we know it all inside and out.
The public is not binge-watching our mission. They can’t, and it’s not fair of us to expect them to. In fact, they’re probably on a completely different channel. They’ve never seen Our Organization before, and aren’t likely to DVR their way back to the premiere. If we want them to understand today’s episode, it’s our responsibility to catch them up.
When a non-binge-watcher is drawn back in, things can get confusing. “When did Michael and Jan break up?” “How did everyone get off the island?” “When did a platypus family move to the Land of Make Believe?”
Cue, your “Previously, on…” segment. Include the essential highlights to build context and common understanding within your audience. Nowhere near a full-blown history lesson, but enough to help the audience:
- … frame the day’s challenges without getting bogged down by challenges that’ve already been resolved.
- … feel comfortable with the existing situation.
- … gain perspective on how much has changed since the last time they tuned in.
- … ask the right questions about what they may have missed.
Real pros will throw in a teaser for next week’s episode, too.
(Photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Getsie, DVIDS)
