Page 364 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

Chapter 12 Using Media in Your Speech 331

Audio

Audio media such as a cassette tape, CD or MP3 player reproduce sounds you audio media
can incorporate in your speech. One of the laptop computers we use in our own
Aural channels you
classes includes Apple iTunes. This software allows us to add music as well as can use to augment
excerpts from speeches for our students to hear. We often talk about how Martin your speech, such as a
Luther King Jr. used repetition in his speeches to infl uence an audience. With recording of a famous
the click of a mouse, iTunes allows students to actually listen to King’s use of the speaker.
technique.
The decision to use audio media in a speech rests on two factors. As is always
the case, you must fi rst conclude that it will make your speech better. We are for-
tunate enough to have at our fi ngertips both the software and the technology to
use audio to improve our lectures. You may not. The second factor that goes into
the decision to use audio is whether you can use it unobtrusively. Otherwise, it
has as much chance to hurt as to help you.

Video

Another presentational medium is video, which can be imported from a tape,
DVD, mini-DV, or a Web site such as YouTube. Video is increasingly being used
to augment speeches and presentations at corporate gatherings, at political con-
ventions, in courtrooms, and in classrooms. Using video effectively in a speech
requires both technological support and technological savvy. Video is not an
option unless the context in which you are speaking is designed and equipped
to easily show it. Further, unless you are knowledgeable in the use of the equip-
ment or have support personnel who will supply you with video as needed, you
should not even consider it.
All too frequently beginning speakers fail to consider the details of using
video in a speech. Simply because they have access to a means of showing video
(such as a playback device and monitor), beginning speakers decide to use it
without fi rst thinking about these issues:
• Cueing it ahead of time, including monitoring the sound level
• Lighting
• The distance between the means of showing it and its proximity to the
audience
• The time it takes to introduce, show, and integrate the video with the re-
mainder of the speech

If you are using a computer in your presentation and have access to the World
Wide Web, this can often be a convenient way to introduce video. Power-
Point allows you to include hyperlinks in your presentation, that will let you
access a video clip. For example, we heard a speech recently comparing
Macs with PCs that incorporated a familiar ad from the Apple Web site. Also,
video fi les may be loaded directly on your computer using programs such
as QuickTime. However, always pre-test your presentation with the actual
equipment you will be using in the same room. For example, we saw a pair of
highly-regarded communication scholars embarrassed when the video clips
that were to be featured in their presentation did not work on the computer