Source-material review
Identify the recordings, permitted uses and moments to consider. Keep enough context to avoid changing what the speaker actually said.
READING THIS ENTRYResearching public records
How to interpret this record
Social Video Clipping & Short-Form Distribution
A useful public record has an identity, a scope and a source. Research becomes more reliable when those elements travel with the number or statement being discussed.
Write down the claim first
Identify exactly what you want to know: who holds an office, whether someone appears on a ballot, what a committee reported spending, or how a member voted on a question. Each claim calls for a different source. A biography, a campaign website and a financial report can all be useful without answering the same question.
Keep identity, scope and date together
Record the entity identifier, jurisdiction, election or reporting period and source publication. These details prevent a correct fact from being attached to the wrong person, place or time. A name-only match can be misleading, especially when campaigns or institutions have changed names or when a person has sought several offices.
Read the full researching public records guide →Short-form video · Commercial service
Social video clipping
Make your existing footage easier to discover.
Long interviews, speeches and event recordings can become concise social clips. Start with footage you have permission to use, then agree the editing brief, publishing scope and reporting method.
Request a scoped quote anthony@election.orgCustom quote. Availability and deliverables confirmed before work begins.
What we scope togetherA defined clipping and distribution brief built around your source footage.
The working brief
What your quote should cover.
Confirm what is included, what is not and who approves it.
Clip formats
Agree duration, aspect ratios, captions, thumbnails and the number of versions. Editing and revisions must be explicitly included in the quote.
Publishing scope
Confirm channels, publishing accounts, approvals and campaign dates. Do not assume every platform or account is included.
View reporting
Define a counted view, the reporting source and whether repeat views are included. Views are not the same as unique audience reach.
From inquiry to scope
A clear path forward.
Send the footage brief
Share source links, permissions and the formats you need, rather than uploading large files to an inquiry.
Agree the edit
Confirm the deliverables, contextual accuracy, review rounds, distribution and view definition.
Review and publish
Approve the included work before publication and compare reporting against the agreed measurement method.
Before you commit
Your questions, answered.
Do clipping views mean unique people?
Not necessarily. A platform may count repeat views or use a short viewing threshold. The quote should name the source and counting method instead of treating a view target as unique reach.
Is editing included in every distribution quote?
Do not assume it is. Specify source length, clip count, captions, formats and revision rounds so the written scope distinguishes editing from distribution.
Can you clip footage I do not own?
Only after the relevant permissions and intended use are confirmed. A public URL alone does not establish permission to reuse, edit or distribute someone else's footage.
Your next step
Let’s scope the right work.
Tell Anthony what you need, your timeline and what is ready. Pricing and availability are confirmed in a written quote.
Email Anthony anthony@election.orgKeep credentials, contact lists and sensitive evidence out of your initial email.
Related work
Explore your next step.
The public record is not for sale.
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Public-record corrections are always free →