What pictures can you post online?

Hello Business Etiquette readers and welcome back to Business Etiquette 101! Today we’re going to briefly speak about pictures and which ones can be used from other sources. For starters there are two main ways in which you can use photos that are not your originals—creative commons and fair use. What are those you ask? 

Fair Use: Fair use refers to using copyrighted material that can only be used under certain circumstances. When determining if you can use copyrighted pictures, one needs to figure out why there are using it in the first place. If it is for criticism, commentary, or parody, then you are fine. However if it is not, you are liable to be sued. In addition, if it is for an educational purpose and is using factual evidence, it is often hard to create a case against such an issue. 

Creative Commons: Creative Commons is, “a nonprofit organization that enables the sharing and use of creativity and knowledge through free legal tools,” according to their website. Through their copyright licensure program, it allows the original creator to set regulations on who and how one can use their material. But it allows for a lot of free sharing too! 

For example, here are two pictures from Creative Commons focusing on social media. Both of these images were created by separate individuals, however they’ve given permissions to anyone who wants to use it to do so.

Creative Commons Example #1

Creative Commons Example #2

Lastly, here is an example of Fair Use. Does it look familiar? It should, because it’s my first slide. Technically I wasn’t supposed to use the picture, however due to the fact that I’m using it for educational purposes, the information is factual and it’s published by an author, I am allowed to use it for the purposes of my slidecast.  

Fair Use Example #1

"Less is More" Example by me!

Welcome back readers! I hope you’ve been keeping up, because this post is about another slidecast example—made by me! 

In this example, I’m speaking about the current 2016 presidential race. Though things are just beginning to heat up, it seems like Republican candidates are struggling as Democratic candidates are working together in a more organized fashion.

Provided this slide would be supplemental to various others, I tried to keep it as concise as possible. The only text I have included are one phrase and three examples. In addition, I provided a graphic from The Washington Post that displays which states are typically Democratic or Republican. Lastly, I would continually keep the color scheme throughout the rest of the slidecast for uniformity. This slide could lead into further explanation of those three examples. 

In conclusion, this slide is short, sweet, and to the point—the main function of a slidecast.

Added Note: I obtained this image from the Washington Post website which is to be used with certain digression. Because I used the image to inform my audience, I used the image in an ethical manner, it displays the message the Washington Post is trying to portray. However, I should have attributed the Washington Post because otherwise I am using copyrighted material without their knowledge. Sorry Washington Post!

"Less is More"

Welcome back business readers! It seems like I’m truly learning something new each week in my ENG 312 Writing for Business course. This week I learned to differentiate between a slidecast and a PowerPoint. So I’m assuming you’re curious what the difference is? 

A PowerPoint is a series of slides requiring a presenter to speak on the subject material 

A slidecast is a series of slides that do not require a presenter to speak because the slide content does the presenting for them.

In order to do this there are a couple key aspects that need to be taken into account though. Those factors include: photo emphasis, specific textual evidence, and slide coordination.

When presenting a slidecast a presenter will not speak at all. This means the only thing an audience has to go off is the information on the slide. However most slidecast include several slides to relay a point. This means there will be a series of slides with specific information that does not mislead the audience or overlaod them with information. 

Secondly, the best slidecasts include pictures that are pertinent to the subject material. Providing visual elements allows the audience to take a break from comprehending all the texts presented. Visuals are typically perceived in an easier manner than that of texts. 

Lastly, a slidecast needs slide coordination. Just like any other presentation, there needs to be some uniformity among the slides. The pieces of the puzzle must fit. There has to be organization, the color tones must match up, the fonts—sans serif or serif—must work. 

I’ve provide an example through this link: http://www.slidesnack.com/templates-examples/online-presentation-examples#4

Despite it not having pictures, you’ll be able to see just how slidecast work. Each slide displays an orange, burgundy, and white color scheme. The text is in all white, and the titles are in orange. Each title is numbered, and the text isn’t too block-like. Although, I would prefer it be a little less textually based. In addition, this slidecast would benefit from a couple of pictures. However, it’s a simple presentation that relays the point, and the emphasis of our Nest Realty collaboration project, less is more.