'Topeka in Two' program shares city information in manner that's short and sweet
City also offers 'Tweet-a-longs' focusing on work its employees do
Informing people about Topeka’s city government in a manner that is fun, quick and easily accessible — that is the objective of “Topeka in Two,” a roughly two-minute video program the city makes available on its website and airs weekly on its cable TV channel, City4.
The show shares “the essentials” about the latest happenings in the city, said Sean Blake, a video specialist for the city.
Blake and city media relations director Aly Van Dyke spoke this past week about how the city works to inform and entertain residents by producing “Topeka in Two” and offering weekly “Tweet-a-longs” on Twitter, which provide insight into the work city employees do. Both efforts began this past summer.
Van Dyke, a former Topeka Capital-Journal reporter who started work with the city last April, said city manager Jim Colson challenged staff members to do a better job of telling the city’s stories.
“I didn’t want to just post news releases to our website, because that’s not how people consume information anymore,” she said. “So we’re making more videos to try to tell people what we’re doing.”
The “Topeka in Two” concept emerged after Suzie Gilbert left her job as the city’s communications director last January to take a position with Security Benefit Corp., according to Blake.
Gilbert, a former TV reporter, since February 2013 had hosted “Topeka On Point,” a city-produced newsmagazine in which episodes generally lasted 10 to 11 minutes. “Topeka in Two” is targeted at continuing to share information on video in a fun manner — but without a host, Blake said.
The front page of the city’s website at http://www.topeka.org provides a link to a Web page where viewers can find nine “Topeka in Two” videos, each of which has been posted on YouTube. The programs mostly focus on past city events or share information about upcoming activities.
“I hope people find it informative and enjoyable,” Blake said.
The shortest “Topeka in Two” video lasts 2 minutes, and the longest lasts 2 minutes and 17 seconds.
Blake said of the time limitation, “It’s a good idea because it makes us really boil down whatever we’re trying to communicate into a bite-sized piece.”
In addition to posting the episodes online, the city airs one on City4 two or three minutes before each city council meeting, Blake said.
Events featured on the program have included a crime summit, a water festival and a carnival the city hosted in southeast Topeka’s Hi-Crest community.
Blake said he has been glad to see some viewers of the “Topeka in Two” videos share them on Facebook or Twitter.
Van Dyke likewise uses social media for the Tweet-a-longs, in which she accompanies a city employee on the job for part of one day each week while posting a series of tweets on the city’s Twitter account, @cityoftopeka.
Tweet-a-alongs usually, but not always, happen on Wednesdays.
“The whole point of the Tweet-a-longs is to give people insight into the work done for them every day that they might not see,” Van Dyke said.
Employees she has accompanied have included an animal control officer, a property code official, the city’s fire education officer and workers who patch potholes. Van Dyke also observed and tweeted about the workings of Topeka Municipal Court’s alternative sentencing court.
Van Dyke’s tweets often are accompanied by photos she takes using her cellphone of the employees at work.
After each Tweet-a-long, she posts a blog featuring the tweets at http://cityoftopeka.blogspot.com.
Van Dyke said she has enjoyed shadowing the workers, and has been surprised by the enthusiasm they have shown for the Tweet-a-longs.
“I wasn’t really expecting their buy-in,” she said. “I think they’re all excited that people get to see what they do.”