Award-Winning Policy Now Video Series Highlights PPI Research

AARP Studios

The first video in the AARP Public Policy Institute’s (PPI) Policy Now series was released in June of 2021. Produced by PPI’s Director of Policy Outreach, Kim Sedmak, and AARP Studios, it showcases a PPI report, Paying Family Caregivers to Provide Care During the Pandemic – and Beyond, and features PPI’s director Susan Reinhard. In the following year, Sedmak and team produced eight more narrated videos that use graphics, mixed with PPI expert interviews and other footage designed to “lift policy off the page.” These are now produced monthly and distributed via social media.  

In May 2022, the series won two Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts Communicator Awards – an Award of Excellence for a Campaign or Series for On-Line Video and an Award of Distinction for Campaigns & Series – News & Informational for Social. Sedmak’s background in broadcast journalism makes producing this series a natural fit. The videos explain high-level research findings from PPI reports in clear, accessible ways while also promoting the policy team’s thought leadership. The videos together have received more than 22,000 views on AARP.org, nearly 150,000 views on Facebook, and more than 4.37 million views on Twitter. You can browse the titles below and click to view them.