In the new video series “Feichtinger kompakt”, IFK Head Brigadier Walter Feichtinger presents analyses, background information and contexts on current security policy issues.
With the launch of the innovative video blog “Feichtinger kompakt”, the Institute for Peacekeeping and Conflict Management (IFK) of the National Defense Academy (LVAk) has been breaking new ground in communication and public relations since this spring. In these short videos, which are published once or twice a month, the head of the institute, Brigadier General Walter Feichtinger, analyzes current security policy issues and summarizes them in a generally understandable way. At a time when crises, war and terror are constantly on the agenda in the media, the IFK feels obliged to take up the challenge of explaining these complex topics to a wider public in a scientifically sound way. This is all the more important as public relations work is one of the three core tasks of the Institute – alongside policy advice and teaching.
The IFK’s broad expertise, which Brigadier Feichtinger can draw on every time he prepares for the video recordings, is primarily generated by systematically combining the regional expertise, understanding of security policy and special knowledge of international crisis and conflict management of the Institute’s researchers. In 2017, the IFK thus confidently presents itself as a national think tank that does not want to “sit on its knowledge”. With this in mind, the Institute has been considering for some time how this expertise could be presented to non-experts in a modern form, as concisely as possible and without difficult-to-understand technical terms. Nevertheless, the requirement was formulated to appear scientifically sound and serious – without appearing “preachy” at the same time. After a planning process that incorporated many different ideas, it was agreed that short videos averaging two to three minutes in length should be produced and published in blog format. After the Ministry’s Communications Department (Komm) was quickly won over to the video blog idea, the project was given a professional “boost” when the Army Image and Film Unit (HBF) was brought on board for the filming and post-production. With the know-how of the HBF experts and the equipment available, the originally small, ambitious idea became a showcase and priority project of the Komm. Additional support is also regularly provided by the Institute of Military Geodesy (IMG), not only by making regional map material available, but also by tailoring it to the needs of the graphic presentation in the video. In this context, the recurring support and advice provided by the media office at the LVAk should not go unmentioned. The IFK Analysis Center was chosen as the filming location, which was massively upgraded in terms of technology and equipment. Brigadier Feichtinger, a media-famous testimonial and proven expert in security policy, will initially appear alone in front of the camera, although in future it is also planned that other IFK researchers will occasionally join him to explain special topics in a kind of double conference. Several IFK researchers and interns are always involved in the preparation of a video shoot for the “Feichtinger kompakt” blog. The Institute Director can rely on the expertise and support of his entire team. The video blog is currently published on the Facebook pages of the Austrian Armed Forces and the IFK as well as on the YouTube channel of the Austrian Armed Forces and will also be published on other external platforms in the foreseeable future. There are also plans to make the informative short videos available to Austrian educational institutions and other think tanks in the future.
