Start Here is an explainer video series produced by a team of journalists to help global audiences understand international news.
The show is digital-first, tailoring its episodes to different social media platforms – from lean-back content on Youtube, to short-form vertical video – and even bite-sized clips shared on Al Jazeera’s Whatsapp broadcast channel. Start Here garnered more than 36 million views last year alone, and continues to innovate in the digital space.
Among the links submitted are examples of:
1) Start Here’s main studio episodes (Elon Musk & Myanmar) explaining more evergreen current affairs topics and filmed against a green colourama to showcase simple, effective and stylish graphics that aid understanding.
2) Start Here’s ‘On the Road’ episodes that take the explainer format on location – seamlessly weaving in powerful interviews and stunning cinematography with the graphics and animation the show is known for. In the “What is the point of International Law?” episode – the team attempted to explain a nebulous, complicated and controversial topic. The viewer is taken on a journey from London, to The Hague – where the show’s host explains the basics of how international law is relevant to the average person’s life, by referring to things around her – like a coffee cup, or the Eurostar – to explain global treaties governing things like trade and transport. It also addresses questions of relevance in a climate where international law is seen as weak, and futile. This episode also strove to push creative boundaries – particularly with the use of graphics. When the host visits the International Criminal Court, graphics are displayed on the building itself to lay out which crimes the court adjudicates for.
In the “Mexico Migrant Crackdown” episode – the host walks among a crowd of newly-arrived migrants, describing how the US asylum application works – with a floating animation beside her. Graphics are also used to visualise the statistics behind how Mexico has played a key role in being the US’s immigration enforcer.
3) Start Here’s vertical videos are also a key part of the series – taking research, interviews and graphics made for the show’s main episodes – but adapting them for videos posted to YouTube Shorts Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, BlueSky and Whatsapp. This particular vertical video (Afghan Women) submission was a bespoke production to highlight the continuing plight of Afghan women on International Women’s Day – involving original interviews. Of note is the animation used at the start of the video to bring to life a drawing by a young Afghan schoolgirl – of a cage with birds flying out.
