Improve Media Content

Overview

Just because media is present, doesn't mean it's accessible. In Panorama, issues with media aren't about severity level, they're often about whether proper elements are present or not, such as descriptions, captions, and transcripts. Additionally, accessibility issues with media aren't always perceivable by people who don't have significant vision or hearing impairments, so they're very possible to miss. 

Common Issues, by Media Type

Severe issues are what actually block screen readers, so work through your severe issues before the minor ones to benefit your students sooner and to make the improvement process move faster.

Issues Specific to Media

Watch out for four pitfalls that can cause the majority of issues media.

1. When an image has alt text, but the content in the field is just the filename, such as "chart_final_v2.png," which tells a screen-reader user nothing. Address this by replacing it with a real description.
   
   
2. When an image has auto-captions, but they were never reviewed, resulting in speech-recognition errors and incorrect names, jargon, and technical terms. Address this by reviewing the special content of your course.
   
   
3. When an image has alt text over 120 characters long, resulting in an overly long description that a screen reader reads in full before moving on. Keep alt text concise and move long details to body copy instead.
   
   
4. When a video shows info that has visual-only meaning, such as an instructor pointing silently at a diagram, or on-screen text with no narration, which conveys nothing to someone who can't see it. Captions alone won't do, so address this by including an audio overdub.

Embedded Video

Workflow for Images

Images require a short written description so someone who can't see the image can hear its significance read aloud.

1. Open the Accessibility Report
   Click the accessibility status icon beside the file or beside the page that contains the image.
2. Enter Alt Text
   Note: Panorama flags each image issue that is missing alt text, filename-as-alt-text, placeholder wording, or text over 120 characters.
3. Accept Suggestions
   Accept, edit, or replace Panorama's AI-suggested alt text, or mark the image as decorative if it carries no content.
4. Finalize
   Once you've worked through the list, click Add Fix, then Apply Staged Changes.

Workflow for Video

Panorama detects when a video is present and prompts you to confirm captioning. Because it won't grade the quality of the caption, you must complete these manual steps.

1. Open the video file outside of Panorama
   Open the video in your video editing program or captioning platform.
2. Check that captions exist and are synced
   Read the captions against the audio; correct any auto-generated errors, especially names and technical terms.
3. Add supportive components
   If the video conveys meaning visually with no spoken equivalent, add a transcript or audio description.
4. Confirm
   After you've confirmed the captions are accurate, return to Panorama and mark the issue as fixed.

Best Practices

• Write alt text for what the image communicates, not what it literally shows.
  
  
• Keep alt text descriptions of images under 120 characters for ease of use by people using screen readers.
  
  
• Use descriptive file names for images as a backup in case alt text isn't available. For example, a name like "enrollment-chart.png" still gives some context, unlike "IMG_4821.jpg."
  
  
• Budget a few minutes per video for review. Never publish auto-generated captions without reading them against the audio first.
  
  
• When recording video and narrating over slides or a demo, say out loud what you're pointing at — it removes the need for separate audio description later.