Video content for Social Research & Policy

Paul Wyatt partners with social research agencies to transform complex public dialogues into powerful communication pieces. His work goes beyond simply documenting a process; it is an immersive, collaborative approach dedicated to giving a voice to those who are often unheard. He embeds himself in these projects—from in-person workshops to virtual dialogues on Zoom—to build trust and earn the permission of participants to share their authentic stories. This commitment to genuine human connection is what enables him to produce a suite of communication tools that are both impactful and enduring.

 

​"Paul has done an outstanding job, creating films which powerfully reflect the diverse thoughts, feelings and opinions of participants. The films are proving invaluable in demonstrating that people have engaged meaningfully and effectively with the subject matter and that stakeholders value the views expressed, which will inform public policy on matters of huge concern to society."

Henrietta Hopkins, Director, Hopkins Van Mil

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Outputs and Deliverables

Paul Wyatt’s work results in a comprehensive suite of communication tools designed for maximum impact. These tools are led by a main video deliverable, which can range from short films to long-form documentaries. Additional outputs often include in-depth interview content for valuable insights, social media clips to broaden reach, and raw footage for future analysis. This multi-faceted approach ensures that the project’s powerful messages and authentic participant voices are effectively shared with a variety of audiences, from the general public to policymakers and researchers.

Co-creating Dialogue Materials

Paul is also commissioned to create dialogue stimulus material. This involves working closely with dialogue partners to produce content, such as films, that are played within the dialogue sessions themselves. This material is part of a range of resources, including expert discussions and in-session deliberation, that help participants in their understanding of the complex subject matter being discussed and the full range of perspectives involved.

Key Projects and Tangible Results

Paul's films have a tangible, lasting influence, proving that public voices can shape policy and societal debate.

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• The Citizens’ Biometrics Council: His film from this project has been used at the UK’s AI Safety Summit to demonstrate the critical importance of public voices in discussions on ethical technology.

• The RSA’s Citizens Economic Council: For this project, Paul followed citizens on a transformative journey, debating and questioning economists on critical social and economic issues. Matthew Taylor, the then Chief Executive of the RSA, said of the resulting films, "Paul Wyatt’s excellent Citizens Economy film explores making trade-offs on big issues."

• The RSA Forum for Ethical AI: In partnership with Deepmind, Paul documented a citizens’ jury to explore the ethical issues of using AI in automated decision-making. His work captured the participants' views on how companies and institutions should ensure future technologies are citizen-focused.

• Public Dialogue on Early Human Embryo Research: Commissioned by HDBI, with funding from Wellcome and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Sciencewise, the films Paul created for this dialogue have been used by the commissioners and played by researchers in the UK and internationally to show that the public can meaningfully engage with even the most complex topics.

• Genomics England: For this complex and emotionally challenging dialogue on the implications of whole genome sequencing (WGS) for newborn screening, Paul created films that powerfully reflected the diverse thoughts and opinions of participants. The films presented a range of views on the issues and responses to the engagement process itself.

• Putting Good Into Practice: Paul's work on this project for the National Data Guardian created a suite of films that demonstrated meaningful public engagement, which went on to inform policy advice on the use of health and care data.

• WWF’s "Land of Plenty": His film captured the vivid story of land use from participants’ perspectives, addressing the triple challenge of meeting food needs, tackling climate change, and reversing the loss of nature.

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