Today's camcorders and related devices make it easier than ever to manipulate sound and images to emulate the glitz and glitter of the movies and network TV. Knowledgeable communicators, however, know it takes more than gadgets to put together effective media presentations and they refrain from tackling the job themselves, preferring to employ the services of specialists and professionals. The choice often comes down to using in-house facilities or hiring an outside firm.

Many organizations have in-house media production facilities. They're capable of producing shows with varying degrees of quality and sophistication. The temptation is to keep the work inside rather than contract with a production house. There are pros and cons, depending on your needs. Here are some factors which should be considered when making the decision to produce internally or to outsource the project.

Many in-house departments are perfectly capable of handling productions intended for internal use. Audiences who are more sensitive to the corporate image, such as customers and investors, may require a presentation with more production value than an in-house service can provide. Many projects require specialized capabilities an in-house department may not have. As examples, a training video may require special lenses that can capture a microscope image; a complex animated sequence may be needed to explain a chemical reaction; the production of a CD-ROM requires specialized training, software and equipment.

It's often difficult to exercise control over a project being produced in-house due to departmental priorities and internal politics.

Security of sensitive information is generally easier to control with an in-house group. In-house writers and producers know the company, the products and the audience. Yet, an outside writer's unfamiliarity with the topic may be a stronger asset; his or her fresh pair of eyes may help to produce a more effective end product. This is especially important when dealing with the complexities of CD-ROM and its various levels of detail.

It's logical to assume that it would be less expensive to use an in-house production facility because no real money leaves the organization. However, outside purchases and hidden expenses may run the actual bill beyond what the same production would cost from a supplier. In addition, internal production costs may be higher than outsourcing which impacts your operating budget if your organization cross bills for internal services.

When working with in-house facilities, you may find yourself burdened with the responsibility of overseeing the project and maintaining schedule and budget control. Many clients find that a coalition between their in-house capabilities and the expertise and quality level of an outside production firm gives them the best of both resources.