Facebook’s live broadcasting is getting a lot of attention and can be a valuable way to connect to audiences, expand your reach, and share experiences with others. Facebook is currently working to make things more accessible so that anyone can tune in. At the USFWS’s National Conservation Training Center they have been doing live with automated captions. They still need editing afterward, but details for setting it up can be found below. The following instructions were graciously shared from Melissa Gonzalez at the National Conservation Training Center.

First, you will need to monitor your live video using Facebook Live Producer.

Here’s one way to get there

1. Start your live video using a mobile phone or computer.
2. After going live, use a computer browser to visit your Facebook page.
3. Once on your page, go to “Publishing Tools”. You can find this option in different places, depending on the Facebook View you’re on (“Classic View” or “New Facebook”).
4. Go to “Published Posts” and click on your live video.
5. A new window with a preview of your post will open. Click on the ellipsis on the top right, select “Edit Post”. This will take you to open your live video, on a tool called “Facebook Live Producer“.

   

Next, enable the auto-generated captioning feature

Using the Facebook Live Producer tool

1. Look towards the middle of the screen to find a horizontal menu with a couple of options: Stream Setup, Stream Health, Video Clipping, Polls, Questions, Help.
2. Click on “Stream Setup”.
3. Scroll down to “Viewing”, check the “Auto-Generated Captions” box.

   Ensure the auto-generated captions are turned on in the bottom left corner of your screen.

4. To confirm that your captions have now been enabled, scroll up and hover over that video preview and a couple of options will show up.
5. Look for the gear or settings icon. Click on the gear or settings icon.
6. Choose “Captions [auto-generated]” ON. Make sure the slider is blue and says ON.
7. Your captions will now show on the bottom left side of the live video preview

After you finish your broadcast, it’s important you go back through and double-check those captions. Seeing how the captions auto-populate can be informative and a good reminder to speak clearly.  But going back through and fixing these is an important habit to get into.

Please let me know if you have other tips for making Live more accessible!