This section describes key things to think about when organising an event that will be recorded for reuse or broadcast.

• Make sure everyone involved knows what is happening and what they need to do.
• Understand what arrangements are needed when using sign language interpreters and how these may be different from your usual practice when recording events.

Before the event

• Check with the deaf person if they have any preferred sign language interpreter(s).
• Inform the sign language interpreter(s) in advance if an event will be recorded. Permission should be sought from the interpreters if they are going to be visible or audible in the recording.
• Provide as much preparation material as possible: for example, notes, a list of interview questions, a list of names of people likely to speak, background papers, or statistics that will be discussed.
• Ensure that lighting is adjusted so that the sign language interpreter(s) will be clearly visible and their face is not in shadow.
• Arrange for the sign language interpreter(s) to have a lapel microphone if they are interpreting from New Zealand Sign Language into English.
• Discuss where the sign language interpreter(s) and/or the deaf person will be seated.
• There are specific requirements in terms of framing the video, camera angles, and so on. Brief camera operators on these requirements (see below).
• Important: if you are producing a product for non-live public broadcast (for example, a DVD) and want to make the information accessible to deaf people (by using  New Zealand Sign Language interpretation), you should consider using a deaf person as well as or in place of a sign language interpreter. Native users of sign language (that is, deaf people) will usually be more effective in communicating information to other native users than a hearing person (such as an interpreter).

During the event

• To ensure the broadcast is accessible to a deaf audience, the person using New Zealand Sign Language (that is a deaf person or the sign language interpreter) must be visible during the entire time they are signing. This requires a continuous wide frame (rather than a close up of the face, for example). The frame should also include the person using New Zealand Sign Language from the top of their head to about waist height. New Zealand Sign Language is a visual language and uses spatial gestures to convey meaning, which may include more than hand movements.
• During live broadcasts, allow for the time lag between the speaker and the sign language interpreter. In the case of a radio broadcast, you may need to explain to the audience why there is a delay (or silence).
• For radio broadcasts where a deaf person is being interviewed, you may wish to explain that the voice being heard is that of the sign language interpreter and not the deaf person.

After the event

• You may want to provide a transcript of radio programmes which have had the involvement of deaf people. 
• During editing, you may need advice from someone who understands New Zealand Sign Language. This will ensure, for example, that a New Zealand Sign Language user is not cut off mid-way during a sentence.
• For a pre-recorded radio programme, it may be appropriate to consider re-recording an interpretation to replace the original recording. Live sign language interpreting may have interruptions, hesitations or mistakes (just as any live speech). Where this would disrupt the natural flow for the listener, a re-recording may be useful.
• It may also be the case that a preferred sign language interpreter was not available for a radio recording but can be available for later editing. Ask the deaf person and/or the sign language interpreter involved in the original recording for advice.