Tell A Story For Everyone
As a Site Content Editor (SCE), you can use media to create engaging, visual and auditory experiences. However, true impact goes beyond what users see—it requires thoughtful effort to ensure accessibility for all. Learn how to manage media effectively while following essential requirements and best practices for an inclusive website experience.
Need help?
Please reach out to WordPressHelp@kzoo.edu for support or arrange a one-on-one training.
Page Content:
- Tell a Story For Everyone
- Media on WordPress
- Media Rules and Procedures
- Maintenance
- Finding Free Images
Media on WordPress
Media Definition and Adding Media
On WordPress at K, Media consists of the images and files that you upload and use on your website. Note that SCEs cannot directly upload video files, instead they must embed a video onto a page or post.
There are two methods to adding media to your website:
- Media can be added directly into your Media Library
- Media can also be uploaded and inserted into the content when writing a Post or writing a Page.
Get to Know Your Media Interface
- Media Add New Screen – Learn how to upload images and files for use in your posts and pages.
- Your Media Library – Explore views and features within your Media Library.
- Grid view – Filter options, delete media, and access individual media details.
- List view – Understand the media table columns, filter options, and how to use selection, actions, and apply.
- Edit media – WordPress offers limited image editing for SCEs. Here’s an overview of the media editing page.
Media Rules and Procedures
Before we think to upload a document we must try to present the information through the creation of a WordPress page. While we understand that it may be difficult to try and present information in a new and accessible way, know that the Enterprise Systems team is here to help you present your information in the most accessible way. If you must upload to your media library, make it accessible first.
Word Docs
Requirements
- When to upload a word document: Word documents should be used when SCEs have a template that users will download and edit in Word.
- Tools to Use: Word documents will need to pass the Microsoft Word Accessibility Checker which checks for alt text, image order, and more.
- Don’t forget: Word documents must be given an appropriate title. SCEs can do so in Microsoft Word by selecting File > the Info tab > and under Properties, type in your Title under the Title field.
What to Avoid
Word documents should not be used to solely display your content on your website.
Instead, let’s build that content in WordPress by making a page or a post. By working with WordPress to display this content, we are limiting obstacles for users that do not have access to Microsoft Word, users that use assistive technology, and users that aren’t on a traditional device like a laptop or desktop.
PDFs
PDF Complexity and Process for Upload
PDFs are complex and require review from a variety of sources to ensure we are following compliance for accessibility. Due to this complexity there is a process where the SCE submits an accessible PDF to Enterprise Systems (WordPressHelp@kzoo.edu) for accessibility review. If it passes the accessibility check then Enterprise Systems will upload the document to your Media Library on WordPress and you can link to the document by using the URL provided in your Media Library.
The How-To’s
- PDF Set-Up: PDFs can be very complicated in terms of making them accessible and if the content creator wants to remediate their PDF themselves they need to have an Adobe Acrobat Pro license. A simpler way to create as close to an accessible document as possible is to first create the document in Word and ensure that it passes the Microsoft Word Accessibility Checker.
- Document Title: After ensuring the document passes the Microsoft Word Accessibility checker, an appropriate title needs to be added to the metadata. SCEs can do so in Microsoft Word by selecting File > the Info tab > and under Properties, type in your Title under the Title field.
- Submit your PDF to WordPressHelp@kzoo.edu for a formal accessibility review and await a response. Please note that it will take some time for the PDF to be reviewed and that you may be asked to adjust the Word document and resave it as a PDF.
- Look in your Media Library: Once the document passes the accessibility check, Enterprise Systems will upload the document to your Media Library on you WordPress website.
- Link to your PDF: To allow users to get to your PDF, use the custom URL provided in your Media Library.
Maintenance
- Check out the maintenance checklist
Finding Free Images
- Copyright at K Images page
- Unsplash.com
- Kalamazoo College Archives
- Reach out to the Kalamazoo College Communications and Marketing Team