Editor Guide: Adding a Video to a Page

YouTube videos can be added to a SiteMasonry CMS page in three steps. All GMU videos with dialog must be closed captioned. 
 

Collect the YouTube video URL

Before adding the video to the media library, copy its URL from YouTube.

• Go to the video's YouTube page.
   
• Click the 'Share' icon located to the right of the video's title to open the 'Share' dialog box.
   
•  On the 'Share' dialog box, click the 'Copy' icon next to the video URL. The URL should now be copied to the clipboard.
   

Add the Video to the Media Library

• Log in to a SiteMasonry CMS site.
   
• Select 'Content' > 'Add Media' > 'Video'  from the Admin tool bar menu to open the 'Add Video' screen.
   
• Fill out the fields on the the 'Add Video' Screen:
   
  • 'Name' - Enter a descriptive name for the video.  Example: "Video - Spring 2026 Commencement Highlights."
     
  • 'Video URL' - Paste in the video's 'Share' URL.
     
  • 'Save to my Media Library' - Check the checkbox.
     
  • 'Transcript' - This field is only used indicate when a video doesn't have dialog or describable sound. If a video does not have dialog or significant, describable sound, enter 'This video contains no dialogue or describable sound.' into the 'Transcript' field.
     
  • Click the 'Save' button.

The video is now available in the media library and ready to add to a page.

Embed the Video on a Page

• Navigate to a page; click on the page's 'Customize Page' tab. 
   
  • Open an existing Basic Text Block component, or add a new Basic Text Block to the page.
     
  • Once the 'Configure Block' dialog box is open, place the cursor where the video should appear.
     
  • Click the 'Embed Media' icon in the toolbar to open the 'Add or select media' dialog box.
     
  • Use the 'Add or select media' dialog box to select a video from the Media Library:
     
    • Click the 'Video' tab to display video library items.
       
    • Select a video to by checking the video's corresponding checkbox. 
       
    • Click the 'Insert Selected' button to embed the video and close the 'Add or select media' dialog box

The embedded video will appear as a small Youtube play button within the Basic Text Block's configuration dialog box. Once the 'Update'  or 'Add Block' button is clicked on the 'Configure Block' dialog box, the video will display on the page.

• Once returned to the 'Configure Block' dialog box, click the 'Update' button to save the text block, or the 'Add Block' button if a new Basic Text Block is being added to the page.
   
• Click the page's 'Save Layout' tab to save the update.

Verify Display

• Click the page's 'View' tab.
   
• Play the video to verify it loads and functions as expected.