A Primer for the Student of A Primer for the Student of Electronic MediaElectronic Media

Rick ShriverRick Shriver

Associate Professor/CoordinatorAssociate Professor/Coordinator

Electronic MediaElectronic Media

Ohio University - ZanesvilleOhio University - Zanesville

““Never burn your bridges”Never burn your bridges”

• While the media industry is a huge industry, it is a While the media industry is a huge industry, it is a small industry where everyone knows everyone.small industry where everyone knows everyone.

• You will be You will be amazedamazed at how you run into the same at how you run into the same people throughout the industry and over time. people throughout the industry and over time.

• Someone in this class may be in a position to hire Someone in this class may be in a position to hire or help you someday.or help you someday.

• Ohio University’s network is global, and is a Ohio University’s network is global, and is a powerful connection.powerful connection.

““Be a team player”Be a team player”

• Media work is team work.Media work is team work.

• Media activities are complex and require Media activities are complex and require many types of expertise. many types of expertise.

• Hardly anyone is an expert in everything.Hardly anyone is an expert in everything.

• Look at the credits on a film, video game, Look at the credits on a film, video game, TV show, or software to see how many TV show, or software to see how many people it takes.people it takes.

““Seeing on MTV doesn’t make it Seeing on MTV doesn’t make it right”right”

• The media are The media are loadedloaded with examples of poor with examples of poor production values and techniques. Any reality TV production values and techniques. Any reality TV show will demonstrate this dramatically.show will demonstrate this dramatically.

• Your mission in college is to learn to Your mission in college is to learn to communicate effectively, through using the communicate effectively, through using the established conventions.established conventions.

• Only then can you break those “rules” - when you Only then can you break those “rules” - when you understand when and why to break them.understand when and why to break them.

““Do the math”Do the math”

• It is just absolutely It is just absolutely necessarynecessary to learn to learn mathematics.mathematics.

• It permeates every aspect of the media, and It permeates every aspect of the media, and understanding math will make you more understanding math will make you more effective.effective.

• Even music, recording, and the other Even music, recording, and the other “creative” acts are mathematically based.“creative” acts are mathematically based.

““Check your ego at the door”Check your ego at the door”

• Your work will be critiqued.Your work will be critiqued.

• Criticism is a part of creative work.Criticism is a part of creative work.

• Here, faculty will offer you constructive Here, faculty will offer you constructive criticism to improve your work.criticism to improve your work.

• In the industry, clients and supervisors will In the industry, clients and supervisors will offer you harsh criticism to push you to offer you harsh criticism to push you to produce the best work you can.produce the best work you can.

““Walk the walk”Walk the walk”

• Get involved in the industry.Get involved in the industry.

• Get an internship.Get an internship.

• Work on your portfolio.Work on your portfolio.

• Join a professional organization as a student Join a professional organization as a student member.member.

• Get a part time job.Get a part time job.

• Produce.Produce.

““Talk the talk”Talk the talk”

• Learn the language of the part of the media Learn the language of the part of the media you wish to pursue.you wish to pursue.

• Recording has its language, as do motion Recording has its language, as do motion pictures, web development, television, etc.pictures, web development, television, etc.

• Read the trade journals.Read the trade journals.

• Know the equipment and the software.Know the equipment and the software.

““Murphy’s Law”Murphy’s Law”

• ““When something can go wrong – it will.”When something can go wrong – it will.”

• ““It will go wrong at the worst possible It will go wrong at the worst possible time.”time.”

• ……so so overover prepare. prepare.

• Plan, plan, plan.Plan, plan, plan.

• Include redundancy.Include redundancy.

““The only thing you really need The only thing you really need to learn”to learn”

• Learn to learn.Learn to learn.• Technology changes every 18 months, and Technology changes every 18 months, and

that time period is shrinking, and the that time period is shrinking, and the magnitude of change is growing.magnitude of change is growing.

• You will constantly need to learn new You will constantly need to learn new software, new hardware, new terminology, software, new hardware, new terminology, new skills.new skills.

• Be a life-long learner.Be a life-long learner.

““A roomful of monkeys”A roomful of monkeys”

• You are learning to You are learning to communicatecommunicate..

• We are not teaching you what button to We are not teaching you what button to push, what knob to turn, or what to click push, what knob to turn, or what to click and drag. Those are “monkey skills.”and drag. Those are “monkey skills.”

• You are learning to tell a story, through the You are learning to tell a story, through the use of any of a myriad of media use of any of a myriad of media technologies.technologies.