The Components of the Multi-Media Employment Market - Essay Example

www.academia-research.com Sumanta Sanyal A Report On The Components of the Multi-Media Employment Market Table of Contents 1) Introduction 2) What is Multi-Media/ New Media? 3) The Multi-Media Labour Market – Characteristics 4) Typical Work done in Selected Jobs 5) Job Requirements for Selected Jobs 6) Employment Models 7) Current Trends 8) Conclusion 9) References I. Introduction “Multi-Media/New Media may be said to be the ability to use computer skills to brings together text, graphic art, sound, animation and video to educate, inform and entertain Many people believe that multi-media will fundamentally change the way people learn, communicate and entertain themselves. This can be done because people can now choose and customise how and what information they receive and when it is received. Unlike linear media like film and video multi-media users can interact and direct the sequence, speed and other aspects of the presentation” (Professional Occupations in Multi-Media, California Occupational Guide Number 2006, Archived August 2003). For this especially skilled professionals have specific knowledge and skills. This report explores what actually multi-media is in the context of being an avenue of employment for millions on a global scale. It reports the characteristics of the employment market in this fast-growing sector of the global economy. It states the types of jobs that are universally accepted as being a part of the multi-media ambit and the professional and personal skills and requirements that are necessary to compete successfully. It also explores the kinds of work that have to be successfully undertaken by incumbents in the various job profiles within multi-media. b. What is Multi-Media/ New Media? Multi-Media/New Media: New Media or even Multi-Media is a term used in relation to the “Old Media” such a print publications like newspapers and magazines that are static representations of graphics and text. In contrast multi-media is a generic term used for the many different forms of electronic communications made possible by the use of computer technology. It includes: Web sites Streaming Video and Audio Chat Rooms E-mail Online Communities Web Advertising DVDs and CD-ROMs Technologies Virtual Reality Environments Internet Telephony and other integrative technology making data transmission possible through the telephone Digital Cameras Mobile Computing The list is not exhaustive but it is representative of what is most evident in new media (Webopedia Online, New Media Section, 2005). To end, multi-media is a convergence of two or more forms of media and multi-media products, after production, that can be distributed and often interacted with not only through the computer but through any electronic medium such as television, kiosks, the Internet and the World Wide Web (Professional Occupations in Multi-Media, California Occupational Guide Number 2006, Archived August 2003) III. The Multi-Media Labour Market - Characteristics The “Multi-Media Industry” is a general term used to define all those enterprises and people who are involved in creating, promoting and distributing multi-media products. Nevertheless, it must be understood that multi-media is not a discrete industry like others but can prevail wherever it is applied (Professional Occupations in Multi-Media, California Occupational Guide Number 2006, Archived August 2003). According to a Ziff-Davis Press publication by Vivid Studios, 1995, there are 32 roles or occupations that can be listed under multi-media careers as below: Executive Producer Scriptwriter Video Producer Producer Editor/Moderator Videographer Lawyer Content Expert Performer/Actor Financial Consultant Visual Designer Lighting and Props Agent 2D Animator Technical Lead Recruiter 3D Animator Programmer Marketing Roles Sound Producer Test Manager Creative Director Voice Artist/Vocalist Tester Art Director Sales Roles Interface Designer Effects Specialist Customer Support Roles Game Designer Sound Engineer/Editor Composer/Musician Some other recent jobs that have emerged with the increase in opportunities and scope for multi-media applications are Edutainers/Educationists, Web Designers, Web Developers, Web Promotion Specialists, Telemarketers, etc. It must be noted that, with the exception of Web Designers, the other job types may be partially required for multi-media applications as they are conventionally defined while the majority of applications may be in the e-commerce applications. Thus, a telemarketer may use advertisement through the Internet and other communications medium but may sell products not related to multi-media, a part of his or her job that may be associated with e-commerce. Since technology conducive to multi-media is constantly diversifying and evolving the roles and occupations also continue to increase (Professional Occupations in Multi-Media, California Occupational Guide Number 2006, Archived August 2003). One of the salient features in multi-media careers that make it somewhat different from other careers is that many of the professionals involved are freelancers. Such professionals work in companies on a contractual basis. Each new project brings together a new set of professionals who make up a virtual team for the duration of the project and move on thereafter. Thus, such professionals must possess both entrepreneurial as with as professional multi-media skills. They must learn to sell themselves continuously throughout their career spans. They must also be accommodating enough to work with anyone they are teamed up with for each new project. This is a singular characteristic of the multi-media job market (Professional Occupations in Multi-Media, California Occupational Guide Number 2006, Archived August 2003). It is also common that persons with basic computer and graphic skills often approach companies and ask to be employed without pay so that they can gain on-the-job experience. Certain companies often encourage this and these initiates, if they are found efficient enough, are often taken in after six or more months of such without pay work or else they move on where they can find suitable employment on the basis of the experience they have gathered (Professional Occupations in Multi-Media, California Occupational Guide Number 2006, Archived August 2003). Another salient feature of the multi-media employment market is that the incumbent must always be on the alert to induct any new technology that is developed and in use as soon as it is so. This is quite often as technology, such as both soft- and hardware for computers, is constantly being developed and the old technology being discarded. This entails that multi-media professionals must constantly be on their toes or else they simply become superannuated in the sense of the skills they possess. The last trend in this labour market is that, at least in the jobs that are less managerial like animators, web designers, programmers and web developers there is an increasingly marked tendency to operate off-site. This is being called telecommuting. The employee works from home, which may be far away from the office of the employer – even in another country, especially countries like India, Pakistan, etc. where labour is cheaper, without once visiting the offices of his or her employer. In a few instances the employee visits the office of the employer to understand the nature of work and returns home, which must be near, and, after finishing the work, submits it via electronic means such as through the Internet. For the multi-media industry in the developed countries like those of Europe and the US quite a proportion of multi-media jobs are being outsourced to workers in developing countries like those of Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. This provides significant cost advantages to employers without compromising on quality. There are some common skills and requirements for all multi-media that employers look for ( Adapted from: Professional Occupations in Multi-Media, California Occupational Guide Number 2006, Archived August 2003). Job Skills (Employers’ Outlook): Ability to work as part of a team Ability to clearly communicate ideas Ability to quickly and accurately understand the goals and objectives of the project Ability to work in an organized manner Ability to use the technology necessary to successfully accomplish the project Other skills and Characteristics (Employees’ Outlook): Willingness and ability to constantly seek employment in new projects Willingness and ability to join new projects at short notice Willingness and ability to constantly update skills by inducting new tools and techniques Passion for the work A good sense of humour Patience Be an expert in one or a few areas but have a general awareness of as many other areas as possible IV. Typical work done in Selected Jobs (Adapted from: Professional Occupations in Multi-Media, California Occupational Guide Number 2006, Archived August 2003) Animators: Animators create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images to show objects in motion or to illustrate a process. These images help convey a project’s message or enhance it. Originally animators created animations using paper and pen. These conventional images were then sequenced and set in running film to give an impression of movement and depth. 2D animators continue to work this way and the images are scanned, set into a computer and colour, texture and motion are added by the means of appropriate software. There are also software packages to assist in the initial creation of the images. 3D images are created in the computer using special software and modelling programs and are more realistic and complex. 3D technology is costlier and more sophisticated than the 2D ones. It is also more difficult to learn but compensation can be twice as much as for 2D animation. Graphic Designers: Graphic designers create original artwork with visual style, design and layout that are appropriate to the project’s concept and goals. Artwork may be screen layouts, icons, menus, symbols, charts and diagrams. The visual design must be compatible with the project’s principal concepts and must be attractive to the project’s users. Graphics set the “mood” of the project and markedly enhances the project’s user-friendliness. Good graphic artists must be first and foremost good artists in the traditional sense and must also very conversant with technological tools available. Programmers: Programmers are needed in multi-media projects as they are in all other computer-related work. They create the computer codes that are necessary to co-ordinate all other components of the multi-media product and produce the desired effects. Some programmers work with programming languages like C++ while others (often called scripters) use scripting languages and authoring software like Macromedia Director and Apple Media Tool. Some programmers do work that is distributed on the WWW. They use HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) for 2D work and VRML (Virtual Reality Modelling Language) for 3D work. {Programmers are very important as they are often required to assess the technical feasibility of a project. They determine whether the electronic or software tools are available or can be made to successfully create the desired effect or whether a particular product can be distributed through a particular medium (CD-ROM) both in relation to size and technical feasibility. Writers: Writers need to create or conceptualise the project’s content in a description of what has to take place on the screen. They describe what the user will see and hear from the product. Since multi-media products use video and stills, sound, movement and written or spoken words to convey their messages the writer must be capable of making all such components present in the product work together. The writer may be a copy-writer who writes the text that appears on the screen or a script-writer who creates the dialog that the actors, the animated characters or the voice-overs use. The writer may create original work or may adapt existing work for multi-media purposes. Video Producers: Video producers are responsible for all the video components of a project. They may create or shoot new video especially for the project or acquire existing ones for edition which they themselves do. They must make the video look good on the computer or other screening device. In addition to these creative duties the video producer is also involved in managerial activities like budgeting, scheduling, planning and resource allocation. Traditional video projects and multi-media projects have much in common. Both have the same pre- and post-production components like scripts, actors, story-boards, lighting, props, etc. Video for multi-media must be converted to the requisite format for usability in the computer or other electronic medium. Art Directors: Art directors must be both competent designers and managers. They are responsible for all the art content of the project including animation, graphics, video and sound. “All artwork in a project must be of consistent quality and appear to have a cohesive relationship with every other part. This can only be accomplished if an art director reviews the creation of artwork at every step and helps guide the media professionals on the project to adhere to certain design standards” (Vivid Studios, Careers in Multi-Media, p.164). In addition to reviewing artwork being done by other professionals art directors themselves often have to create artwork personally. The art director also has to meet budget and schedule targets. V. Job Requirements for Selected Ones (Adapted from: Professional Occupations in Multi-Media, California Occupational Guide Number 2006, Archived August 2003) Animators: Primary skills: Understanding of both traditional and modern methods of animation Ability to draw with understanding of colour theory, life drawing and composition Ability to use the latest computer animation tools Ability to use electronic tools such as for illustration, scanning and image manipulation Understanding of both sketch ideas and storyboards Additional skills: Willingness and ability to work continuously for long periods of time Willingness and ability to work effectively alone or without much supervision or collaboration Ability and patience for detailed work A love of the work Graphic Designers: Primary skills: Understanding of the fundamentals of visual communication and design including colour theory, composition and iconography Advanced knowledge of image processing tools including image scanning and manipulation Understanding of the limitations and capabilities of the electronic media Knowledge of computer painting and drawing tools Understanding of storyboarding techniques Ability to create artwork that conforms to the style and content specifications provided by the project’s art director or producer Additional skills: Willingness and ability to keep up-to-date with the latest design trends by reading design magazines Ability to create various styles of visual images Ability to meet short deadlines Ability to understand various audiences and create appropriately for each such audience Programmers: Primary skills: Knowledge of various authoring software packages, including their weaknesses and strengths Ability to select the most appropriate software packages for the project Knowledge of computer operating systems, their multi-media extensions and programming utilities Knowledge of data structures, algorithms and program debugging Ability to contribute to the prototype, design and production of the project Additional skills: Understanding of the Internet and the WWW Ability to prototype, contribute to the design and finish the product A high degree of patience id necessary to get the code absolutely as it should be and just getting close is not enough Expert knowledge of a few selected programming tools or areas instead of a general knowledge of all software vi. Employment Model Taking into account the various career paths in this sector it is found (Regan & Associates for North Valley Private Industry Council, 1997) that many multi-media firms use the studio model of employment which is as given below: Employment of a core number of management professionals like producer, art/creative director, and technical director Contract out for highly specialised artistic and technical skills on a freelance basis Hire additional employees and contractors to meet the demands of the project Disband the team after completion of the project It should also be noted that many firms often employ certain freelancers fulltime if they find that they are exceptionally suited to the firm’s purposes. Project teams, their size and specialised skills composition, are determined by the budget and scope of the project. Large projects with proportionate budgets require large teams with many specialised roles. Role nomenclature varies from firm to firm but the general trends have been set in the previous section on job types (Derived from: Multimedia Tools and Applications, 2005) VII. Current Trends The current big application areas that are emerging as extensive possibilities for multimedia are: The WWW: This is an area that incorporates hypermedia systems that encompass almost all multi-media technologies and applications and are a source of ever-increasing usage. Recent data show that Internet usage continues to rise with the rise in sales of personal computers on a global basis and interconnection of information across the globe for diverse human activities like learning, entertainment and commerce is constantly on the rise on an annual basis. MBone: Multicast Backbone is equivalent to having TV and Radio via the Internet Enabling Technologies: These are technologies that enable multi-media communication across the globe. Such technologies are for Carrier, Switching, Protocol, Application, Coding/Compression, Database, Processing and Systems Integration (Trends in Multimedia, Dave Marshall, 1999) Conclusion Another large application area for multi-media products is in the combined field of education and entertainment both of which are being increasingly combined to facilitate learning in a relaxed atmosphere. Edutainment/Education Specialists (Multimedia Tools and Applications, 2005) who specialise in this combined field with combined skills of a superior understanding of learning processes and how digital media can assist such learning processes are today greatly in demand. They too, however are often employed on contractual basis though there a significant number of firms worldwide who employ such experts on a permanent basis. Also multi-media is being increasingly used in other devices like mobile phones and kiosks. It is also being used pervasively in advertising products through electronic media. The scope for employment in multi-media is thus increasing at a pace which is more than in many other innovative sector of industry worldwide. References Professional Occupations in Multi-media, California Occupational Guide Number 2006, Archived August 2003. Extracted on 2nd November, 2005, from: http://www.calmis.ca.gov/file/occguide-archive/multimed.htm New Media Section, Webopedia Website, 2005. Extracted on 2nd November, 2005, from: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/N/new_media.html Multimedia Tools and Applications, 2005. Extracted 3rd November, 2005, from: http://it.wce.wwu.edu/jongejan/461/ResourcePacket.htm#Multimedia%20Careers Trend in Multimedia, Dave Marshall, 1999. Extracted on 3rd November, 2005, from: http://www.cs.cf.ac.uk/Dave/MM/OLD_BSC/node18.html Read More