With the slew of skills I’m about to present with you, it is a good idea to start with a skill required for almost any job you’re going to pursue in the new millenium: adaptability. New Media covers a wide range of fields from film editing and production to writing and three dimensional graphic rendering. One of the driving forces behind new media is the technology. Journalists are beginning to be required to carry everything from the standard notepad and pen to handicams and digital voice recorders so they can capture multimedia elements of stories, and whenever there is technology involved you can guarantee you will have to adapt.
1. Get Used to New and Changing Technologies
Even if you are a computer whiz and know the ins and outs of every gadget currently out there, you will need to learn how to use new platforms, interfaces, and programs on computers. Especially if you want to tinker or specialize in video production and animation, Mac computers are an amazing tool for accomplishing great feats of editing with little expertise. Programs such as PhotoShop (photo editing), FinalCut Pro (video editing), and SoundTrack Pro (sound editing) are all useful tools that will help you create some amazing original content.
The role technology plays in our lives is changing rapidly, as well, so get used to it being there. If you’re an aspiring journalist, get used to using a digital voice recorder (a cheap one can be found for between $15-20) to record interviews or just the sounds of a news scene. Alongside the recorder, you should also familiarize yourself with video-capture devices from cell-phone videocameras to Sony Handicams. These tools allow a journalist to shoot the story, record the story, and write the story all at the same time, adding visual and audio elements that previously took an entire news crew to capture.
2. Learn the Lingo
In addition to technologies, you will also have to adapt and learn an increasing number of terms that are claiming origin within the umbrella of new media. New web terms such as “wiki” and “del.ici.ous” aren’t known by everyone now, but in 10 years they will be a thing of the past and something new and more versatile will be around. With every new technology comes new words used to describe operations and features exclusive to that piece of equipment. If you are working with a piece of equipment, instruction manuals (however droll and dry they may be) are a good resource and usually include glossaries of important words to reference. If the idea of a novel-sized manual doesn’t fit your fancy, then try consulting an expert or someone more knowledgeable in the area you’re exploring.
More to come later, but for now know this: adaptability is key! Put yourself in different environments to get familiar with the feeling of adaptation. Experimenting with new situations and new ways of doing things will make a difference, also. For example, if you have a paper due and you usually head to the computer lab to type it up on a PC with Windows, trying using a Mac for once.
3. Get Used to People
I can’t stress this enough, so listen up. Get used to the idea of being around, working with, talking to, and generally trying to get along with people – it helps immensely. Wherever you go, whatever you do, even if you’re not doing New Media learn to communicate effectively and operate under conditions with other human beings even if they grate on your personality. When it comes down to it, being able to get through a project and work effectively is more important than whether or not the person is acting according to what you think is right, so suck it up and get some team work done! When working with other people, always try to consider their feelings about the situation instead of rushing to some predetermined conclusion like some greyhound hopped-up on steroids sprinting for the finish line. Everyone loves to be listened to, even if their ideas don’t eventually make it to the finished production, so try to find time to get everyone’s input – who knows, maybe someone other than you might actually have a good idea. In addition to that warm, fuzzy feeling you’ll get knowing you made someone’s day by listening to their idea, you can also make great contacts or even friendships by talking and working with others, which is important because the wider knowledge base you have access to, the more likely you’ll have someone to turn to when you have a question about the ever-changing technology around you (see bullet point 1) who also knows the lingo (see bullet point 2).
More skills to come, but for now start with baby steps. Work on a different computer than you’re used to, try making a new friend at your workplaces/class/local bar (just remember not to judge people if you choose the latter option, and I’m sure you’ll meet some delightful characters – use your gut and don’t do anything crazy). Have fun, never stop learning, and enjoy your time on this telling stories, relating news, animating storyboards, or whatever else you choose to do with your skills. Everyone has the same capacity for learning, so get going!
