It is great to have access to so many sites currently writing about the what I need to do to break into and survive in the field of journalism. I can read countless posts on photojournalism and how to start my multimedia kit, my audio kit and my lighting kit. There are sites that point me to how to start learning Flash, where to begin in multimedia, how to compress video for podcasts and for the web, the basics on shooting video, what programs to use for audio editing and what a multimedia producer might need to know. Heck, I can even learn how to build my own planner to keep track of all the things I need to learn how to do.
At times though, it all feels overwhelming. I can’t learn half of this stuff at school and expect to graduate in a timely fashion, and the other half isn’t taught yet. Not only do I want to do it all, but I feel like I need to do it all. Where do I start? I guess with that planner.
Don’t try to learn everything. Pick an area – subject, gear, technique, fell, whatever – and dig deep as you explore and grow. Then expand your boundaries in measured steps. You’ll do fine.
I think maybe my problem is that I am not 100% sure what I want to end up doing, I am drawn to too many things. I know I want to be a photographer, but I also love what Richard Koci Hernandez, Ryan Sholin, Brandon Garcia and other multimedia producers/online editors do. I want to learn it all! Also, it seems that everyone is preaching multiple skill sets. You are correct though, I won’t get anywhere learning a little bit of a lot. Flash here I come! … or maybe lighting … or video …
Do what you love — it’s such a cliche, but really, that is Rule No. 1.
Then I think Rule No. 2 must be — expand on that. You have a main course, but you need to produce a full dinner. So choose the accompaniments that best complement that thing you love to do.
For photo, today, surely the way to expand is audio first. Then Soundslides. Then video.
For design, expand first by learning Web standards (CSS and best practices). Then Flash.
Don’t worry about code; worry about content. Build your audio & video skills. Flash comes later, if at all — there are plenty of ways to use Soundslides and little pre-fabbed pieces of Flash to deliver content. Concentrate on creating it.
That’s your job as a photojournalist – or a multimedia shooter, right? Just the fact that you can edit in Soundslides, iMovie, and Audacity (or Garage Band, or whatever) puts your portfolio near the top of the pile. Everything else is gravy.
I think I said this B4, just pick one, and be really good at it. So it can get U in the door, and have something to fall back up on. I don’t think they going to expect you to do Flash, Studio, Podcast …and all that shit in most media outlets. Ask you the question….Do you wand to sit in front of the computer all day creating SWF files or going outside to get content? Working with Flash is not that different than being InDesign driver…
Do thanks for the links!! Keep posting them, It’s very usefull. I do think I am going to pick up a Olympus WS-300M to catch some sound from the circus. I rather be backstage with the carnies, than in the office coding, and tweaking, and all that shit.
I think if we both start rowing at the same time we’ll stop going in circles.
Of course you all are right. I do want to be out photographing. In case someone might be interested in jumping into multimedia production full force, a recent AP job posting for a multimedia sports producer called for the following skills; expert Flash ActionScript skills, high level of proficiency editing photos, video and audio, extensive experience with HTML, CSS, Photoshop, Illustrator and FreeHand, and it is preferred to have experience with ArcView and XML.
That’s like one of those programming-soup language job postings that calls for the candidate to know XHTML, CSS, PHP, JS, XML, ASP.NET, DHTML, AJAX, SQL, PERL, BASIC and FORTRAN. Nobody is really an expert in all of those things, but it probably helps to know what they all do, and be an expert in one, and pretty good at another.
For the AP gig, I’d expect photo/audio/video editing and Flash to be the most important skills. Everything else sounds secondary.
relax.
take a deep breath.
and remember…
whether you call yourself a visual journalist, documentary photographer, multimedia artist, audio gatherer, scribbler, etc…
you’ve always got the same goal… telling stories.
and the most important thing to know about that is to choose quality over quantity.
learn to tell stories well, regardless of medium, and you’ll be fine.