W390 Week 6: Multimedia Experience

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I’m going to leave the following prompt in the blog post this week so civilians reading this blog know the reason for my blog topic this week:

“What media do you have experience writing for or working with (video, audio, digital pictures, etc.) (if you don't have experience with any of these, think about things you have experienced that could translate)? How might writing for other media be similar? How will it differ? How might you make your strengths work for you? How might you work around your obstacles?”

I work as a children’s librarian. Really, I’m not officially a librarian, yet, but a mere clerk. I work in an elementary school and spend much of my time reading to children and teaching things like how to research, or how to choose a “just right book”.

My job also affords me some other interesting opportunities. For instance, when the Media Specialist (that’s the modern day term for a school librarian) is out, I produce and direct the morning announcement broadcast and sometimes also, the bi-weekly news report anchored by 5th grade students and reported by students from each grade level. The Media Center (A library with more than just print material, for instance computers and video sources, too.) has a full video production studio complete with mixing boards and stage lighting. The production experience is great for the kids and has been great for me, too.

In addition to video production, I edit a newsletter that is distributed in print and on the web. I use Microsoft Word to produce it and then upload it as a .pdf to the school’s website. This can be a bit tricky sometimes because saving things in Adobe’s format occasionally alters the formatting in a way that makes it difficult to read. I’ve learned some tricks to minimize these mistakes through trial and error. The same goes for Word. Frankly, sometimes it’s a real bear to work with. I suppose I should learn to use Front Page or some publishing type of software. I’ll put that on my endless list of to do’s.

As for digital photography, I’m pretty hopeless. I can take pictures and upload them to places like Photobucket or Facebook. I can even manage slide shows in Powerpoint or other online slideshow makers. I’m a terrible photographer, though.

I have a little experience in audio, too, because of a previous class. I had to produce a podcast. I made it using iTunes and uploaded it to a free web service that allowed me to link it for distribution. Fortunately, I saved the instructions on how to do this because I honestly don’t remember exactly what I did. If I have to do it again, I’ll have to relearn some things.

I think my strengths in writing for multimedia aren’t going to be the production of content so much as the ability to manage the technological hurdles of various computer programs and gadgets like cameras and recording equipment. In my newsletter and video production jobs at school I’m more of an editor and director than a writer. The tasks assigned in this class offer some similar experiences in production, but they also offer up some new territory for me with content production. As I complete assignments , I will have the opportunity to create original content. I can only hope I am blessed with sufficient inspiration.