CREATIVE MEDIA

Editors communicate through the written word and their passion for writing is what drives them to express best on a given subject. The profession of Editors has varied areas of specialisation. Once can be an Editor in the publishing industry, an Editor for a newspaper or even a magazine.

The role of a Creative Editor in advertising or in the Media industry also encompasses similar functions. An Editor should possess strong comprehension skills and a natural sensitivity to errors in language. .In general, an Editor’s job profile could include reviewing and rewriting the work of the other writers, planning the content of newspapers, articles, magazines, creative suggestions of titles and the management of the production of publications or related work of various clientele.

A highly responsible job where the person has to schedule and drive the editorial focus be it for a paper, magazine or advertising work for a client. Acute decision making skills to evaluate the choice of different target audiences, and publication rights are essential traits to qualify one for this position. The person must be capable of stringent proofreading and should be meticulous in delivering error-free content. An Editor is expected to work with the technical editor and the publisher and is also responsible for features, supplements and surveys. At times the person dons another hat in the form of a creative judge to judge annual awards.

For freshers a journalism degree is a definite requirement. With professional training and developing one’s own strengths and skills, a person can scale the ladder of progress quickly.

A person should have a hands-on approach and an operational charge of the editorial, design and production for the group, a keen sense of reporting and editing and in-depth knowledge of the business, general interest and lifestyle subjects as well. An Editor must have strong leadership attributes and be able to motivate and lead the editorial and design teams towards further creative productivity. Identifying and recruiting fresh talent is another important function of an Editor. The person must also possess good communication skills and the capabilities to build and sustain corporate relationships.

Ability to work with Quark Xpress and good knowledge of the print production process, excellent news and feature writing skills are an added advantage. The rewards are high and the growth prospects are inimitable.

The complete management of an Event includes handling the venue, the guest list, the production, and the

An Event Manager plays a critical role in an event management company. Making a creative pitch to new clients, convincing clients of having an event for a product launch, conference or seminar, understanding their needs and being totally focused on every brief that clients offer are some of the key functions of an Event Manager.

Developing and maintaining client communication on a regular basis is one of the chief responsibilities of an Event Manager.

Other important responsibilities include coordinating and planning with cross-functional teams on developing ideas, executing logistics, and integrating with marketing communications on PR, signage and communications. They are also directly involved with planning, organising and managing conferences, tradeshows, seminars, corporate events and executive meetings.

The role of an event manager also entails ideating creative themes catering to the requirements of the client. In addition to overseeing the entire planning of the event and development of the program, the role demands negotiations with the concerned vendors, speaker and celebrity performances and management, logistics, lead collection and tracking, client and prospect hospitality, message coordination, staffing coordination, AV coordination and all other related aspects.

Therefore, from a functional perspective, an Event Manager must be a patient yet strong personality having the ability to manage people from all the rungs of the ladder and ensuring the smooth flow of all related activities pre and post-event.

Even though the profession involves some physical activity, being on-the-go, and on call 24 hours a day, it can be creatively stimulating. While the industry enjoys a reputation for being an interesting platform for workaholics, it offers ample mental stimulation and opportunities to interface with the crème-de la crème of the society.

A street-smart individual could learn the ropes quickly and become a successful entrepreneur in a short span of time.

An Illustrator plans, develops, and prepares illustrations of scenes and backgrounds. Requisite action is filmed against these illustrations and used in motion pictures or television productions. Illustrators use their creativity and technical skills of painting and drawing to communicate ideas, facts, feelings and emotions. Depending on the commercial briefs given to them by clients, they work towards informing and entertaining a client's targeted audience. They do this successfully by incorporating the requisite adjustments in the moods and styles of the various images.

An Illustrator reads, reviews working drawings, conducts research and is also expected to work in close consultation with the art director of the organisation, be it radio or television. An Illustrator usually researches various subject matter fields and works from rough sketches or verbal instructions.

An Illustrator must be able to create artwork in a variety of media. This could be in black and white or in colour. The person should also be able to create artwork on any subject matter whether animate or inanimate, external and internal parts of equipments, isometric and orthographic drawings, diagnosis, schematics and pictorials.

Areas of specialisation include fashion, medical, technical, scientific and humourous publications. Other responsible areas include understanding and interpreting the business needs of clients, the styles feasible to them and negotiating budgets. Coming up with out-of-the-box ideas coupled with the creation of images and designs by using traditional hand skills of drawing and painting, alongside other techniques, to meet design briefs will be an added advantage.

An interpreter assists in the communication of people speaking different languages by translating the conversation of one language to that of the other and vice versa.

An interpreter’s main duties involve interfacing with clients, understanding their needs and requirements, aswell as analyzing and discussing with the client the work to be translated. The individual has to constantly refer to dictionaries or encyclopedias to get an insight into related text or information on which the he/she has no clarity.

The person should also possess appropriate skills to be able to rewrite the document in the required language, ensure that the original meaning of the text is retained and that the content is translated correctly.

An Interpreter must possess excellent language and communication skills. The person should also be extremely good at relationship-building skills and have the ability to understand and focus on a given subject irrespective of the content being desirable or undesirable.

Interpreters should be fluent in two or more languages. A constant awareness of various subjects is a must and in cases of specialization, an interpreter needs to be extremely familiar with the terminology of that specific industry to be able to interpret to perfection.

A logical mind coupled with diligence and precision are the necessary skills for any interpreter. Trust plays a very crucial role in this profession and an Interpreter must be totally reliable and confidential towards all the work entrusted to him/her.

A very rewarding profession, an Interpreter normally fixes a fee as per the project assigned or per page depending on the complexity of the work offered. One has to constantly upgrade skills by mastering more languages to perfection to be able to avail of more attractive compensation and rewards.

One of the most interesting and interactive position is that of a journalist. Meeting, interviewing and writing about people, from celebrities to politicians, and socialites or the layman, a journalist shoulders the responsibility of having to present the truth in its entirety.

Areas of journalism are diverse and range from television and radio to newspaper and cyber journalism. Prospective applicants need to figure out their preferred subject areas and thereafter specialise in that area accordingly.

This profession requires excellent communication skills to cope with the internal and external management of organizational information. A journalist has to research, write copy, conduct interviews and interact in a positive manner with clients from all segments of society. This calls for strong networking and PR skills which help the journalist to sustain relationships.

Key responsibilities include the development of publications, film ornews, depending on the industry one is employed in. This also includes managing all tasks right from the initial brief to copy clearance.

A journalist should have the ability to think laterally, the aptitude to tie all loose ends and the capability to work independently. An unflagging enthusiasm and an amicable persona to work in tandem with colleagues helps a journalist to probe and garner information, which may prove to be a ‘piece of cake’ for his organisation/product.

Packaging news in the most interesting and eye-catching fashion, ensuring timely deliveries and adherence to strict schedules, all form an important part of this demanding profession.

Good communication skills, the knack of probing and a very innovative mind are qualifying traits. A degree in journalism is useful and one can get a good start in the industry depending on the area of choice and skills of the person. Journalism is a profession which includes long hours of work, outdoor stints and handling projects with irregular time schedules and one has to be physically and mentally prepared to take on the erratic nature of this profession.

The profession also offers different kinds of perks, the most attractive being opportunities to meet people from across different sections of industries. Growth prospects are extremely high and individuals, with experience have the potential to become authorities in their areas of specialisation. With globalisation and a competitive industry, the best skills .can command attractive remuneration.

To pursue a career in the world of music necessitates an innate passion for music. The areas of specialisation are innumerable. They range from singers, composers, record promoters, music producers, directors, sound recording, record engineering and managing singers. Musicians, singers, and other related workers play musical instruments, sing, compose or arrange music, or conduct groups in instrumental or vocal performances.

From composing to producing or recording, an individual needs specialised knowledge in each specific area.

Musicians earn a name for themselves by giving musical performances. A person who can play more than one instrument to perfection has greater chances of growth prospects and a bettercareer path. Such instrumental musicians could play in a symphony orchestra, rock group, a jazz group and in addition, can probably work in a studio band on another occasion.

Singers use their knowledge of voice production, melody, and harmony and sing character parts or perform in their own individual style. Singers are often classified according to their voice range. These include a soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, or bass. They are also classified by the type of music they sing, such as opera, rock, popular, folk, rap, or country and western.

Music directors conduct, plan, direct, and even lead instrumental or vocal performances by musical groups. These could be orchestras or choirs. Music Conductors lead instrumental music groups, such as symphony orchestras, dance bands, show bands, and various popular ensembles. These leaders audition and select musicians, choose the music most appropriate for their talents and abilities, and direct rehearsals and performances. Music Directors audition and select singers and guide them at rehearsals and performances.

A Music Composer creates original music. These could be regional harmonies, symphonies, operas, radio and television jingles, film scores, or popular songs. Composers usually write down their ideas into musical notation. They incorporate harmony, rhythm and melody to create a melodious product. With advancing technology and innovative methods, composers and songwriters now resort to computer software to compose and edit their music. However, the traditional methods of practicing on instruments and transcribing the notes with pen and paper are still resorted to by some.

A Music Arranger transcribes and adapts musical compositions to a particular style for either bands or individuals. Some arrangers write directly into a musical composition while others use computer software to make requisite changes. An intense passion for the art of music can lead one to create wonders on a personal and professional front and the rewards are exceedingly rewarding offering fame and fortune.

The photography industry has a broad spectrum of specialized areas ranging from portrait, scientific, industrial to commercial, fine arts, technical and electronic.

A combination of innate creative and technical skills helps a photographer to produce highly creative work. This involves having an in-depth knowledge of lighting procedures, lenses, and the subject environments to create the maximum visual impact.

With a wide range of advanced cameras available these days, most photographers use automatic lenses and shutter speed settings even though manual operation is still largely popular among those wanting more creative control. Different equipment is used to achieve the desired commercial quality effect. This includes film, filters, flash attachments and special lighting equipment and tripods.

Many photographers work in certain commercial fields like a fine arts gallery or commercial news. Portrait photographers normally take pictures of either single individuals or groups and this is sometimes done in a studio. Some others take pictures for religious occasions, or school ceremonies and weddings.

For such photographers, their profession becomes a one-man show where they manage all the technical and business aspects which include advertising, equipment maintenance, and even the film processing. They also work with customers in scheduling and billing.

Another breed of photographers comprises the commercial and industrial photographers who prefer to take creative images which are then used for books, advertisements, catalogues, and other media. These individuals also take pictures of a wide variety of objects and subjects. These could include models, landscapes, buildings, and merchandise. Industrial photography on the other hand takes place at the site of its use. These professional take pictures of machinery and workers, as well as other products.

Scientific photographers take pictures used for scientific procedures and medical records. Besides their photography skills, they also have knowledge in the related fields of medicine or science. News photographers are involved in taking pictures of people and community events for special media publications. This may include pictures of sports, politics, and the elite as well as socialites.

While freelance photographers either contract their work with organizations or license out their photographs, fine arts photographers can commercialize their artwork.