Hot Jobs in the New Electronic Media

Career World, Sept, 2000 by Mark Rowh

From graphic designers and computer animators to virtual set designers, electronic media careers are the wave of the future.

No doubt about it. The rapid changes in technology over the past 10 years have created some new and exciting careers. Nowhere is this more evident than in the new world of electronic media People who can create Web sites, develop animated characters, and produce multimedia materials are in demand. And as technology advances, the demand for people with the right talent and training will continue to grow.

"The field is definitely growing," says Carol Pike Long, president of Common Sense Interactive Group, a company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializing in electronic media. "We have gone from three to nine employees in just the last 18 months, plus we use a handful of freelancers to assist us, especially with artwork."

Hottest of the Hot

Just what kind of jobs can be found in the growing area of electronic media? Here's a look at some of them:

* Graphic designers use artistic and computer technology skills to create graphic artwork. They produce charts and graphs used in CD-ROMs or educational television programs, layouts for Web-based publications, or traditional print-based illustrations.

Everywhere you look you can see the work of graphic designers--from the back of a cereal box to the commercials on TV. Designers develop printed illustrations, slides, computer presentations, and other materials.

The graphic designer functions as part of a team. A writer may develop the content of an article published in a Web-based magazine, for example, while a graphic designer creates the visual images. The same is true in producing complex multimedia presentations. Most graphic designers are skilled at drawing or other manual arts, but they enhance their abilities and the volume of work they do by using computer software.

* Computer animators use high-tech skills to create everything from cartoons to special effects for educational presentations. Using techniques such as desktop video production and 3-D modeling, they help develop video games, courtroom re-enactments, educational videos and enhanced CDs, and TV ads.

In the past, animators drew cartoons by hand. Now the field of animation includes such careers as game modelers, game animators, effects animators, and character animators. All are involved in producing lifelike effects for images created through drawings or computer-generated artwork.

* Virtual set designers use skills in electronic media to create sets for television and other visual media. Gone are the days when a TV news anchor sat in front of a static background and read the evening news. Today, viewers expect to see background visuals ranging from weather maps to panoramic views of a bustling city. The same is true for entertainment programming, such as sports talk shows and game shows. Virtual set designers use computers and other high-tech equipment to generate everything from virtual furniture to make-believe outdoor environments.

The need is growing for virtual set designers, particularly in cities with major media industries, such as New York and Los Angeles. Ideal candidates include those with training or experience in traditional set design or architecture as well as highly developed computer skills.

* Interactive media specialists. Today, the name of the game in many media applications is "interactive." This means viewers don't just watch, they participate. That already happens in video games and on-line, but it's also a growing trend in television and other media

Educational CD-ROMs is one area where this work is already in high demand. Content specialists often rely on others to help bring educational material to life. Some are writers, while others are specialists in software development or graphic design.

A related specialty is that of interactive television programmers, who work in the relatively new area of ITV (interactive television). This field has recently emerged, but promises to expand as more people become interested in the chance to change TV from a passive to an active experience.

* Webmasters, Web architects, and Web developers create, improve, or manage Web sites. Just a few years ago, most companies or organizations did not even have Web sites. Now almost everyone does. These Web sites have evolved from beginning efforts, which were often simple and somewhat crude, to sophisticated tools for advertising, marketing, and conducting electronic commerce (e-commerce). The trend is toward creating a stimulating interface for users, with exciting visuals and sound. Employers now know it is not enough to have a Web site; it must be effective or they will lose out to competitors. So they are willing and eager to pay talented specialists to design the best Web sites possible.

Specialists who work in this area perform a variety of tasks, some of which focus on programming. Computer programmers have been around for quite some time, writing, testing, and maintaining the detailed instructions used in computer operations and problem-solving. Now similar skills are being applied to Web site development by focusing on the unique needs of Web site design.