The Birth of the Integrated Media Producer
Authors create on paper. Filmmakers create on film. The blogger’s domain is the internet. But clearly as media becomes more integrated there will be content people who natively combine both the written word with the audio/visual and social media skills as one entity.
Take the Bible teacher for example. His or her bio used to simply state “He is an author” or “She is a televangelist” or “conference speaker”. In contrast, a modern bio is a laundry list of disciplines. So and so is an author, pastor, speaker, radio host, blogger, filmmaker, and frequent guest on TBN’s webcast. But where does one discipline end and another begin?
We can largely blame smartphones and tablets for this blurring of the media lines. Over 250 million devices have been sold with iOS (Apple’s media friendly mobile operating system). These devices have more than half a billion apps to choose from. And a large percentage of these apps utilize some kind of integrated media including enhanced e-books that integrate text with HD video, audio and social elements.
No longer is print limited to paper. Nor video to a television monitor. Nor social media to your home PC. Perhaps it’s time to coin a new term for the person who brings it all together in a single message.
My biggest question is how the traditional media developers will adapt to servicing these new integrated messengers. Today a video studio employs video guys to make videos. A publishing house employs publishing people to make books. The same goes for a website developer or broadcaster or programmer.
Part of our strategy with The Eastco Group is to position ourselves for the future of integrated media. Sure, if you just need a video we’ll make you one. Just don’t call us a video shop. We service the author/speaker/blogger/filmmaker/newmedia guy.
Or whatever you call yourself these days.
Erik – Good stuff! This blurring of media and communications and so forth has profoundly affected both ministries and businesses of all types, and many are simply unable to keep up with it. One thing seems certain, the old adage “grow or die” seems truer than ever!