Convergent Media Production

This certificate focuses on creative and effective storytelling and branding using multi-platform and multi-format production concepts. Students will utilize audio, video, social media apps, and storytelling techniques, and technologies to produce engaging convergent media productions.

This is a high unit certificate. We do not expect as many students to earn this as our other 17 to 31 unit certificates. Additionally, several students have stopped out because they found employment before finishing. One is now on our Industry Advisory Panel. That said, we expect 2-4 students to earn this certificate each year.

This program is designed to prepare students for entry level jobs in Convergent Media. Sometimes also called Transmedia, this is essentially a new skill-set that combines media production/design skills with social media skills, and cultural analysis to create content, branding, and interactive media campaigns to reach a specific audience. These jobs are often called Social Media Managers and many companies are finding that they need to hire a dedicated professional to handle their outward facing media. It is also common for older, employed students to take this coursework. Having been in the industry, they see the need for this skill set. Several of our students failed to finish the certificate because, with only 2-3 classes left, they found employment. This certificate is actually a long standing certificate. Formally called, 'Rich Media Production,' it was housed in Visual Media Design Dept. Broadcast Electronic Media Arts took over the certificate in 2014 and changed the name to Convergent Media Productions to reflect industry changes. We have offered it ever since. It was redesigned this year as part of our normal rotation. We changed the units to reflect Industry Advisers suggestions. It is possible the we don't need BACCC approval. But our on site curriculum coordinator suggested to send it in to forestall questions from the State.

Convergent Media Production Certificate of Achievement Broadcast Electronic Media Arts Effective Semester: Fall 2018 This certificate focuses on creative and effective storytelling and branding using multi-platform and multi-format production concepts. Students will utilize audio, video, social media apps, and storytelling techniques, and technologies to produce engaging convergent media productions. Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this program, students will be able to: * Integrate industry-standard skills across a range of media for delivery of audio and video content on the internet. * Develop, implement, and manage creative storytelling across platforms and devices. * Create a distribution and promotional plan for a convergent media product using social media. * Analyze media from a variety of perspectives in order to create socially responsible campaigns. Students must complete at least 25 units from the courses listed below at City College of San Francisco. The minimum time for completion of this certificate is 4 semesters. Completion time will vary based on student preparation and number of classes completed per semester. Courses Required for the Certificate of Achievement in Convergent Media Production: ** Courses can be taken in any order (pre-requisites may apply), however, these are foundational courses and should be taken in the first year if possible: Choose 20 Units from the following courses. BCST 115 - Announcing and Performance 3units BCST 119 - Digital Media Skills -3 Units BCST 120 - Audio Production -4 Units BCST 135 - Audio for the Web -1 Unit BCST 136 - Audio for the Web -1 Unit BCST 141 - Field Video Production -3 Units PHOT 51 - Beginning Photography -3 Units VMD 101/DSGN 101/PHOT 100 - Design Fundamentals 3 - Units VMD 105 - Visual Media Digital Skills -3 Units VMD 140 - Web Production I -3 Units **Choose two of the following writing courses: BCST 110 - Introduction to Writing for Electronic Media -3 Units JOUR 22 - Feature Writing -3 Units JOUR 35 - Internet Journalism -3 Units **Choose one of the following video editing courses: BCST 143A - Digital Video Editing: Avid -3 Units BCST 144A - Digital Video Editing: Premiere Pro - 3 Units ** Chose one of the following media analysis courses: BCST 103 - Mass Media and Society -3 Units BCST 104 - Race and Media -3 Units BCST 105 - Gender & Mass Media -3 Units ** These courses are more advanced and it is recommended that they be taken the second year if possible: Choose 11 units from the following courses. BCST 124A - Pro Tools Editing Essentials -2 Units CMST 8 - Rhetoric of Popular Culture - 3 Units JOUR 26 - Fundamentals of Public Relations - 3 Units PHOT 57 - Photography for the Web - 3 Units VMD 141 - Web Production II - 3 Units ** Choose one advanced course from the list below: BCST 146 - Video Motion Graphics -4 Units PHOT 102B - Documentary/News Photography -2 Units VMD 127 - User Experience -3 Units **Required capstone courses: BCST 158 - Social Media for Professionals -3 Units BCST 165 - Industry Internship -2 Units Total 50 to 52 Units

Indeed.com lists 287 jobs in the San Francisco Bay area for ‘Social Media Coordinator.’ Of these, 44 are new and 102 are listed as entry level. Searching, ‘Social Media Specialist’ shows 259 jobs with 63 new and 68 entry level. The companies are large, such as Go Daddy and Google. Neither of which requires a 4 year degree. Other companies are small, such as the Family Caregiver Alliance. Searching ‘Social Media Intern’ reveals 212 jobs, 127 of which are new. Rustic Pathways requires some college work with focus on journalism or similar. Destination Hotels and Resorts is looking for a Broadcasting/Media student who is organized and has excellent written and verbal skills. Another aspect of this certificate that does not come out in this application is the social justice/journalism aspect of the Convergent Media Production certificate. Our courses cover media, design and also Mass Media and Gender, Mass Media and Race, plus several journalism courses. Students can take this skill set and put it to positive use in the world. It is a thoughtful, deep curriculum.

This is a nascent field which incorporates skills from several disciplines, (hence the name ‘Convergent’). Consequently, most courses are boot camp style. An Introduction to Social Media Strategy is offered in San Francisco by the General Assembly. There are online certificates offered: one example is a 10 week part-time or 1 week full-time Social Media Manager course. The cost is $3,950. This only focuses on the social media aspect of the career which is just part of the skillset. A true content manager understands cultural norms, is an excellent writer and can produce compelling audio and video. Cal State East Bay offers a six-course certificate in Social Media Marketing. It focuses on public relations and reputation management. Our curriculum focuses on design, content creation as well as managing social media sites. These sites come and go. The skill set of cultural understanding, writing, design, and media production will translate across time. Checking the catalog for all nearby community colleges revealed no similar certificate. I checked Skyline, Foothill, College of Marin, Chabot, Diablo Valley College, and Laney.