LEARNING FROM THE MEDIA INDUSTRY

In my short stay in the Media Industry, I've learned some of these media experiences:

1. DO IT YOURSELF. As a writer and a producer in the creative team, I am tasked to write and produce different kinds of plugs. In the production proper, where I'm supposed to gather the materials for my production, I sought help from staffs of other departments. Since the nature of the business is quite busy, the help that I've asked usually gets delayed that results to a delayed project. That's why on my recent projects, I only depended on one person alone: me. There was a time that I wrote, produced, and even starred on the same plug. It's was tiring, but at least, I got to beat my deadline.

2. ACCURACY, ACCURACY, AND ACCURACY. Some of the plugs I made entailed research work that needs verification and accurate analysis. Since my projects are aired for television, there must be no room for mistakes. My sources need to be updated so that it can be more significant to the viewers. It must also be consistent, wherein cross-referencing from other equally credible sources is needed. Lastly, it should be accurate. The facts presented must be precise and correct. Not only it would be beneficial to the viewers, accuracy can also help build a credible name for the station.

3. INNOVATION AND MIND IN MOTION. “You're only good as your last project”, this is what I always keep in mind after I finish a project. When a project is about to end, another one, or sometimes, even several are already on queue. It means that I must have a dynamic mind to finish my projects with originality and distinction from one another. I must be innovative and must be updated with the latest trends so that my projects keeps on improving and can suite what the viewers would probably like.

4. EAT DEADLINES FOR SNACK. When deadlines are being fed to you everyday, your time management skills must keep up with your daily tasks to produce quality projects. There are instances that the request for a plug is given in the morning and should be aired on the afternoon. In those cases, you must think very fast and still deliver a good output at the same time.

5. LEMONS, SALT, AND TEQUILA. Media is quite demanding. If they gave you lemons, it means that you have to produce tequila and salt. Since the company is just starting, it still lacks some equipment, man power, and budget for a certain production. As a producer, I need to outsource and make deals that are only limited to my budget. Instead of paying my talents or buying my materials, most of the time, I just set a deal where my talents or materials can be paid by the company's most abundant resource: air time.

MEDIA WORLD: A SHORT STORY

I in one of my info plug shooting

Does the length really matters for a story? Is a novel better than a short story because it is longer?

As I remember a year ago, I was still at the marketing field then, that when I get bored in my routinized marketing activities, I always think of venturing in my scholarly discipline, which is the Media world. When my students (I used to teach general education subjects too) ask me, if I was not hired by my previous company, where will I go? I immediately answer them, “Bisa kung mag media(I want to be a media practitioner)”.

Months passed and my previous company I am working for, closed. I and my previous workmates have to part ways. Then that familiar question rang again in my mind. “Where will I go now?”.

I always have this Manila dream. It is having a job in the country's capital and experiencing the lifestyle in the metro. That's why I decided on applying a job there. Unfortunately, I did not met the qualification in one of my applications.

One day I sent a message over the internet to one of my friends working in a regional TV station, luckily, the station is in need of a creative writer. I applied and got the post.

THE START

Beginnings has been always infamous for me. I hate it, and I don't even like a single bit of it.

My first week was 4 out of 10 I guess. I feel like a lion in the north pole, or a polar bear in the safari. I don't feel that I belong. Everything seems so familiar, yet so strange--new faces, new tasks, everything new. The excitement I felt before turned to another thing, fear.

My start was really rough. I never thought of transferring into another career would be this emotionally burdening. It's like throwing away my 2-year experience investment as marketing personnel and going back to square one.

There are times that I felt like quitting. If securing a job is just easy these days, I probably resigned on my first two weeks.

THE EARLY END

On my first month, still in the media world, a job opportunity re-opened its door for me. The post offered was for an Events and Presentation officer. At first, I ignored it because of the low salary offer. I tried to negotiate and fortunately, they agreed upon my request.

My stay in the media world lasted for 2 months and 5 days. Honestly, it was hard for me to leave the field that I've studied and dreamed for when I was in college, plus the fact that I have adjusted to the work schedule and travel. Also, in a short span of time, I and my colleagues had the chance to bond.

A short story as I describe it, my stop over in the media world is indeed swift, but it doesn't mean that it was less-filled with fun and learning.