the media mandala

For ten years, I have devoted my career to the profession of content creation in television and new media.  New media, to clarify how I am defining it, is spot media on a non-traditional network of remote public displays: digital signage, DCNs (Digital Content Networks) or kiosk displays are terms thrown around today.  Today, I am looking for the next big opportunity in my career after a recent merger regrettably did not come together as promised.  This recent opportunity has allowed me to create Flash interactive media for clients.  Seven years ago when I was freelancing and 56K modems were king, I worked on a few HTML projects with limited flash components.  Although there was endless opportunity for dynamic content, the lack of default browser adoption and limited internet transmission held the industry back.  Recent broadband adoption has enabled the viability of the medium.  Not surpisingly, the job boards are full of senior creative jobs that require internet knowledge.  It is an exciting time for dynamic media and the industry in general.  It’s been seven years, and it’s quite possible my job hunting search term skills may be lacking.  What is surprising is the minute or absolutely vacant postings for art or creative directors with broadcast/spot production skills.  I am beginning to wonder after three months if the internet is not just the growing trend, but the only developing norm.  Has broadcast as we know it has reached an industry growth plateau or is it just a temporary flux?  It’s far to early to tell, after all my search has only covered the last three months of the Chicago market.  I have done my best to kept my career experience open to a more holistic approach to media, from broadcast production, new media and interactive.  I believe spot production, telling a good compelling story, is very relevant even in today’s dynamic and streaming media.   I am enthusiastic as I re-engage myself back into dynamic, interactive content or broadcast.  I am just a bit surprised, perhaps befuddled, and even a bit concerned, at the early thought that there is potentially a growth omission in a medium that has ruled the industry for decades.  My hope is that both mediums, that are not too far akin in my belief, will continue to be healthy and show growth in parallel.  I guess we can only wait and see.