Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Welcome To Writing For Multimedia

My name is Mary Anne Funk. I am an instructor in the Multimedia Department at PCC. My core research focuses on accessibility in media, social virtual worlds, and XR technology. To learn more about me, please visit my faculty page

I want to welcome you to our MM270 Writing for Multimedia class. 

In this class, we will learn tools and techniques for planning, capturing, editing, and sharing stories about ourselves and the worlds we inhabit. It will include preparing these media stories for various web and social media platforms, but will not be tied to any one particular platform.

• This is an in-person class with an online learning component.
• Throughout the term, we will have in-person field trips that will happen during the normal day and hours of the course.
  • One of our field trips includes the Oregon Historical Society to learn about research and the use of archival material.

What to Expect:

• Hands-On Experience: This class is designed to be immersive and interactive. Instead of in-class lectures, you will engage in practical workshops, collaborative projects, and professional story development.
  
  
• Individual Projects: Each student will select a personal topic or theme at the beginning of the term. You will develop a series of digital media stories around your chosen topic, including blog posts, social media content, and written articles that incorporate multimedia elements.
  
  
• Class Project: In addition to individual work, you will collaborate with your classmates on a major class project for our first-ever in-person story exhibit that will also include stories from the Digital Media Foundation's class I teach in the Fall 
  
  
• Editorial Meetings: Weekly editorial meetings will provide a platform to pitch ideas, receive feedback, and refine your work. These sessions mimic the collaborative process of a professional production house, ensuring that your stories are polished and compelling.
  
  
• Multimedia Integration: Learn to enhance your written content by incorporating multimedia elements such as audio clips, video snippets, and infographics created using existing tools and resources.
  
  
• Professional ɳ°ÍÌåÓý¹ÙÍøment:  This course prepares you for a career in writing for digital publications across a variety of fields, such as the video production industry, multimedia journalism, and other related fields.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Produce Digital Media Stories: Create at least five different types of digital media content (blog posts, social media updates, and written articles) on a chosen topic, incorporating multimedia elements.
• Collaborate Effectively: Participate in a class project to produce a comprehensive multimedia story, demonstrating teamwork and project management skills.
• Conduct Research: Utilize effective research techniques to gather and verify information, supporting your stories with credible sources.
• Integrate Multimedia Elements: Enhance written content with multimedia components, such as audio clips, video snippets, and infographics, using available resources and tools.
• Present and Critique Work: Present your projects in editorial meetings and critique your peers' work, providing constructive feedback.
• ɳ°ÍÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Professional Skills: Demonstrate professional-quality work in digital storytelling techniques, preparing you for careers in digital media production.

Check the Multimedia Technology specifications page for computer recommendations. Chromebooks or tablets are not recommended.  

If you do not have access to a computer our department provides access to Mac labs at the Cascade Campus during open lab hours.

Required Hardware:

• Desktop or Laptop Computer for working on assignments and projects outside of class. 
  • • Google Chrome Books NOT recommend
      

• iPhone/Smartphone for taking photographs, recording video, and recording audio.

• iPhone/Smartphone tripod mount

• Lightweight tripod or monopod with feet

• Lav (clip-on) microphone for smartphone, DSLR, or camcorder, for $15 to $30

• Make sure it is compatible with your device
• External hard drive (20 to 50 gigs)

Software Requirements

You are welcome to use any software that you are comfortable with using and that you have knowledge of. You will have access to the Adobe Creative Suite at school and home through a PCC license while you are enrolled in this class. However, I do not teach you how to use the software in this class.  Links to tutorials will be included in D2L to help you learn the basics of this software to use it to create a multimedia web story project. If there is something else you need to learn to help you with your project, you are responsible for seeking tutorials.

What would be most helpful for you is to take our Photoshop, video editing, or audio classes before this class or in conjunction with this class, although this is not required.

This is not a tech-heavy class, so what you do will be based on the most basic use of the software to create your multimedia web story.

Note: In this class, I do not teach editing software or technology. Having a background or taking courses in digital media, photography, video, or audio is helpful. Knowing Adobe editing software or other editing software of your choice is helpful. Links to tutorials will be available in D2L for anyone who needs it. If there is something else you need to learn to help you with your project, you are responsible for seeking tutorials.