Why study media? A versatile degree for the modern workplace
Keen to kick start an exciting and creative career in storytelling? Studying screen media might be the perfect option for you.
Media production is a varied field and with the right course, you’ll get to experience what it’s like to work in a range of different roles – from television to animation, advertising to content creation for social media.
By immersing yourself in the world of media at Victoria University, you’ll have the chance to get familiar with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, and learn the nuts and bolts of crafting a cracking story.
If you’re interested in the intersect between technology and creativity, then a career in digital media could be ideal.
Why study media?
As a cutting edge, ever-evolving industry, the definition of media has changed greatly over the past 20 years.
Once, the term ‘media’ could be applied to broadcast television, newspapers and radio.
Now, we’re exposed to many kinds of media in our day-to-day life – scrolling through social media, watching TV, even walking down the street, past animated billboards and bus stop posters.
Today’s media world has expanded, to include:
- long-form content – such as podcasts and YouTube videos
- animation, motion graphics and visual effects
- short-form content – such as Instagram Reels, TikTok and YouTube shorts
- animation, motion graphics and visual effects
- social media strategy
- e-learning, web and UX design
- immersive storytelling
- augmented and virtual reality.
Similarly, students studying media degrees could have expected to watch old films and sit around analysing them.
Now these sorts of programs are attracting digital natives, who are familiar with content creation. Students may have experience in running their own podcast or YouTube channel, or creating short videos for social media and want to build on their knowledge.
If you’re keen to dive into learning how these new kinds of media are created, a qualification in screen or digital media will set you up well. You’ll fine tune a skill set that encompasses different types of media uses, or choose to focus on a particular interest, as it arises.
Where can a qualification in digital media take you?
Skills in digital content creation can be an asset outside traditional roles in television, radio, film and creative agencies.
You’ll learn what’s needed to bring creative ideas to life, learning the tools and technology required to capture people’s attention – which is a valuable asset in today’s job market.
Many companies are keen to hire employees with creative skillsets, that are transferable to a range of different industries and settings. You could find work in:
- government (web projects and social and email campaigns)
- health (patient education videos)
- education (designing digital learning platforms)
- finance (social media videos for banks and educational video content for superannuation funds)
- marketing (social media and video content)
- retail (social media and ecommerce content).
You’ll learn how to communicate clearly, the overall structure of storytelling, how to analyse data and deliver information in an engaging and entertaining way.
Alongside this, you’ll learn what makes audiences tick and click, and how to work in fast-moving environments. The skills you’ll learn will set you up well to adapt to technology and platforms that do not yet exist.
VU’s state-of-the-art production facilities
Located at our Footscray Park campus, our equipment and facilities are industry-aligned and include:
- a virtual production set utilising Unreal Engine and Vive tracking technology
- a TV studio, featuring HD BlackMagic cameras, industry-standard lighting equipment, live broadcast equipment and vision mixers, and an interview set and drama set
- a podcast studio outfitted with PTZ cameras
- post-production labs, equipped with speed editors, colour panels and DaVinci Resolve software.
We’re the first Australian university to gain DaVinci Resolve certification, which we use as our main post-production software. DaVinci’s industry-standard colour correction products have been used across the film and television industry for over 40 years.
Our virtual production set includes an LED wall, Vive trackers to map camera movement in the space, and software such as Unreal Engine and ARWall, which uses Unreal Engine to display live 3D rendered environments in real time behind actors on set.
You'll learn how to manipulate an ever-growing collection of premade environments, featuring a range of settings from scenes in nature and city life, to apocalyptic futures and alien planets.
Each scene pack can be customised, adjusting factors like camera rotation and movement speed, and even controlling the weather. This multi-use function allows you to create the perfect setting for your projects and assessments.
What can you study at VU?
At VU, we offer a Bachelor of Screen Media. This three-year course will give you a solid grounding in media production, with subjects in writing for the screen, cinematography, video editing, radio production and motion graphics.
