Purpose of this project. What is expected. Essentials of Digital Media. The Team Assignment. Comm-101. Create Your Organization

Transcription

1 Purpose of this project Communications professionals work in teams. Sometimes the teams are assembled for a particular project and sometimes they are on-going teams, such as an ad agency. The team project in gives you a chance to create your own organization and learn how to work with a team. Then you and your group will complete projects that are typical of communications professionals What is expected After you watch videos from the Creative Inspirations on Lynda.com, you should be able to visualize what the structure of a a team-based organization. You should think of your team as one of these agencies. You will prepare marketing materials for your team, find a client and produce meaningful projects. Ask your client for feedback on your projects. Create Your Organization Thinking of your team as an agency. After you watch one of the Creative Inspirations videos located on the class website, think of your team as one of these agencies. Select a team leader for your organization. You can select a team leader or co-team captains, which ever you prefer. The team leader(s) is responsible for communications with your client and with the instructor. The team leader may delegate assignments to the team members. If disputes come up among the team members, the team leader should arbitrate these disputes. Prepare Your Marketing Materials As a new agency, you will need some presentation materials. If you want to compete in the open marketplace, you must demonstrate a level of professionalism to your clients; even if you never did this before. Your clients must think you know what your are doing and your presentation materials should reflect this. Begin to assemble these items very early in the semester. Here are some requirements: Create a web page to market your team How? The easiest way to create a new page is to use the class blog. Your web page could include: Your team name * A photo of your team *

2 The names of the team members with their class and major * A description of any awards or special skills that the team members have The roles or specialties that each person on the team will perform A team motto or slogan You could create a team logo (items with * are required) Create something that you can show your client in a meeting When you meet with a prospective client, you will want to show them something about your team. In the meeting, you may not be able to access the internet to show them your web site so many agencies use single page a fact sheet or a folded brochure to the client after the meeting. As a new agency, you won t have any work to highlight, so a single page document that reflects some of the same content from your web page might be perfectly acceptable. Client Deliverables (the work you produce) Your agency is expected to develop communications materials for a Susquehanna University office or service or an off-campus client. You may select your client from Susquehanna University Organization or office. You must get their approval to allow you to work with them. Conduct an interview with your client Ask to schedule a meeting with your client. When you go to the meeting, take an audio recorder with your. Record the session and ask plenty of questions. After the meeting, you will turn in a copy of the audio recording as part of your project. What should you ask? Tell us about your organization? How to you communicate with students? What are the important aspects of your program? What do you think students need to know about your organization? What materials do you use to communicate with students?

3 Are these materials effective? Can you show us what you have been using in the past? Describe the interactions that you have with students? Do you use Power Point presentations? Do you use handouts? Do you use the internet? What about QR codes? Do you have any images or logos that we can use to create materials for our class project? Do you have any questions of us? Review the Interview/Write a proposal for your services As you listen to the interview, write down the key points you learned. You can use the outline tool in MS Word to gather thoughts as you hear them on the interview and then you can reorganize to create working documents. Keep in mind that you are trying to communicate the story of your client! So find out what the story is. Get it written down in a content document! Take the document and decide how you will approach the different deliverable items for the project. Then, write a Proposal for Services Document. Organize The Content When you go over the interview, you ll likely find the main content themes get covered in several places in the interview. Use your imagination. See if there is anything the client didn t think of. Perhaps your team has a really great idea the client simply did not think of. (This is what a great communications team does.) Put the content into an organized manner so you can build your deliverable items. You can make a flow chart or an outline... anything that helps you see where the content goes. Remember the message won t change much, but what will change is the method you use to tell the message. Different media require different approaches with the same content!!! Think about how create different deliverables with the same content. Plan Your Media Items Remember to keep the message consistent. Try to use the same visual theme so that you create a brand for your client. Then work on building the project elements Deliverable Items (You should prepare 2 copies, 1 to turn in and 1 for the client ) Client Interview (an audio recording of the interview with your client)

4 A detailed proposal for services as a (MS Word or a PDF) Budget for your services prepared in MS Excel A one-page fact sheet about your client s office or service (PDF or original) This can be used as a handout in meetings or presentations You can create this document in Word, In-Design, Photoshop or Fireworks PowerPoint presentation This must include original or non-copyrighted photography It must include the correct logos of the University following the style guidelines If the organization uses a type treatment for their office, you must include that type A spiral bound information piece The purpose of this deliverable is for you to gain experience with spiral bound items for communicating. There are two types of bindings offered, GBC and wire bound. Most people feel that the wire bound documents make a better impression when the project is completed. Examples of spiral applications: a student worker job aide a calendar for the semester a photo album of recent activities a recruiting piece for student workers a motivational handout You should use the print shop for this service A single web page featuring your client s services, trip or organization A 30-second PSA radio commercial Requirements: Length - exactly 30 seconds! The audio must include a background music track (you can find a video tutorial on how to create a music background track) You may NOT use copyrighted music (see the tutorial on creating music tracks) The voice track must use professional audio equipment The radio commercial must be uploaded to the FTP A short video program - between 1 minute 30 seconds and 3 minutes in length

5 Turn in the script in a recognized TV script format You must include a rough story board of your idea The storyboard should include sample photos or text if your script uses them A news story for the Crusader This must include original photography You must include quotes from a primary interview person You must correctly identify the primary interview person in the article You can make this a human interest story, a story that highlights an event, or a story that promotes an upcoming event or if you prefer, you can make this a did you know about this office type story A Completed Client Feedback Form

6 Feedback Show Your Work to Client Set a meeting with your client to review your work products. You should give your client a copy of all of your work materials for them to use. In a real situation, you may be asked to make changes to the work proecuts your submitted but extensive changes are not possible in a 14 week course. You should make your client aware of this limitation. Get Feedback The best way to measure the success of your project is to ask your client. Most agencies create a client feedback form that is sent to each and every client. The form includes a simple checkbox system so the client can quickly give you feedback. The forms often have space for additional comments. At the bottom, there is the option to sign the form if desired but the client can send it in anonymously. Set a meeting with your client to review your work products. Part of your team grade will be based on the feedback that is received from your client.