Digital Media Summit

Earlier this month I had the privilege to attend the Digital Media Summit, an event sponsored by ABC/Disney and the International Radio & Television Society. The week-long event was held on the campus of ABC/Disney in Los Angeles and was attended by faculty from approximately 60 colleges and universities from around the nation.

The summit addressed two important issues--diversity and digital media--and featured seminars from industry executives. Producers and writers of the ABC hit show Lost provided insight into the new media marketing techniques used to build WOM (Word Of Mouth) buzz around the program. Another panel discussed techniques used to "monetize" the digital space...in simpler language, how to turn a profit from alternative means of experiencing digital media content, e.g., webisodes on cell phones and alternative reality games based on TV shows or movies. In addition to the seminars, we had opportunities to tour the sound stages and animation studios on the ABC/Disney lot.

But there were two specific things that caught my attention and that I want to share with you. First, was the growing problem of unauthorized use of digital media content. According to ABC executives, the average time elapsed after the initial broadcast of a new TV episode before that program becomes available--in HD (High Definition), with commercials removed--on a P2P (Peer to Peer) network such as BitTorrent is 17 minutes. In an attempt to counter this phenomenon, ABC is making much of its new programming available (including the first 4 seasons of Lost), in HD, on it's own website using their award winning Full Episode Player. Of course there are embedded and pre-roll ads to generate revenue, but at least it is a legal alternative for viewers who miss a broadcast or want to watch it again.

The second thing that I want to share with you is the importance of team work and collaboration in this creative industry. Time after time ABC/Disney executives told us to encourage our students to develop collaborative skills...skills that will be essential when they come to work in the TV and film industry. There is no place for a lone ranger in this business...unless he's wearing a mask and performing in front of the camera. So don't be afraid of team work. Embrace it and learn to find creative ways to enhance your productivity and the group's productivity at the same time. Collaboration is just another important tool that employers, at least in this business, will expect you to have in your toolbox.

Oh, and one last thing...both IRTS and ABC/Disney have well-established internship programs for students who want to spend a summer or semester in either NY or LA. It is a fantastic way to learn about the biz while making career contacts!

To Drink or Not to Drink: Lowering the Drinking Age

CNN.com (www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/08/18/college.drinking.age.ap/index.html) is reporting that college presidents from about 100 of the nation's best known universities are calling on lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18, claiming the current laws lead to underground, unsafe, and binge drinking on college campuses. One college president said the current law "pushes drinking into hiding, heightening the risks."

The age of legal consent to drink can be determined either of two ways: a federal law could be created for every state, or each state could evaluate the decision and determine what age was best for that state. In Colorado, the legal age of consent for drinking is 21.

MADD disagrees, citing research that a lowered drinking age will mean more fatal car crashes and more deaths from binging.

Which is it? Will a lowered drinking age mean more responsible drinking for our college students because they won't have to hide it? Or could it mean more indulgence in alcohol...more hangovers...and more trouble healthwise and with law enforcement.

Should Colorado have this discussion at the state level?