Hey everyone. I hope you're looking forward to studying BA Advertising, PR and Branding at Middlesex. Before you start, I want to share some of my top tips to help you prepare for studying your course.
Podcasts are taking over the world and are becoming a preferred method of sourcing information for many people.
The Media Show Podcast by BBC Radio and the 21st Century Mythologies, The Kardashians by BBC Radio 4 are two podcasts that we were asked to listen to as part of our preparation for class and I believe they can help you get into the crazy world of podcasts.
Being on a media related course means that your studies don't end with the academic reading you’re given. In fact, it’s only the beginning!
Today, the word ‘media’ has so many definitions that it has become an entire world in itself. To be a part of the media world one needs to learn how it works.
There is only one way to do that and that's to become familiar with as many media sources as possible. To help you with that here are some recommendations to get you started.
Firstly, an amazing book that I think every creative person should read is Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. The book discusses the attitudes, approaches and habits we need to live our most creative lives.
The author offers an amazing view of creativity and the fear of being exposed as a ‘fraud’ or an imposter.
If you're interested in advertising, the TV show Mad Men might be the one for you.
The show is set in the 1960s and it looks at the dynamic of an ad agency. It also explores different themes such as identity, memory, gender, sexuality, and much more. According to my professors, it is a must-watch for anyone interested in going into advertising and promotion.
The documentary The Social Dilemma was met with mixed responses when it came out in 2020 but I believe anyone interested in building a career in media should watch it.
It explores the dangerous impact of social networking and voices the concerns that tech experts have regarding their own creations.
Another Netflix show you might enjoy is Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj. It is a comedy show with a twist as Minhaj brings a nuanced perspective to global news, politics and culture.
My top tip for new starters goes back to my first point - learn about as many different topics as possible.
Learning about the conversations happening around the world will allow you to react adequately when you encounter them in your career. Whether that would be about the latest innovations in technology or the latest social cause that people are fighting for, you need to be informed about these topics in order to survive in the media world.
I hope this helps, message me on Unibuddy if you have any other questions.
