Northern Lights

The leaves are falling, the temperature is dropping and multi-platform (MP) thinking is rife. The Digital Natives of the Northern Lights wander between Liverpool and Manchester hoping to find an idea, a revolution, an inspirational advance that will solve the catastrophic mess that is the media industry.

One thing we can be sure of; the Luddites of yesteryear, with their single platform minds, must wake up to the reality of MP or face the consequences. As we pass the halfway point of the programme, we have learnt how to operate professional TV cameras, create iPhone applications, build websites, and use radio station studio controls. But how does this all relate? That is the big question.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the Northern Lights experience so far is not trying to answer this question, but rather to put ourselves in a MP mindset that will benefit us in years to come.

As I recall Bob Dylan once saying, the “platforms they are a changing” and one must make sure that they aren’t caught unaware. Therefore dearest readers, MP is here to stay and embrace this or face the prospects of becoming another Digital Luddite.

“Multi-platform” is today’s media buzzword.  Computer games spawn feature films.  TV programmes launch music careers. Social networks form the new hubs for boutique video content.  How does a media industry that traditionally recruited and trained along clearly demarcated and segmented channels find the talent to develop the ideas of tomorrow?

Northern Lights is a four-week programme funded by Northwest Vision and Media aimed at helping develop talented individuals to thrive in such environments. It is an innovative multi-platform media production course that piloted successfully last May and has been commissioned to run again this November.  This is what Lisa Strachan who attended in May had to say about it. (continue reading…)

Well its official. We can now announce the industry partner line up for the second Northern Lights programme which starts on the 2nd November. The BBC and Made in Manchester will be supporting us again on the TV and radio strands. Our two new partners are Mando and Milky Tea. Both based in the heart of Liverpool city centre, Mando has recently been voted as How-Do’s digital agency of the year in 2009 and will be supporting the interactive strand of the cross-channel programme. Milky Tea is one of the UK’s leading CGI and creative arts production companies working major national and multi-national clients.

The programme will be centred on both Manchester and Liverpool over the four weeks and will undoubtedly offer new entrants an excellent introduction to the creative industries  and the opportunities they offer in the North West.

Applications will be accepted from Monday 6th September so check back to download the forms.