Content Creators: Career Pathways and Real-World Connection Do you have any artistic abilities? Do you like to create original content? The second domain we will look at that helps to support the Players in the esports world is the Content Creators. Careers in esports-related fields for Content Creators include graphic and digital artwork within game design companies and freelance work as cosplay and makeup artists. They help develop media content as journalists and live/social media content as shoutcasters and streamers, reporting on esports teams and events. They also find lucrative careers in website design and development. The Content Creators domain has five career focuses - Software Developers, Shoutcasters, Streamers, Journalists, and Fandom Art & Media. Let’s take a moment to look at each of these careers! Software Developers Software Developers design computer applications or programs. What do they do? Analyze users’ needs and then design and develop software to meet those needs Recommend software upgrades for customers’ existing programs and systems Design each piece of an application or system and plan how the pieces will work together Create a variety of models and diagrams showing programmers the software code needed for an application Ensure that a program continues to function normally through software maintenance and testing Document every aspect of an application or system as a reference for future maintenance and upgrades What skills do they need? Analytical Skills: They must evaluate users’ needs and design software to function correctly and meet those needs. Communication Skills: They must be able to give clear instructions and explain problems that arise to other team members involved in development. They must also be able to explain to non-technical users, such as customers, how the software worlds and answer any questions that arise. Creativity Skills: They must be innovative in designing, identifying problems, and improving the computer software. Detail-Oriented Skills: They often need to concentrate on many parts of an application or system simultaneously and must pay attention to detail when looking for potential areas of user error. Interpersonal Skills: They must work well with others who contribute to designing, programming, and testing successful software. Problem-Solving Skills: They must be able to solve problems that arise throughout the design process. Technological Skills: They must understand how various technologies work and be able to learn and troubleshoot both hardware and software issues. Shoutcasters Shoutcasters provide commentary and host events. What do they do? Present information to be broadcasted online or at venues Interview guests at events Research topics for comment and discussion during events Read prepared scripts Provide commentary for the audience during events Select program content Introduce upcoming acts and guide the audience through the entertainment Make promotional appearances at public or private events What skills do they need? Computer Skills: They should be comfortable using editing software and other broadcast-related devices. Interpersonal Skills: They interview guests, answer calls on the air, and may interact with listeners on social media. Persistence Skills: They must realize that entry into this occupation is very competitive and may need to audition many times for an opportunity. They must be willing to work for small events to gain experience. Research Skills: They must research essential topics of the day to be knowledgeable enough to comment on them during their events. Speaking Skills: They must have a pleasant and well-controlled voice, good timing, and excellent pronunciation. Writing Skills: They need strong writing skills because they usually write their material. Streamers Streamers broadcast themselves online through a live stream or prerecorded video. What do they do? Broadcast activities to a live audience as a form of entertainment to a specific audience Demonstrate skill in the activity they are engaging in Provide entertainment and communication channels to and from the audience What skills do they need? Critical Thinking Skills: They must find solutions to problems, whether in the game, for the productivity of the business, or work-life balance. Creativity Skills: They must come up with new and innovative ideas. Collaboration Skills: They work with others as a content creation team, taking down the enemy players with teammates or working with other streamers to host significant events. Communication Skills: They must be able to communicate in a practical, respectful, and entertaining way to their target audiences, as well as to any other members of their content creation team. Informational-Literacy Skills: They need to know when they are getting the most views, what people like, and when to produce what kinds of content by understanding facts, figures, statistics, and data. Technological Skills: They must understand the platform and software they are streaming on to use the available tools most. Journalists Journalists keep the public updated about current events and important information. What do they do? Research topics that an editor or news director has assigned to them Develop relationships with experts and contacts who provide tips and leads on stories or articles Interview people who have information, analysis, or opinions about a story or article Analyze and interpret information to increase audience understanding of the news Write stories or articles for newspapers, magazines, or websites and create scripts to be read on television or radio Review stories or articles for accuracy, style, and grammar Update stories or articles as new information becomes available Investigate new story or article ideas and pitch ideas to editors What skills do they need? Communication Skills: They must convey information with solid writing skills. Interpersonal Skills: They must be able to build relationships, develop contacts, and conduct interviews. They also need to work well with their colleagues. Persistence Skills: They must be determined when pursuing stories or articles. Investigating topics and gathering facts may be difficult, mainly when those involved refuse to be interviewed or to provide comments. Stamina Skills: They often work in a fast-paced and exhausting environment. They must be able to adapt to the irregular hours of work. Technological Skills: They should be able to use editing equipment and other broadcast-related devices. They should also be able to use multimedia and coding software to publish stories on websites and mobile devices. Fandom Art & Media Fandom Art & Media uses various materials and techniques to create art for sale and exhibition. What do they do? Use techniques such as knitting, weaving, glassblowing, painting, drawing, and sculpting Develop creative ideas or new methods for making art Create sketches, templates, or models to guide their work Select which materials to use based on color, texture, strength, and other criteria. Shape, join, or cut materials for a final product Use visual techniques, such as composition, color, space, and perspective to produce desired artistic effects Develop portfolios highlighting their artistic styles and abilities to show to gallery owners and others interested in their work Display their work at auctions, craft fairs, galleries, museums, and online marketplaces Complete grant proposals and applications to obtain financial support for projects What skills do they need? Artistic Ability Skills: They create artwork and other objects that are visually appealing or thought-provoking. This endeavor requires significant skill and attention to detail in one or more art forms. Business Skills: They must promote themselves and their art to build a reputation to sell their art. They often study the market for their crafts or artwork to increase their understanding of what prospective customers might want. They also may sell their work on the internet, so developing an online presence is often an essential part of their art sales. Creativity Skills: They must have active imaginations to develop new and original ideas for their work. Customer-Service Skills: They must be good at dealing with customers and prospective buyers. Dexterity Skills: They must be good at manipulating tools and materials to create their art. Interpersonal Skills: They should be comfortable interacting with people, including customers, gallery owners, and the public. Apply What You've Learned There were many skills mentioned that these careers needed. In the activity below, you will see definitions for some of the skills that were mentioned in the five careers of the Content Creators domain. Drag and drop each tile to its appropriate definition. Can you identify all five? Lesson Review To support the Players in the esports world, the Content Creators have five careers: Software Developers Shoutcasters Streamers Journalists Fandom Art & Media Four of these careers have interpersonal skills listed as needed to perform the job. Please take a moment to think about all the skills used in creating video games, from the beginning stages to when the public gains access to them! Next, we will look at the different sections of video game advertisements. Click here to view the next lesson: 3.3-Content Creators: Parts of Print Advertisements. Images: "Producer producing a production" by Obi - @pixel6propix under Unsplash License "Coding" by Christopher Gower under Unsplash License "A sounds engineer works on a song using one of the few Slate Raven 23 Production Units in the United States" by Obi - @pixel6propix under Unsplash License Image by Stem List under Unsplash License Image by christopher lemercier under Unsplash License Image by Joe007 under Pixabay License "A Man Doing a Podcast" by Emmanuel Jason Eliphalet under Pexels License "Black Flat Screen Computer Monitor on White Wooden Desk" by Roberto Nickon under Pexels License Image by Stem List under Unsplash License Image by Unknown under CC0 1.0, via PxHere "Man Holding Black Dslr Camera" by Mustafa Husnii under Pexels License "radio milenium microphones" by patriciojorge70 under CC0 1.0, via PxHere "Four Person in Naruto Costume" by Donald Tong under Pexels License "Mosaic Alien on Wall" by Francesco Ungaro under Pexels License "Focus Photo of Super Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi Figurines" by Pixabay under CC0 1.0, via Pexels "An Animal Head X-ray Image on the Computer Monitor" by Tima Miroshnichenko under Pexels License Adapted content: "Occupational Outlook Handbook: Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers" by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics under Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Domain "Occupational Outlook Handbook: Announcers and DJs" by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics under Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Domain "Occupational Outlook Handbook: News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists" by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics under Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Domain "Occupational Outlook Handbook: Craft and Fine Artists" by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics under Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Domain Images, adapted content, and course structure: "Middle School Curriculum Esports Elective" by NASEF under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, via NASEF Original content by Michigan Virtual, unless otherwise noted. 2022. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0