Media / Communications / Entertainment
Regulars | Industry Guide

Media /
Communications / Entertainment

Media / Communications / Entertainment

Quite closely interlinked, the media, communications and entertainment sectors in Singapore are broadly defined as pillars of the media industry. From its shift towards a more global media approach, emphasis on digitisation and increasing financial support from the government, Singapore’s media industry is poised for large-scale success.

Medley of Scopes

Advertising Account Executive

Advertising account executives work within advertising or multi-service agencies as a bridge between clients and the agency. They help to coordinate advertising campaigns and communicate strategies to stakeholders. This makes it extremely critical for them to understand their clients’ needs and objectives. Advertising account executives can have long working hours and work in a competitive environment – suitable for those who relish a challenge.

Media Planner

Say a company is looking to advertise their brand or a particular product. To this end, it has to identify the most appropriate and cost-effective mediums. Most big companies employ the service of media planners, who work within advertising or media planning agencies. Media planners maximise the impact of companies’ advertising campaigns through creative thinking, factual analysis and the use of a range of media platforms.

Marketing Communications

Those in Marketing Communications (or Marcomm) typically manage and produce media collaterals to ensure that they align with and reiterate a company’s objectives. These collaterals include corporate presentation materials, internal and external newsletters, brochures, and annual reports. Additionally, Marcomm people oftentimes manage and coordinate company events.

Television/Film/Video Producer

Producers are mostly responsible for facilitating a television programme, film or video project. They oversee the project right from conception to completion, and may even be involved in the distribution process. They also raise funding, which may sometimes see them tap onto Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA). MDA provides rising talent with assistance through schemes such as the New Talent Feature grant, where first and second time directors are supported financially through $250,000 or 100 per cent of a project’s production budget.

Writer/Editor

Whether you are a journalist, online/offline writer or editor, all writers need to harness their creativity, organisational skills, research skills and flair for writing in order to have a successful career. With new media and the trend of digitisation, doors are also being opened for writers in areas such as computer game scripts. The good thing about a writing job is that you do not have to commit to it full-time – there are many opportunities for one to freelance and earn money through assignments on the side!

Salary Range for Fresh Graduates*

Diploma:

$2,000 – $2,500

Degree:

$2,800 – $3,500

*Source: Singapore Yearbook of Manpower Statistics 2016, Ministry of Manpower

Important Qualities

1. Inclination towards the Profession

There are many professions that draw people to its monetary benefits, leading one to be motivated by money instead of purpose. This is unlikely to happen in the media industry. The media industry generally does not pay as much as, say, the banking and financial services industry, and one would need their love for media and content creation to take them through challenges.

2. Commitment to Learning and Discovering

Media professionals need to keep themselves abreast of industry trends and happenings in order to stay relevant. Apart from current affairs in which writers and journalists have to be updated on, there are also new platforms and formats for online content creators to maximise their talent. Regardless of the role you will take in the media industry, the commitment to learning and rediscovering is a must-have, as well as the overall commercial and cultural awareness of the media and creative industries.

3. The Ability to Communicate Concepts

One has to communicate information clearly and effectively in the media industry, regardless of the medium they use. In order to get to that stage, it is important for these effective communicators to first be able to grasp concepts easily. This stems from the ability to listen to and understand objectives outside of your own.

4. Adhering to Briefs and Deadlines

This may seem like you will not have much space to let your creativity flow, but the fact is quite the opposite. One would need to use their creativity to identity ways and means to meet the objectives of stakeholders, with a brief merely serving as a guide. The challenge is that deadlines are sometimes difficult to meet, making it important for one to develop time-management skills and the ability to prioritise tasks.