Steven Pratten
Get to know some of our College of Media alumni. Steven Pratten (BS ’15, media and cinema studies) is a senior digital media manager at the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Pratten also participated in a Media Career Night alumni panel on "Digital Communication" in Spring 2023. Watch a recording of the session here.
When did you know that you wanted to study media and cinema studies?
In junior high, my fascination with local TV production began. I was amazed by how networks could produce multiple shows in a day with such fast turnaround. Being from Champaign-Urbana, WCIA News was a local network that I noticed played an essential role in informing and creating a sense of community in the smaller market. This sparked my passion for media, and I even created a small news set in my basement where I forced my friends to act as reporters and anchors. Although, it may seem outdated, editing on tape gave me a solid technical foundation in media. In high school, my interest in media evolved into my affinity for horror movies. I would make 50-hour-long horror movies, about one per year, and even focused on advanced editing, which became one of my favorite things. I also started to explore graphic design and marketing by creating posters for my movies. When it was time to consider college, the media and cinema studies major in the College of Media caught my attention. I knew it was the ideal fit for me since the University of Illinois is a world-class university in my hometown. I had the opportunity to join different clubs, work at WILL/Illinois Public Media, and freelanced on the side. These experiences, along with my education, gave me the technical and theoretical skills I needed to succeed in my career after graduation.
How do you think the College of Media prepared you for your career?
Through the College of Media and the media and cinema studies program, I was exposed to a wide range of media. This experience equipped me with the tools to consume media with the understanding that everything in media exists within the context of its time and its creators. The audience shapes how it’s received. This understanding prepared me for my experience in content creation, where I had to craft my messages in a way that resonated with the target audience and created an impactful experience for them.
Moreover, being involved in the College of Media provided me with various opportunities, including participating in Ebertfest, joining different RSOs, and serving as a student ambassador. It gave me insight to all the different paths I could pursue in my career. It was a very well-rounded program that had plenty of specific things you would take away, while giving you the opportunity to mold it into your own experience.
What are one or two skills that you think a Media student needs to be successful?
The media industry is a rapidly evolving field, not just in terms of technical advancement in camera or platforms, but also in the changing channels of consumption, audience preferences, and shifting demographics. Therefore, the ability to learn and adapt is crucial, and it’s more important than simply possessing knowledge. Instead, you should look ahead and think about what will make yourself, your work, or your organization stand out. As the competition for audience attention increases, having a forward-thinking outlook on the future is becoming increasingly necessary.
What are your responsibilities as senior digital media manager?
I'm responsible for ensuring that the Gies College of Business produces high quality, pedagogically sound video content for our global audience of learners. I manage a group of video producers and graphic designers that make that content and ensure that it is up to the standards of Illinois Gies College of Business. Ultimately, our goal is to make sure our videos teach and educate people. We create dynamic and engaging video content while maintaining its educational value.
Apart from this, I also handle typical aspects of the media industry such as ensuring projects hit crucial milestones and forecasting potential issues. If a milestone is missed, we evaluate how we can work through any constraints to produce high-quality content.
Project management is another big part of my job. I place great value on supporting our staff by providing them with the necessary resources and tools to reach their full potential and bring their best work to the table.
In addition, a significant portion of my attention is focused on the development of a new production building, Steven S. Wymer Hall. This building will have two 40-by-40 production sound stages, and we are designing them in a way that will enhance our content and expand its capabilities. It’s exciting to build a future workplace that my team is eager to be a part of.
What advice would you give to students who are graduating soon from the College of Media?
Graduation is an exciting time, but it can also bring about anxiety. It marks the beginning of a new chapter in your life. My advice is to allow your interests to guide you to your first job or jobs. It's easy to become fixated on job titles, salaries, or locations, but true fulfillment and success come from having a genuine interest in your work. Allowing your interests to guide your career choices will set you up for sustainable success throughout your professional life. Don't be afraid to take on unknown roles, as you never know where they may take you. Use your internal passion as a compass as you embark on your professional journey!
—Interview by Lauren Barjami, New Voices Intern