The main goal of this conference is to bring together people who want to consider the possibilities opened up by New Media and Social Media. The Media and Entertainment Initiative, and Shasta College, hope to spark conversations between north state students, faculty, businesses and interested community members that will continue long after the conference is over. 

It's our firm belief that the tools of New Media can educate, advocate, inform, illuminate and inspire us. We also think it's possible to have a lot of fun. Social Media offers new tools for collaborating, and all of our speakers have "stepped up" to explore these interactive tools.

The MEI has, as part of its mission, the goal of preparing community college students for job in the media industry. This is an exciting but challenging task because it requires continual conversations between those businesses who will provide the jobs, those students who choose to pursue their dreams, and the faculty who work to properly prepare students. 

Not so long ago, "New Media" was brand new. Now, it has matured into a variety of pursuits in animation, simulation, computer game design, audio production, web design, and video production.

The platforms have continually expanded to include the latest portable devices. 

To quote the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, "the only constant is change."

Shasta College is proud to host this conference, and is grateful for the sponsorship of the MEI. SC's offerings are, at present, modest. In the present economic environment, it is hard for any school to do all that it would like to do.

So it is important that Shasta College partner with local artists, businesses, and schools to help our students have opportunities in new media.

This conference focuses on collaborating and writing, but we also will address still photography and audio production. We'll show you how you can get started immediately, and leave you with resources you can use and places you can go to answer your questions.

More than anything else, we hope that students will speak up, and express their fondest interests and goals to those present. The website, www.newmediatoolkit.com, will be a continuing presence for any who wish to help us assemble resources for student success. 

The participants in this conference were chosen for their enthusiasm, expertise, and varied perspectives. 

No matter whether you are a newbie student, an experienced professional, or a faculty member looking for local or long-distance partnerships, this conference ought to have something to offer. 

We look forward to you joining the conversation, our nascent community, and "Playing With Ideas."