Media Assistant

Provide professional video production and post production services in support of the University’s Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court webcast project. This position works part-time, nine (9) months with the possibility of hours in a tenth month depending on whether or not makeup sessions are needed.

Primary Responsibilities:

Execute the live webcast of the court session including operating a high definition switcher, 4 cameras (some robotic), on-screen graphics overlay, audio mixing, digital encoding for live and archival streams and ensuring adequate operation of the closed captioning interface. This work is most often executed from the on on-site control room although some portable camera operations and audio mixing may be required at times. This includes monitoring the web stream for quality control and reporting any irregularities to the webcast manager immediately.

Starting up and testing all equipment prior to the webcast and during webcast test sessions.  This includes ensuring proper audio/video output to all destinations including live encoding, archival recording and overflow locations. Troubleshooting all related equipment as necessary.

Immediately following live webcast, in post-production, edit the archival video file creating individuals files for each case heard during a session, export the files in the appropriate formats, title correctly and place the files on the server as directed.  Other duties as assigned.

•          Requirements/Qualifications:

•          Background in broadcast, streaming media, video or related field

•          Experience in live video production

•          Expert knowledge of Adobe Premiere

•          Comfortable editing, transcoding and working with multiple video formats

•          Experience with Imagine Communications StreamZ software is ideal.

•          Experience with Wowza Streaming Media server and JW Player content delivery preferred.

This position works an unusual, limited schedule and the ideal candidate is a professional media production freelancer who is interested in committing to a regular monthly ‘gig’. The sessions are typically as follows:
From September through May:
Four, 7-hour work days during the first full week of each month
One, 2-hour test day during the week prior (day/time determined based on mutally agreeable scheduling)
For June (potential, dependent upon the Court’s schedule):
One, 7-hour work day. Date to be determined
One, 2-hour test day during the week prior (day/time determined based on mutually agreeable scheduling)
July/August:
Typically there are no sessions and therefore no work days