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Info on Working as a Multimedia Editor in Illinois

Written by Judee ShipmanMarch 29, 2012
Illinois
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The state of Illinois supports many thousand multimedia companies and many local artists, especially in and around Chicago.  The state is ideal for artists seeking employment as audio-visual editors.  Illinois (especially Chicago) maintains a thriving visual arts industry that offers limitless opportunities in this lucrative, high tech field.

Illinois Schools and Training Programs for Multimedia Editing

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Many Illinois Universities, colleges and independent visual arts instructors offer courses and programs in audio-visual arts.  Aspiring editors earning degrees at Illinois film schools typically major in communication design.  Popular local art colleges with film departments include University of Illinois, Chicago State University, American Academy of Art, Harrington College of Design and The International Academy of Design and Technology in Chicago, as well as Rasmussen College, Rock Valley College and Rockford Business College in Rockford, AGA Digital Studio in Schaumburg and Vatterott College in Quincy, to mention only a few.

Increasing numbers of Illinois artists acquire technical skills via the internet.  Accredited online schools of multimedia design include the Academy of Art University, Post University, Full Sail University, Stratford Career Institute, University of Phoenix, DeVry, The Art Institutes, ITT Tech and others.  Some online art schools offer additional physical locations.  University of Phoenix has campuses in Chicago, Schaumburg, Mokena and Warrenville.  ITT Tech has campuses in Oakbrook, Springfield, Mount Prospect and Orland Park.  DeVry is located in Addison, Chicago, Downers Grove, Elgin, Gurnee, Naperville, Schaumburg and Tinley Park.  The Art Institute is at your face-to-face service in Chicago, Schaumburg and Tinley Park. 

Working as a Multimedia Editor in Illinois

Countless commercial companies throughout the state of Illinois hire professional audio-visual designers, with virtually all multimedia productions in need of editing.  Local multimedia editors often work for Illinois TV stations like Broadcast-NBC, Chitrahar-Broadcasting and Shadow-Broadcast-Operation in Chicago or WREX-13, WQRF and WTVO in Rockford, to name a few.  Illinois sound editors are often employed by local radio stations like Century-Broadcasting-Corporation, FCI-Broadcasting and WZCO in Chicago, as well as Airplay-Broadcasting and WXRX in Rockford, among others. 

On average, full time professional multimedia editors employed in the state of Illinois earn about $60,070 per year, with a mean hourly wage of around $30.00. 

Skills of a Professional Multimedia Editor

Audio editors organize, alter and assemble sound and music segments, often aligning them with moving visual images.  Visual multimedia editors work with motion picture fragments, expertly arranging them into seamless, coherent sequences.  Most modern-day multimedia productions are digitally created, so professional audio-visual editors are fully familiar with popular digital editing software programs like Unreal Editor, Final Cut, After Effects and Dreamweaver, among others.  Media editors also utilize traditional editing techniques, which are still in use today.  Other pertinent technical qualifications include web page construction, programming skills and interactive game design.  Most multimedia editors are also familiar with other aspects of audio-visual production including lighting, layout, camera angles and script development.