Media students were visited by Joanna Booth, Director of Social Media Makes Sense. 

Social Media Makes Sense (SMMS) works within the TV and Film industry and they create the online buzz around the latest releases. They are responsible for the social media accounts and online digital campaigns that promote TV shows including Poldark, Line of Duty, Endeavour, Victoria and Vanity Fair, to name a few. 

The company is based locally in Hyde but their online reach extends far beyond Tameside. Working on projects for ITV and the BBC, their work travels far and wide on the internet amassing thousands of followers and engagement for TV shows that have been taking over our TV screens in the past few years. SMMS have also worked with international audiences, promoting British TV shows in the US.

Joanna spoke about her background and journey that led her to becoming the founder of her own company in TV and Film. Over the next few months, she will work with Ashton Sixth Form College's media students to provide them with invaluable work experience opportunities. Students will work on a live brief and gain an insight in to the daily work of SMMS. Social media is still a rapidly evolving tool for communication and marketing. Current media students will gain experience in an expanding area of the digital world that directly impacts the TV and Film industry.

SMMS call themselves the "meme makers, social shakers and community creators". The range of their work is extensive including campaign management  and content curation. Often Joanna and her team can visit numerous TV sets in a single week, gaining a firsthand look at the way the industry works from ground level. They gain a true insight in to the TV shows they work on, allowing them to promote the show to the right audiences in the best way. Joanna's team are also extremely active in training various companies, businesses and individuals on their use of social media.

During Joanna's talk at the college, she also offered some incredible advice about what she looks for in an employees. She passed on her experience and the advice she has gathered while working with some of the most incredible teams in TV and Film. 

Students who study Media at Ashton progress on to a wide range of careers beginning straight after college with either university, apprenticeships or direct to employment. Experience such as this will allow current students to expand their skills, ensuring they are much more prepared for the working world and improving their options after leaving college. 

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Find out more about studying Media at Ashton here.