AV News 196 - May 2014
From its inception in the early
1970s, the panel responsible for
RPS distinctions in audio visual
has been at the forefront of
change in the way in which
distinctions are assessed.
It was the first panel to allow
observers, the first to hold
regional meetings and the first to
have direct feedback on the day
between panel members and
applicants.
Its latest incarnation; the
Multimedia Panel is continuing
this tradition. One of the
frustrations that long affected observers at AV assessment meetings was the
'dead period' when the panel was out of the room making its deliberations.
The Multimedia Panel's operation has been brought into line with all of the
other RPS panels, so far as Licentiateship and Associateship applications
are concerned, in that the showing of work and the decision making process
are now both in public. This is undoubtedly a beneficial change for both
applicants on the day and those considering making a submission, since
they can gain a clearer understanding of the process and the relative
strengths and weaknesses of the various applications. It also allows a useful
insight into the panel's discussions and the chance to observe that the panel
members don't always agree with one another, which, after all, is the
purpose of having a panel!
The other significant change that has come about is that AV applications
are now assessed alongside those in moving image and interactive media
and the makeup of the panel membership reflects this broader remit. Some
AV traditionalists may be uneasy that this change might mean that AV
applications are somehow disadvantaged as compared to the previous
arrangements. From my own observations, I don't think this is the case at all.
In fact, not only does traditional AV have a very good representation on the
Multimedia Panel, but I have never detected any sense in which the
individual members regard themselves as 'AV people' or 'video people' or
any other allegiance when making their assessments. We are all there to
come to a decision on the work put in front of us in whatever medium, based
on our own experience.
The RPS has devoted a tremendous amount of energy and resources into
trying to make the arrangements for multimedia applications as flexible and
as fair as possible. I do hope that we will see more submissions from the AV
community as time goes on. The opportunity is certainly there.
Richard Brown FRPS APAGB EFIAP FIPF
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