12 Attributes of Extraordinary Media Professionals - by Roger Cooper (Paperback)

About the Book

Too few future media professionals understand that personal attributes like adaptability and integrity are just as important as industry knowledge. This book combines stories of successful professionals with activities to begin readers' development of attributes that will rema...

Book Synopsis

Too few future media professionals understand that personal attributes like adaptability and integrity are just as important as industry knowledge. This book combines stories of successful professionals with activities to begin readers' development of attributes that will remain relevant despite career-stage or future technological change.

Review Quotes

Cooper has written an extremely valuable and timely book. His exploration of the attributes we continually work to develop in our students is done with illustrative stories, wisdom, and humor. This book should be required reading for every student who aspires to a career as a media professional.

From the "little things" like arrive early, stay late and always carry a notebook to the big picture, Cooper's 12 Attributes of Extraordinary Media Professionals offers students and media professionals in any stage of their careers practical advice and tips for developing the soft skills so critical to success. I plan on adopting it for the leadership seminar I'm teaching.

Heed the lessons herein, as they deliver a "how to" for young professionals trying to make their way into and navigate the deep waters of the entertainment industry. It's a legitimate prerequisite for anyone seeking an informational interview or more in showbiz.

I've worked with hundreds of students from colleges and universities across the nation, encouraging them to dream big and pursue those dreams with confidence. Cooper's 12 Attributes of Extraordinary Media Professionals is a stabilizing must-read for anyone starting a career in media.

Roger Cooper without a doubt knows the qualities one needs to succeed at their craft. I've experienced his gentle yet passionate way with students first hand. Now everyone can experience the Roger Cooper way. I highly recommend it.

The digital world is providing unbounded career opportunities. Preparing students for flexible, work from anywhere careers that include multiple employers is the challenge. Roger Cooper lays out 12 Attributes to help students understand the career and life marathon. Skills might get you a job but media career advancement requires the introspective understanding that 12 Attributes offers.

The twelve attributes Roger Cooper details in his book are applicable to career development stemming from organic human needs. Not only are they a great guide for attaining a career in the film industry, but also a great guide for creating a career you are happy to wake up to everyday, surrounded by people with similar ethics as your own. As with all our choices along life's journey, we create more of what we pursue and this perspective is invaluable for joy in the field, for long haul.

The 12 Attributes is informative, inspiring, and much-needed in our field. Cooper "speaks" directly with readers, often with a great sense of humor. Readers will not feel like they're reading a book, but rather engaging with a caring mentor. This is a book written from the heart of a true educator and will capture the heart of its readers. As a media professor, I'm excited to adopt this book in my classes.

This book offers long-overdue, invaluable advice about the transition from Student Life to Professional Success. Not for Media Students only. Cooper's conversational tone allows the reader to open the book anywhere to increase knowledge and confidence in their future. This book provides a lifetime of common sense thinking. It is a MUST READ for any student.

What are the characteristics that propel some to long-term success while other equally talented people fail? The 12 Attributes is like a checklist for success. Since reading it, I see proof of it repeatedly, in the people I work with and in my own career. I can't recommend it enough.

About the Author

Roger Cooper is an award-winning professor and Director of the OHIO-in-Los Angeles program at Ohio University. His teaching and research focus on career development for the media professions. He has overseen hundreds of internships and mentored successful professionals working in television, film, digital, journalism, and music. Cooper has led professional development seminars for the National Association of Broadcasters as well as for media organizations located in Japan, Malaysia, and Qatar.