Alesia Hendley, Multimedia Journalist and New SEGD Member
Read Time: 6 minutes
May is SEGD’s Membership Month, and in recognition and celebration, SEGD is interviewing one new member each week. First up is Alesia Hendley, a multimedia journalist who joined SEGD, in part, to help bridge the gap between “technologists and creatives to tell incredible stories and create incredible experiences.” Contributing writer Franck Mercurio recently interviewed Alesia.
FMM
Hello, Alesia, and welcome to SEGD!
AH
Thank you, I am excited to finally be a part of SEGD!
FMM
This month, SEGD is recognizing and celebrating new members. When did you first join SEGD? How long have you been a member?
AH
I’ve only been a member for a week!
(both laugh)
FMM
SEGD told me you’re a new member, but I wasn’t sure how new you might be!
AH
Yeah, I’m “new new”—one week! But I know a lot of people within the group, and I’ve attended Xlab. It’s always been intriguing the type of conversations that are happening on this side, and I was like “Okay, it’s time for me to get more involved” and see how I can contribute.
FMM
How did you first learn about SEGD?
AH
Bryan Meszaros was my first touchpoint into this space. He’s on the (SEGD) board and is always a big cheerleader for the group. So, he was my first touch point of ever even knowing what this organization is about. So, definitely, from there being able to attend an Xlab and events like that, it just made sense.
FMM
SEGD’s XLab typically features new technologies and how those technologies can be used to enhance experiential design. Being a technologist yourself, is that what initially drew you to SEGD?
AH
Yes, my background is in traditional AV. I’ve always been a sound girl. I learned how to run audio in church—my dad taught me how at a pretty young age—and I went to a trade school for audio engineering.
But I realized working in the recording studio as the “coffee girl” might not be really what I wanted to do, since I came from the live event / live sound side of it. Then I found the world of traditional AV. I started running audio with companies that were working within hotels. We would go in and set up a fashion show or a conference. Eventually I landed an in-house gig where I was a part of the in house AV team. It was at a multi-purpose facility, and there it was very exciting because I got to do something new every day, under one roof. We had a stadium that sat 9000 people, an arena, a conference center and a theater—and that’s where I really realized “the more I knew, the more I grew.” So, I started being involved with lighting and stage managing and all these different types of roles that go into live events.
FMM
And did you start blogging around this time?
AH
Yes, I started blogging about the gear that I was using and the experiences that I was having. And then the manufacturers were like “This is really great.” And I was like “Well, I’m not a writer, but you guys like this.” So, it was a snowball effect of telling my story, creating content, and also being unique because most journalists in the AV space aren’t technical. They just love technology, and they know the right people to interview.
And I found that sweet spot of … well … first of all, nobody looks like me, so I kind of stood out! And also, pretty rare that I, as a writer, can get technical with the best of them, but also create this content to really tell a story in layman’s terms.
FMM
So, on your website, your title is “multimedia journalist.” What exactly is a multimedia journalist?
AH
Multimedia journalism is what I do, basically, freelance outside of my 9-to-5 at Access Networks, but that includes a bunch of different ways to create content.
I’ve written articles for a lot of publications as a form of journalism. I’ve actually done videos for companies—and that’s a form of journalism, too. And interviewing different companies at trade shows for publications, that’s also a form of journalism as well.
So, this whole multimedia background that I have, I crossed it with my love for technology and branding, and I built my own personal brand off of it, so when people ask, “What is it that you actually do?” Well, I’m a journalist. I tell stories in whichever form you would like: a video, an article—and audio, of course, with my podcast. So, there are many different ways to tell stories and also to educate. I’ve just leveraged as much as I can and really took the show on the road.
FMM
Tell me more about your Crash Pad podcast.
AH
I’m very proud of my latest podcast because it’s mine. I’ve hosted quite a few podcasts in the past, and they weren’t completely mine. Somebody was paying me. So, this podcast, Crash Pad, is my baby. It’s focused on telling the story of a creative approach behind some of the largest technology deployments around the world. I actually get to have fun with it! This is just genuine education and fun conversations that will help us grow greater experiences in the future, and I couldn’t be more excited about it because again I own it; it’s my content, and I can create freely and have those conversations openly.
FMM
One of your current posts on Crash Pad is about an art installation at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Chronicles of San Francisco by artist JR, which incorporates a lot of AV components. What is it about this particular project that really intrigued you?
AH
In traditional AV we just want to sell boxes; we want you to buy the biggest and greatest screen—and then we want to be out of it. But our technology can be a very strong supporting cast to the lead role of an artist (JR) and tell this heart moving story (The Chronicles of San Francisco). There’s nothing better than that, and so that’s where I find myself right now. I feel like I’m just sitting on this bridge of technologists and creatives, and I really want to make those intersect and tell incredible stories and create incredible experiences. You need both. That’s what excites me about technology, and that’s why I joined this group because SEDG members get the creative side of projects, the design side of projects beyond the technology itself. .
FMM
And now that you’re an SEGD member, what do you hope to gain?
AH
Networking! Networking is my bread and butter, and that’s how I’ve grown this far. I want to connect with the other SEGD members and I want them to connect with me. It’s all building and making genuine connections. I’m just excited to be a part of a space that understands design and is very forward thinking as well, so I’m excited to start networking and having engaging conversations.
FMM
And where do you see yourself in the future? What does the future hold for Alesia Hendley?
AH
So, my next step, now that I have all of this technical knowledge, I want to marry that with creative and design, so I’m pretty sure my future role is creative technologist or media producer or creative director. It’s somewhere in that realm where I can marry this love of technology, but also be engaged with my creative side. When I’m not being creative, I kinda just dwindle, you know? So, I want to be in an active role where I can really marry those and just hone-in on creating experiences from both sides.
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Want to connect with Alesia?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alesia-hendley-6182353b
Alesia Hendley: Multimedia Journalist:
https://www.thesmoothfactor.com/
Crash Pad podcast:
https://www.thesmoothfactor.com/podcast