There is a wide range of new media careers to consider pursuing. In this field, it’s essential to stay flexible. It’s entirely possible that careers unheard of today will become standard in a few years. A focus on acquiring transferable skills may be helpful to new media professionals.
Here are positions currently available in the new media field:
Media and Communication Occupations
There are many different career options within media and communication occupations. One typical example is professionals who specialize in working with social media, such as social media specialists, managers and influencers.
Social media managers, specialists and influencers may represent a company or brand on social media platforms, like TikTok, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. These professionals determine the best content to share with audiences across platforms.
They create content, post and maintain communication with customers. A graduate interested in leveraging new media to support customers across different social media platforms may pursue this type of media and communications occupation.
Public Relations Specialist
PR specialists help maintain and improve companies’ reputation and public image. They do this by working with media members, writing press releases and organizing events. PR professionals are also usually involved in internal communications and may help company leaders write speeches and thought leadership pieces.
Graphic and Digital Designers
Graphic designers create visual images and may also work with video. They use graphics to tell stories for brands and products. A designer may also create logos for businesses’ social platforms or work with images to be posted.
Graphic designers often work with writers to get the correct interplay of visuals and text through print or digital platforms such as email. They may create the look and feel of a website, and they may also work on print materials that support new media campaigns.
A digital designer, such as a web designer, works on developing websites and reaching an audience through digital design elements, including animation or other interactive elements.
Digital Editor
Editors play a crucial role in new media. Much like how an editor polishes the language in a book, magazine or newspaper, editors are also necessary for editing digital content.
Editors analyze and edit footage to create the best possible product for release online. In this age of new media technologies, video can be a powerful tool, and knowing how to use it to tell a story is essential.
Marketing Manager or Public Relations Manager
Marketing managers are professionals who oversee the marketing department of an organization. The exact duties of a marketing manager differ based on where they work. Some marketing managers work with traditional and new media depending on the company.
This career may require experience in a related position, such as market research or sales. It also typically requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as communications or marketing.4
Just as marketing managers may oversee a team of marketers, public relations managers oversee PR campaigns. Depending on the specific organization, a PR manager may develop the overall strategy for a particular client or brand and ensure that all digital materials are align with that strategy.
Technical Writer
Many forms of new media are purely for entertainment purposes. Technical writing is different. It consists of written content solely for informational and instructional purposes, such as how-to guides and instruction manuals.
Technical writing is not considered to be a form of new media. However, handbooks and guides are now available online in digital formats. Some technical writing may include multimedia, such as video tutorials and interactive elements.
Writers, Authors and Bloggers
If you are passionate about sharing information, consider becoming a writer or blogger in new media. Written content on organizations’ websites can promote or explain a company’s products and services.
This new media form can introduce customers to certain aspects of a company and upcoming products. As a writer in the digital world, you may write marketing materials such as email campaigns or social media captions in conjunction with other teams.
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys (“DJs”) most often use traditional forms of media, such as television and radio. The job of broadcast announcers is to read scripted materials, such as commercials and news reports, while DJs may similarly read scripted materials and play music.
Although television and radio may not be considered new media, some of these professionals might be considered as working in new media if their content is available in digital formats. For instance, some radio stations may offer streaming options on their websites, and some TV stations may publish video clips on their social media profiles.
