What is Interactive Media?
Interactive media is a form of media that allows a user to participate by manipulating one or more of the elements during their experience. Simply put, Interactive Media refers to the different ways in which people process and share information and allows people to connect with others, making them active participants in the media they consume.
Social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are examples of interactive media. These sites use graphics and text to allow users to share photos and information about themselves, chat, and play games.
What 3rd level courses are available?
Universities and colleges in Ireland are offering Interactive Media courses in the following subject areas:
- Interactive Digital Media Production – Gain skills to learn the fundamentals of Multimedia, Web Design, and Graphic Design.
- MSc Interactive Digital Media – Learn to plan, design & build interactive digital products and experiences.
- Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Interactive Digital Media – Develop a cutting-edge skill set using industry-standard, modern technology.
- SEO & Social Media Marketing – From learning how to go viral, to mastering Facebook, Twitter and YouTube primarily, while being introduced to additional social platforms, this course in Social Media Marketing will make you an expert in this competitive industry.
- Measuring Social Media ROI – Learn how to identify your audience, what type of social media posts should you upload, how effective social media campaigns can be and how social media can help your business achieve productivity and results.
- Certificate in News and Media in a Digital Age – A study of the fundamental skills to be a journalist, mixing practical skills with digital skills needed to work in journalism today.
- Certificate in Marketing with Digital Media – Gain the skills and knowledge required to embark on a career in Marketing, Digital Marketing, or Sales.
- Certificate in Creative Social Media Administration – A practical introduction to Content Creation in a variety of different mediums for the creation of content that can be utilized on websites, podcasts and social media platforms.
- Certificate in Social Media and Public Relations – Gain fundamental skills in Social and Digital Media, Web Design, and Entrepreneurial skills.
- MA in Social Media Communications – A study of the history, operation, ramifications, functions, use of social media in all spheres of life.
Studying Interactive Media in college
Many Interactive Media courses take place over 1 year to 4 years depending on the course and modules selected. There are also part-time courses and night courses available so you can be sure to fit in your studies no matter what your schedule is like.
Courses will cover theory work through lectures, assignments, tutorials, and taught modules. Assessments will take place continuously with written examinations and practical assignments combined to achieve a qualification.
You could also consider work experience or a work shadow to build up a portfolio of work. Contact radio, television, newspaper, PR, or advertising agencies and ask about opportunities. Or try contacting the marketing departments of companies, digital marketing agencies, and charities where you live, to ask about their work experience opportunities.
Relevant work experience is a good way of demonstrating a genuine interest in the field and is regarded favorably by employers.
Work Experience will not only allow you to obtain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the industry, but it will also give you a chance to do some essential networking with other industry professionals and gain valuable contacts for the future.
Career options
After completing a course in Interactive Media you will be able to get started in a career that uses specific knowledge of advertising, media and communications, business and technology, creative design, e-business, journalism, and marketing.
Media studies graduates typically enter careers in the media, cultural and creative industries. Areas of work include television and radio, film and video, digital media, computer games, journalism, writing and publishing, PR, and media practice.
Many large and medium-sized companies have in-house marketing and communications departments, which offer interactive media and digital marketing services in addition to traditional marketing support.
Alternatively, you could apply to work at a marketing agency, handling projects and marketing contracts outsourced by companies. Working hours will depend on whether you are employed by a company with set business hours or if you are contracted to various facilities or companies. The hours are usually full-time, Monday to Friday, although hours will increase during large-scale marketing campaigns and project work.
Related jobs include:
- Digital marketer
- Media buyer
- Media planner
- Media researcher
- Music producer
- Public relations officer
- Social media manager
- Television/film/video producer
- Web content manager
- Advertising account executive
- Broadcast journalist
- Editorial assistant
- Event manager
- Film director
- Magazine journalist
- Market researcher
- Marketing executive
- Media researcher
- Photographer
- UX designer
- Writer
Further study
After completing a course in Interactive Media you may choose to pursue further study in a specialist field to increase your knowledge base and skillset. Postgraduate study can also be used as a means to change career focus or to gain professional qualifications required to practice in certain career areas such as teaching, media law, journalism, or public relations.
FAQ
Why is interactive media important?
Interactive media has a very important role in today’s world – both in making people more active with media but also in giving them the power to communicate with others who they usually would have no contact with, such as businesses and companies directly. It also allows the free flow and exchange of ideas and information.
What Are the Different Types of Interactive Media?
· Video Games that require multiple players or social networks are some of the best examples of interactive media. Video games require active action to play and typically prompt users to make decisions and manipulate their game characters, sometimes called “avatars.”
· Social Media tools are also interactive in nearly every sense – users publish their information in the form of photos, status updates, or short thoughts and they also frequently leave comments on the publications of others.
· Websites and the Internet generally could be considered “interactive” since it requires at least some directional decisions from users.
· Digital Technology has become more interactive in recent years with DVR making how we watch television much more interactive. Now, instead of just watching television programs when they are broadcast, people can use DVRs to take initiative and record favorite programs to watch at a later time.
· Media and Mass Marketing is also a growing sector with interactive advertising seeking to engage consumers or potential consumers in some sort of dialogue.
· Non-Digital Resources are another form of interactive media that we tend to forget about even though one of the earliest examples of interactive literature was the “choose your own adventure” style of books, which encouraged readers to shape the ending by choosing various paths and plot turns. In some cases, even encyclopaedias or dictionaries could be viewed as part of this category since they require users to actively search through the index for the necessary information.
Where can I study Interactive Media?
Explore your options here
Did You Know?
· There were an estimated 58 billion Internet users globally in 2017. This means that more than half of the world’s adult population uses the Internet.
· Ofcom’s report shows that adults in the UK check their smartphones every 12 minutes of the day. 40% of people (and 65% of people under the age of 35) check their smartphones within five minutes of waking up.
· Smartphones are now so powerful that NASA currently has a fleet of them orbiting the earth as satellites. The PhoneSats are capable of taking high-resolution aerial photographs of any point on the planet.
· Every single second, approximately 40 000 Google searches take place around the world. This equates to a staggering 1.2 trillion searches per year. This is one of the reasons why Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) has become such a highly demanded skill in the workplace.
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