Feeling lost about what is next, MDC students? Relax! Our world is constantly changing, and the stories we tell each other have never mattered more. This means there are tons of exciting ways to turn your passion for sharing ideas into a path that keeps you engaged and makes a difference. This guide is here to help you explore the dynamic world of crafting those stories.
Harnessing the Power of Media
Media scholars are impactful today. Every piece of information that needs to be communicated is typically produced through some realm of media. If you are currently studying media, just know you have an important role in the course of society. Media’s importance in today’s society cannot be overstated. It shapes our perceptions, behaviors, attitudes, views, and ultimately influences the way that we navigate the world. As you embark in media studies, you are not just signing up for a degree, you are stepping into a future of innovation and influence on our community.
Discovering Your Niche
There are plenty of routes that you can take in your career after majoring in media and culture (MDC). It’s up to you to find your niche. What is it that YOU enjoy? Editing, video production, writing, advertising, social media, and many more can all be things that might interest you. Once you find that one thing that you enjoy doing, there are thousands of positions that you can take!
3 Potential Careers Related to Media
Working in the media industry offers many long-term rewards. The media is constantly evolving and emerging. For instance, trends, engagement, and content diversity are all reasons that the media has an enduring vitality. Media professionals hold the power to shape these trends that allow the industry to flourish by using their creativity and expression. Yet, what fits your individual need and what do YOU inspire to do with your degree?
Journalism
Have a knack for writing? Journalism may be the route for you. Although a career in journalism is common, having knowledge in the media or communication may bring different insights into the traditional journalism industry.
4 roles that you may encounter in this industry are:
- Reporter/Correspondent: A reporter would be tasked with a variety of tasks, including gathering information, conducting interviews, and writing stories. This is one of the main roles in journalism. A reporter is always on the move chancing the latest stories. Also, reporters can cover a wide range of topics, such as local news, crime, sports, politics, or business.
- Editor: Manages all content being produced by the reporters. Editors are just as it sounds, editing content to make sure that articles are accurate. Editors also play a role in deciding which stories published and which are not.
- Social Media Journalist: A new version of journalism that is slowly growing bigger and bigger. These journalists report through social media, such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. They share current updates and engage with audiences in real-time.
- Broadcast Journalist: Reports on news through mediums such as television or radio. They are typically researching stories, conducting interviews, writing scripts, and presenting the story to a wide audience. Typically, broadcast journalists are not who you see on the screen. The news anchor is the vessel producing the research that journalists have conducted.
If you find yourself leaning toward this industry, it would be a good idea to start out with an internship. Since journalism is fast-paced and stressful, try it out on a smaller scale before diving headfirst into a full-time career. It is important to remember that journalism is a corporate ladder just as many other industries are. Start your journey even if it isn’t at the top. Work hard and master your writing skills to climb the ladder and prove yourself as a great writer.
The Harvard Business Review wrote an article titled Is Journalism the Right Career for You? detailing what it entails to be a journalist. This is a great article for those considering this career. It includes interviews with current or past journalists and their thoughts on journalism.
Social Media Marketing
Being a social media marketer can be a thrilling job. In this fast-paced field, social media marketers use various social media platforms to promote a brand. Some may create engaging content or even track trends. The goal of a social media marketer is to expand the brand awareness and increase sales. So, what exactly does a social media marketer do on a daily basis? Below, we’ll delve into a few key jobs they tackle.
5 jobs a social media marketer could have:
- Content Creation: Creating engaging posts for a brands/companies target audience. This could include editing photos, videos, and blogs.
- Analyzing Data: Understanding which posts are preforming well and which aren’t. This helps you determine what the audience wants to see from your brand.
- Staying up-to-date which current trends: Understanding what the mass’ want to see. What is trending on social media platforms, and finding out how you can incorporate that with your brand/company.
- Advertisement: Using social media’s paid advertisement program to reach new audiences.
- Collaborations: To ensure that the brand/company is being marketed effectively and expansively. Sometimes social media marketers will collaborate with brands and influencers.
Media Research
Media researchers are essential in the success of a brand/company’s success. These researchers are in charge of collecting quantitative and qualitative data for analysis. Researchers are collecting things such as audience behavior, trends, content analysis and much more.
4 Responsibilities a Media Researcher might be tasked with:
- Audience Research: Understanding a brand/company’s audience. This could include researching audiences’ demographics to get more information on the audiences age range, ethnicities, etc. With this information, researchers can analyze audiences’ preferences and strategize how to make content that is engaging to that audience.
- Trend Research: May include analyzing trends within the industry. This could involve staying up to day with new social platforms or trends that are upcoming on social media. Keeping updated on new trends increases your company’s opportunities.
- Conducting Qualitative/Quantitative Research: Researchers may be tasked with holding interviews, focus groups, surveys and other types of research strategies to understand more about their audiences. This helps brands know what their audiences want from them and how we can influence them to increase sales and traffic.
All in all, the realm of media offers an abundance of roles that may fit your skills or interests. Students in media and communication should recognize their important part in the shaping of society. Whether it’s journalism, social media marketing, or media research there are ways to become successful in your field. Find your niche and try out different jobs through internships! Our careers do not have to be permanent, and there is no need to stress about finding the right path. Instead, focus on what makes you happy. Explore different options and work hard to prosper in your field.
