Author Names:
Richard Campbell, Christopher R. Martin, and Bettina Fabos
Activity Objective:
Students will explore and learn more about career paths in the digital media industries.
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The jobs highlighted below show just a small sample of the many opportunities available in the digital media industries. Many of the positions in these areas, such as social media specialist, app developer, and search engine optimization (SEO) manager provide experience that can be carried to different industries. The job descriptions below are just examples. Use career search sites or company job opportunity pages to search for current listings in these fields.
Gaming Expert Job Description: Major responsibilities include customer obsession, adaptability, drive for results, influencing for impact, and collaboration.
“Our Gaming Experts are passionate gaming evangelists and brand ambassadors, who are the face of [the company]. Through providing a level of gaming expertise and knowledge, our Gaming Experts help our customers to see what is possible with technology, ultimately empowering them to achieve more.”
Social Media Specialist Job Description: Major responsibilities include responding to posted content, engaging with customers via social media channels, and monitoring social media channels to make sure all questions and concerns are answered accordingly.
“Social Media associate will own customer’s feedback and provide Noticeably Better Experience in their resolution. The associate will work closely with peers and leadership to provide a seamless resolution to every customer’s issue in a timely manner. This associate must be passionate about being part of a growing team with a household brand name.”
App Developer Job Description: Major responsibilities include developing apps for use in planning, mapping, data collection, and more; understanding user requirements; working with design and development teams; and identifying issues and improving code quality.
“Work on the latest location-aware technology in a fast-paced, engaging environment and play a part in changing the way we work, live, and experience information. This is a great opportunity to design a next-gen Esri product on one of the most diverse and widely used platforms in the world. We strive to do meaningful work that helps entire industries and love working closely with a small team. If you are passionate about development, thrive in an entrepreneurial setting to explore new possibilities, and take pride in the quality and impact of your work, we’d love to hear from you!”
Marketing Manager, Gaming Job Description: Major responsibilities include building quarterly integrated marketing plans, evaluating market trends, managing agency partners, leading campaign execution across channels, and synthesizing learnings into actionable insights.
“The Marketing Manager will be responsible for lower funnel marketing campaigns using various digital channels. He or she must have a strong understanding of the gaming developer audiences. This role requires the ability to collaborate with analysts, growth leads, and cross-functional marketing partners to develop, test, and optimize campaigns. The ideal candidate has a solid understanding of digital marketing, ad operations, CRM, and marketing measurement. This person will be asked to demonstrate thought-leadership, creative thinking, and the ability to work in a highly cross-functional environment.”
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Manager Job Description: Major responsibilities include implementing and developing a robust SEO strategy, conducting extensive research within the industry, liaising with several internal departments, defining KPIs and reporting on a weekly basis, evaluating and suggesting UX changes, and staying at the forefront of the industry ensuring best practice is always maintained.
“The SEO Manager will be responsible for the strategy, technical knowledge, execution, and analysis to improve inbound performance for the US & CA sites as priority, but will also support for all [company] websites. This role requires the manager to leverage creative and analytical skills to understand the customer, execute the SEO strategy, quickly iterate and optimize to drive growth and efficient performance. The SEO Manager will be a proactive communicator and an ambassador for SEO; educating key stakeholders of the importance of SEO, helping it to become ‘business as usual’ in all work.”
In today’s booming world of digital media, it is no surprise that the fields in these industries are a great place in which to start a media career. The activity on the slides that follow will help you begin to get an idea of where you might look to start a career in digital media, social media, and digital gaming.
Here are some tips from professionals working in digital media:
Reading about industries that interest you is a great way to learn more and to help narrow your career goals. The resources and event sites for the digital media industries listed below are a good place to start your research.
Digital Media (general)
Data and Marketing Association (DMA): the-dma.org
“DMA is the community that champions deeper consumer engagement and business value through the innovative and responsible use of data-driven marketing.”
International Digital Media and Arts Association (iDMAa): idmaa.org
“iDMAa is committed to providing leadership, information, advocacy, recognition and networking opportunities to digital media and digital arts educators in the U.S. and around the world.”
Digital Media Association (DiMA): dima.org
“DiMA is fighting to promote streaming innovation and investment policy that supports a growing digital media industry providing consumers with more choice and greater access.”
South by Southwest (SXSW): sxsw.com
“The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference & Festivals celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. Fostering creative and professional growth alike, SXSW® is the premier destination for discovery.”
Gaming
Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA): entmerch.org
“EMA’s mission is to:
those engaged in the sale, rental, and/or commercial delivery of video or video game content to consumers through physical media or over-the-top Internet-based delivery.”
International Game Developers Association (IGDA): igda.org
“The IGDA supports and empowers game developers around the world in achieving fulfilling and sustainable careers.”
Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA): theesa.com
“The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is the U.S. association exclusively dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies that publish computer and video games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet.”
Social Media
Social Media Association (SMA): socialmediaassoc.com
“SMA brings together the media community both online and offline. Our members are forward-thinking people interested in business and media innovation.
We are entrepreneurs, business owners, managers, influencers and strategic decision makers. Our goal is a non-competitive environment where we can learn, share and have fun together: informing, inspiring, and empowering business through social, digital, and future media.”
Social Media Week: socialmediaweek.org
“Social Media Week (SMW) is one of the world’s premier conferences and industry news platforms for professionals in media, marketing and technology. The mission is to give professionals at the intersection of media, marketing and technology the insights, ideas and opportunities they need to advance themselves and their organizations in a globally connected world.”
Watch the video, then use the space below to answer the following questions.