The options for mediated delivery can be divided into two categories—prerecorded and real-time. A prerecorded (also known as asynchronous) mediated presentation is recorded by the speaker for later viewing by one or more audiences. For example, a speaker might create a podcast or a YouTube video of a presentation. If you are taking an online public speaking class in which you will be recording your speech assignments and submitting them to your instructor, you will be delivering a prerecorded speech.

A real-time (also known as synchronous) mediated presentation is delivered directly to the audience as the speaker presents the message from a remote location. For example, a speaker might make a presentation during a videoconference or a speech presented to a group via Skype. These speeches are similar to face-to-face presentations but with one crucial difference: the audience and speaker are not together.

Mediated presentations pose both opportunities and challenges, and these can vary depending on whether they are in a prerecorded or real-time format.