What Is New Media?

New media refers to any form of communication that is delivered digitally. If you spend a substantial amount of time online, you have already encountered new media. Anything that includes content intended for mass consumption, like websites and podcasts, and content that may be intended for limited recipients, like email, can be considered new media.

New media offers a world of possibilities to students eager to pursue a communications-related career. If you have considered opportunities in radio, television and print, you may be interested in a career in new media.

In This Article:

• New Media Examples
• Using New Media in Daily Life
• Important Skills for New Media Professionals
• Careers in New Media
• Popular New Media Degrees
• Pursue a New Media Career With a Degree From GCU

New Media Examples

Now that you know the definition of new media, let’s look at some of the most common examples of new media.

Social Media

Social media is a significant example of new media. Social media is available through various platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTube, Reddit and others.

Many social media platforms have been experiencing positive growth. LinkedIn, for example, has over one billion members across 200 countries and regions as of January 2025. Every minute, more than 13,000 connections are made on the platform.¹

Downloadable and Streaming Content

In addition to websites, blogs and digital newspaper articles, new media encompasses content you can download and stream. Most audiovisual content, such as podcasts, songs and videos, is available and accessible on a wide range of platforms, including websites and social media platforms.

Some of these platforms are dedicated to specific forms of content that are accessible for a fee. One popular example is Spotify, a music streaming service that offers podcasts and video podcasts — the streams of Spotify users number in the billions. In fact, the most-streamed artist of 2024 was Taylor Swift, with 26.6 billion streams worldwide.²

Interactive Media

Some new media examples include interactive forms of media, in which the user is engaged and exerts some degree of control over the media. This category includes apps and digital games, which can be downloaded and used on a computer, tablet or smartphone. Virtual reality (VR) is also included in this category, as various forms of input from the user can affect what the user will see on the VR goggles.

Using New Media in Daily Life

People can use and engage with new media in various ways. They may read digital newspapers to stay informed of what’s happening in the world. They may read and post on social media to interact with others and download or stream music, podcasts and videos for entertainment or instructional purposes.

It’s not only individuals who can engage with new media daily, however. Many companies and other organizations, such as government agencies, have integrated new media directly into their operations. The U.S. Forest Service, for example, may use social media to alert local residents about wildfire conditions. Meanwhile, companies and their digital marketing teams can upload a variety of new media content to the internet to raise brand awareness and increase product sales.

Important Skills for New Media Professionals

If you aspire to pursue new media careers, you may be interested in knowing which skills and traits are essential for professionals in this field. Soft skills include the following:³

• Creativity
• Communication and storytelling
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Emotional intelligence
• Curiosity
• Adaptability

In addition, new media professionals can benefit from hard skills, including:³

• Content creation
• Multimedia production
• Data analytics proficiency
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Social media marketing
• Web development
• Email marketing
• Graphic design
• Video editing

New media professionals can also benefit from understanding artificial intelligence (AI).³ AI may be used in various ways, such as in data analytics for marketing purposes and in written and visual content creation.

Careers in New Media

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.

Popular New Media Degrees

If any of these new media careers appeal to you, you may be eager to get started working toward your digital profession. Many different types of bachelor’s degrees dive into competencies related to new media.

You can choose from a variety of degree programs, including:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Digital Film with an Emphasis in Production: If you are especially drawn to the video and production side of new media, this degree could be a good fit for you. This program teaches you how to tell a story through film and produce media to connect with your audience.
• BA in Advertising and Graphic Design: Advertising and graphic design play an essential role in new media, especially in a world full of social media posts and digital information. This program teaches students how to think and communicate creatively, as well as how to use a plethora of helpful tools and applications. 
• BA in Social Media: If your dream career involves social media, earning a degree that teaches different aspects of successfully using social media may be helpful. A social media program gives insight into using campaigns and communication to reach communities successfully.
• BA in Communications: A communications degree may help students in various settings, including new media. In order to become an effective communicator, it is important to understand and communicate with various people through different means. You might also consider a BA in Communications with an Emphasis in Broadcasting and New Media, which explores digital formats. 
• BA in Digital Design with an Emphasis in Web Design: For individuals with a passion for design, especially for websites, a degree in web design can teach competencies and provide hands-on learning experiences in web design.
• BA in Professional Writing for New Media: If writing appeals to you, consider a professional writing degree. This program provides opportunities to develop your writing skills and teaches you how to use these skills to create and work with new media. 
• Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Advertising: This degree explores techniques and best practices in digital marketing.

Pursue a New Media Career With a Degree From GCU

Grand Canyon University invites prospective students to discover a wide range of media-related degree options. Apply today to enroll in one of our digital media programs, such as the Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an Emphasis in Broadcasting and New Media degree program. You can fill out the form on this page to get started.