As we all know, media plays a huge roll in our every-day lives – it’s almost impossible to avoid. Today, it’s pretty obvious that digital media is taken over, and I definitely think it’s for the better! Digital media has opened a new door for us to create, communicate, and share with each other. To my understanding, digital media can be described as any type of media expressed through a digital platform, ranging from anything from social media to an online magazine. I feel like I have a basic understanding on the topic, but I am looking forwards to diving into this class and learning more about the world of digital media and what comes with it!

Like I mentioned before, I have a basic understanding of digital media. I integrate it into my life daily without even realizing it by little things like scrolling through social media, checking your email, or even using e-textbooks. I know that with the rise of digital media in the past few years, digital marketing has become a huge market. If you take a moment to analyze the media you view regularly, marketing is pretty transparent and easy to find. Influencer culture is huge right now; multiple companies reach out to influencers to sponsor their products, which I personally find very effective. I know I’ve definitely bought something after seeing someone I follow on Instagram posting it! Influencer Marketing Hub shared that it isn’t just a quick payout, but something that is cultivated over time, which you can read more about here. Another piece of digital media world I’m aware of is the slow death of traditional media. Magazines are being replaced by online magazines, books are being replaced by kindles, and traditional media lovers are starting to get into the groove of the digital age. 

Now that I’ve covered a little bit of the basics, I can’t wait to see the new knowledge that this semester brings me! One thing I’m not too knowledgeable about and would like to gain experience on is the technique behind digital media marketing. I know the main goal and different ways marketing teams go about using digital media to market, but I would like to learn more about the specifics such as strategies used, tracking the success and reception of these strategies, etc. Whilst researching tactics, I actually came across this video that explored digital marketing trends that are currently sweeping the web. It’s very informative and gives specific tips for those who want to get their foot in the door of digital marketing. It will be interesting to compare this information to what I learn in class and in the text! After thinking about it, I believe the subject I’m most excited to cover is online PR. Over my past few years enrolled at USF, I’ve taken quite a few PR classes, but none of them went in-depth into the online side. Seeing as digital media is taking over and I plan on working with it in the future, it’s definitely an important subject to cover and a great skillset to have.

Overall, I’m looking forward to the new knowledge that this Digital Media class will bring me and exploring topics that I’m unfamiliar with!