Digital Media

When first asked what did digital media meant to me, my answer was:

 “Creating something Digitally or using technology in a creative way.”

When asked what sorts of skills or tools might be needed or used by a digital media practitioner, or someone working in the digital media field, I answered: 

“Communication skills, a lot of creativity to think outside the box, an eye for detail and a good quality machine to work with.”

While I wasn’t completely wrong, I was focusing my answers mostly on creators in a world of work and not creators creating in our everyday life.

After watching the Ted talk on The essential Elements of Digital Literacies by Doug Belshaw, my idea of who could be considered a digital creator was quickly changed. 

Wikipedia defines Digital Media as “any communication media that operate with the use of any of various encoded machine-readable data formats. Digital media can be created, viewed, distributed, modified, listened to, and preserved on a digital electronics device.” 

Digital Media Creator aren’t just graphic designers employed by Facebook and you don't have to work under an international tech company and have an office with your name engraved in the door, to be considered a respectable digital media creator. The reality is, a Digital Media Creator is anyone that adds to the internet. Weather that be through tweeting about Twitter, commenting on a YouTube video or simply sharing a meme and they can work from anywhere, in an office or in the comfort of their bed.

 Digital Media is not only used for creating compelling advertisements, people use digital media to allow them to preserve memories, send jokes to friends and family, spread awareness and educate others about current world wide events. The difference between a digital media creator and a 'regular, person is that the digital creator published or made their 'work' public.

 IGI Global defines traditional media as “Any form of mass communication available before the advent of digital media. This includes television, radio, newspapers, books, and magazines” these examples show a one way stream of communication. From Creator to Consumer.

Digital media gives space for the ‘consumers’ to communicate back to the ‘creators’, for better or for worse, This Conversation allows for us to grow and learn from one another. Digital Media is more like a conversation than the one way street. Today, more than ever we all have a stage, don't forget to use it.

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