Introduction to the Media industry

Lesson objectives

one Identify appropriate media

terminology

two Identify different sectors of the media

three Identify different methods of delivery of

media products

media is a diverse collection of

industries and practices, each with their own methods of communication, specific business interests, constraints and audiences.

Key concepts in media

brand A brand, whether a car or a magazine, carries specific meaning understood by consumers.

Consumers Those who watch, read, listen …

the audience.

content What the audience watch, read or listen to.

delivery How the content reaches the audience. For example, physically like a weekly magazine, broadcast by satellite or across the internet.

entertainment That which makes us laugh, cry or generally distracts us from the day to day stuff, like soap opera, movies and sport.

information Facts, news, sports results and the stuff we need to know - at the simplest level, traffic and weather reports.

platform The delivery method for the specific medium. For example retail outlets, internet, broadcast, theatre.

sectors How the media industry is broken down into smaller sections. For example film, television, radio, press, advertising, music and literature.

Working in Media

media industry attracts all

kinds of people but you’ll find they all share the following characteristics.

PASSION CREATIVITY ENTHUSIASM FLEXIBILITY DETERMINATION IDEAS

Here are a few tips that you will

find useful as you’re finding your

way in the world of media.

work experience Get work experience with media organisations, production companies or broadcasters. Just listing projects you worked on in college isn’t going to be enough.

ideas You need ideas… by the bucket load. It’s ideas that make the media world go round. Someone with ideas will go a very long way. Keep up to speed with news and trends - you never know where that next idea might spring from!

knowledge Nothing annoys someone in media more that a person who doesn’t know anything about the job their applying for. If it’s TV work you’re interested in, you need to watch a lot of TV. Your love of TV will come through if you can discuss it with depth and excitement.

focus You need to start to think what area you want to work in. If it’s production, what do you want do do? If it’s more in business or further behind the scenes. What path you need to take?

Next class will be on

media audiences

homework task

Choose one media sector and prepare a short classroom presentation on different products produced by this medium and the audiences it attracts.