Digital Media Specialist is a role that increases the impacts and visibility of an organization, builds a brand in the market, and elevates stakeholder engagement in business activities. The profession belongs to a communication team that deals with graphic design and digital to facilitate brand consistency and accuracy in every publication, marketing materials, as well as digital content (Education Commission of the States, 2018). The profession attracts me because it provides a platform where individuals can exploit their creativity. It also requires marketing research and campaigns, which interest me since they require creating creative strategies, analysis, engaging with customers, and one can work remotely.
The profession's current working condition is managing organizational or personal media accounts through interacting with the public in diverse ways. Digital media specialists are more useful when handling criticism and bad image by responding with positive feedback to maintain brand image (Torpey, 2016). The job requires an individual to uphold a professional tone while upholding employers' interests and the brand's mission and goals through creativity.
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Digital media specialists require organizational and problem-solving skills to enhance synthesizing, organizing, as well as presenting the information. They have the creativity and adaptability to address digital content in different market programming skills to enhance the graphic design and web development. Individuals can pursue a degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Media, computer science, or computer programming to build up digital media skills (Maryville University, n.d). Other courses that may improve professional skills include digital photography, modern communication skills, and motion designs to enhance competitive advantage. Knowledge in social media marketing, design, and techniques is also essential.
The current job outlook portrays an entry-level profession where an individual joins a digital marketing team in developing programs, commercials, marketing videos, e-books, or documentaries. Beginner responsibilities may allow an individual to work in a team more than working as an individual. Supervisory roles require experience to become a team leader or brand manager to communicate with the public. Study.com (2021) provides the projected profession outlook between 2019 and 2029 at 4% from the current outlook. As of 2019, the profession's annual median salary was $75,270, with the top 10% of earners in the profession receiving an annual salary of over $139,940 (Study.com, 2021). There is room to improve in the career through masters and Ph.D. levels to move up the career ladder and increase the salary.
Social Media Association (SMA) promotes digital media specialists’ interests by bringing them together online and offline to promote forward-thinking and overcome decision-making challenges while working in government institutions. Sharing allows the professionals to stay on top of business and increase media innovation. The association provides services to professionals through panel discussions, webinars, networking meetings, and expert speakers (SMA, n.d). The other association is American Advertising Federation (AFF) brings together professionals in digital marketing to protect and promote their wellbeing and grow digital marketing from one level to another through unique and nationally coordinated local networks and chapters (AFF, n.d). The organization gives awards and honors to individuals with exemplary performance, promotes diversity, protects professionals from organizational or institutional abuse, and empowers members to develop creative business solutions. AFF also provides a platform where professionals can present their challenges and achievements to celebrate the success and provide solutions to existing challenges experienced when dealing with the government.
AFF is monitoring thought leadership in government institutions from the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Wells (2021), the organization is seeking to assist government institutions in adopting the use of new technology and digital capacities to continue offering services to the public. The pandemic has taught digital media specialists management lessons they would want to implement to transform the political industry to ensure institutions can keep their functions running. Another issue is the use of digital marketing in political campaigns. Costagliola (2021) from Social Media Association recognizes that 2020 was the most expensive election in US history since it shifted to digital campaigns. Digital media specialists are exploring digital technologies and how they will remain relevant in future campaign techniques and electoral politics.
The assignment has provided knowledge on the digital media specialist profession in a broader context. The professional is crucial to ensure political leaders or government maintains their ratings as evidence of public trust in them. The job is demanding since it majorly features critical situations to ensure businesses, individuals, and the government maintains relevance among the public. However, the profession requires consistent development of skills to upgrade digital skills as technology evolves and to capture and analyze personal, business, or government brand metrics alongside digital trends. Therefore, the profession requires a constant commitment to internet culture, engage with the public on behalf of the employer, develop solutions to improve the content and establish a personal portfolio to enhance professional development. The profession requires skills in developing digital strategy through creativity. However, the profession is not well paying for entry levels, and an individual has to work their way up to higher levels to enjoy an attractive.
References
AFF (n.d). The Unifying Voice for Advertising . Retrieved April 6, 2021, from https://www.aaf.org/AAFMemberR/WHO_WE_ARE/AAFMemberR/Who_We_Are/Who_We_Are.aspx?hkey=40e639f5-03ef-4f0d-aee5-806cc047ae68
Costagliola, A. (2021). Marketing the Right Way In 2021 . Social Media Association. Retrieved April 6, 2021, from https://www.socialmediaassoc.com/marketing-the-right-way-in-2021/
Education Commission of the States (2018). Digital Media Specialist. Retrieved April 6, 2021, from https://www.ecs.org/wp-content/uploads/Digital-Media-Specialist-Job-Description-Feb2018.pdf
Maryville University (n.d). Digital Media Specialists in Tech: How to become a digital media specialist . Retrieved April 6, 2021, from https://online.maryville.edu/online-bachelors-degrees/digital-media/careers/digital-media-specialist/
SMA (n.d). Join SMA . Retrieved April 6, 2021, from http://www.socialmediaassoc.com/join-sma/
Study.com (2021). Digital Media Specialist: Career and Salary Information . Retrieved April 6, 2021, from https://study.com/articles/Digital_Media_Specialist_Career_and_Salary_Information.html
Torpey, E. (2016). Social media specialist. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved April 6, 2021, from https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2016/youre-a-what/social-media-specialist.htm
Wells, S. (2021). Keeping a Company-Wide Transformation On-Track During the COVID-19 Crisis . AFF. Retrieved April 6, 2021, from https://www.aaf.org/AAFMemberR/Thought_Leadership/Blog_Posts/Scott_Wells_Transformation_COVID-19.aspx
