Products in the Media Industry 3

1. Social Media Platforms/Apps

Social media platforms and apps are websites and applications that we use to connect with others and share content. Social media is the most recent and rapidly evolving media products available. This includes sites and apps like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok.

Any business within the media industry can create a social media profile to boost their engagement with customers and even create content with the goal of selling their product. Social media is the main product provided by the internet, but all traditional and new media sectors use social media as a part of their business. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are used as a form of advertising, to promote and sell products and services.

Below are examples of how social media is used within the media industry:

• The internet uses social media as it is main product. Social media platforms and apps are immensely popular with over five billion people worldwide using it daily. The most popular social media platforms used are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. These social media platforms are designed to allow members to engage with other users and consume entertaining content. Many of these social media platforms (most popularly YouTube) allow users to post independent content and create their own following and platform to build a brand of business with social media.
• Advertisement is one of the most beneficial aspects of using social media. All media sectors use social media to market their products and services. This involves creating a social media account and posting photos, images, videos, or text content describing and selling products to the social media members. This is extremely popular amongst the digital publishing industry who share their news stories to social media.

2. Digital Games

Digital games can be described as “any game played using electronic device, either online or stand-alone.” Digital gaming products include games that are available on personal computers, home consoles and smart devices such as phones and tablets. Digital gaming is a popular product used by new media sectors. It is essential for the computer gaming sector as this is their main product of sale.

There are two main industry sectors that use digital gaming products for their businesses. These are the computer gaming and the internet.

Below are examples of how each of these media sectors use digital games:

• Computer gaming business use digital games as a core part of their products. The gaming elements of these products is what makes the computer games come to life as an interactive experience for the player. Without the digital gaming aspect, it would just be like a movie.
• The internet uses digital games by selling online multiplayer games. These games can be played live on the internet and have become extremely popular. Examples of extremely popular online multiplayer games include Fortnite, Apex Legends, League of Legends & Counter Strike: Global Offensive.
• Social media use digital games as a part of their interactive experience. Social media apps such as Facebook Messenger allow users to play games online together. A number of social media sites have integrated with video games to allow people to stream video games. Twitch is the most common example of this.

3. Comics & Graphic Novels

Comic books and graphic novels are a form of published media that uses images and is typically combined with text. Comic books and graphic novels are traditionally physical printed products available for purchase. This product is used in the traditional publishing industry to sell and distribute content.

The publishing industry makes profits from publishing comics and graphic novels. Although the popularity of newspapers has declined, the popularity of comic books has increased. This is due to the growth of the film and computer game industry.

There are two main media industry sectors that use comic books and graphic novels. These are print publishing & digital publishing. However, comics have influences in other sectors, most notably film, television and computer games.

Below are examples of how each of these media sectors uses comic books and graphic novels:

• Print publishing use comic books and graphic novels as one of their main products to sell. Publishing businesses collaborate with independent writers, film businesses and computer game businesses to print and sell their comic books and graphic novels. The publishing industry is the distributor of the finalised comic book or graphic novel product.
• Digital publishing has adapted comics and graphic novels into an eBook format, allowing people to download and read them on their smartphone, tablet or computer.
• Film businesses collaborate with writers and artists to create comic books and graphic novels based on their films. This is a profitable way for film businesses to reach more consumers by providing more than one product.
• Computer gaming businesses collaborate with writers and artists to create comic books based on the storyline of the game. This is common in gaming as games only allow for a small number of cut-scenes to be played. Comic books and graphic novels are created to tell a more in-depth description of the story of the game and develop storylines for future releases.