New Media

New Media in the Arts can be described as an industry that includes all forms of computer enhanced communications.

In today’s demanding world of (nearly) paperless hi-speed communication and technologically rich societies, New Media has made it possible for data or information to be communicated between computer (laptop, desktop, handheld, PDA) and the media they take this information from (cd’s floppy discs).

This digitally enhanced content delivery system can be modified through artistic and creative talent.

Over the past 5 years in Canada there has been an explosion in sales of equipment that are built to hold and view new media information.

Visual Artist’s and their talent are in high demand in developing creative marketing and publishing of these new media systems and software.

These artists focus on and develop visual design aspects of digital technology. For Example:

  • audiovisual effects
  • computer animation
  • video game design
  • video game development
  • visual effects (film, video)
  • web site development

Manitoba’s arts community and its government are strong supporters of the digital media sector.

Together they have provided annual funding and assisted in producing, developing and marketing new media projects for specific companies.

In Manitoba, school grades K-12 language arts classes are incorporating media literacy in their programming by combining "old" or static print (newspaper, magazine, books) with New Media.

Examples of New Media:

  • web sites
  • streaming audio and visual
  • chat rooms
  • e-mail
  • web advertising
  • DVD
  • CD-ROM
  • virtual reality environments
  • Internet telephony (digital data with telephone)
  • digital cameras
  • mobile computing (ie: laptops)
  • graphic effects specialists:
  • narration
  • 3D animation
  • sound effects
  • design (graphic, layout, logo, packaging, advertising)
  • character animation 
  • colour correction 
  • colour theorists
  • digital art photography
  • digital illustration
  • advertising planner

Examples of Other Jobs in New Media:

  • web advertising
  • software design
  • advertising & marketing (interactive)
  • systems analyst
  • product manager (POS)
  • progress reporter
  • database design
  • video editing
  • video game design
  • web site design
  • marketing executive
  • market researcher
  • media buyer
  • sales and promotions

Manitoba Facts:

  • There are over 250 new media companies in Manitoba that specialize in the printing and publishing components of New Media.
  • In 2007, these new media companies had over $700 Million in annual revenue combined.
  • In the Film and Sound industry, (see Film and Sound Sector) there are over 800 employees. In 2007 there was over $100 Million in revenue and $35 Million in annual sales.
  • There are 125  new media companies with 600 employees that support and service the film and sound industry.  

The melding together of different media and creating new personalized services have systematically shrunken time and space by fusing together telephone, computer and the World Wide Web.

The World Wide Web (www) is a publicly accessible network of interconnected computer networks that transmit data.

Technology has become an essential tool for the realization of learning and thinking skills in today’s wide spread  "knowledge" economy.