Digital media is everywhere. It has changed many aspects of daily life, from how we get the news to how we do our weekly grocery shopping. That’s why understanding digital media is essential in the modern world. As of October 2025, 73.2 percent of the global population were internet users.1 That’s over six billion people!
As well as our daily activities, digital media has also drastically changed the nature of work. From agriculture and healthcare to policing and communication, tech is shaping the future of the workplace. And understanding how digital media works – and developing the ability to engage with it effectively – is a key soft skill that you’ll need to thrive in the contemporary world.
In this article, we’ll unpack what digital media actually is, why it matters for your future career and how one subject at Charles Sturt can help you level up your skills.
What is digital media?
Digital media is any content that you find online. It could be visual or audio, text or graphic, that is created with technology and distributed through online platforms such as websites or social media.
Digital media is everything that you find on your phone, your TV and laptop. TikTok, Instagram and Facebook might be where you consume most digital media. It’s probably also in your workplace or your uni – it’s everywhere!
Core elements of digital media include:
- Text
- Image
- Video
- Audio
- Interactive (hyperlinks, buttons, games or quizzes)
Digital media can include multiple core elements. For example, a post on social media could include a video of people talking, with captions. That’s text, audio and video in one! The ability to be able to find, evaluate, create and share information using digital tools is called digital literacy. Want to know more? Try our Digital Media course.
Why understanding digital media is a core soft skill
You might be thinking ‘what are soft skills?’. Don’t worry, we’ve got you.
The technical definition of soft skills: the personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.
Digital media is such a big part of our daily lives. Understanding it is important because it helps us to communicate and interact with others. Critical soft skills such as communication, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity are all expressed through digital media. The need for digital skills is growing more each year, with a large number of jobs requiring some aspects of digital knowledge and skill.
Knowing how information spreads, how to build or join professional communities and how to present you and your work online are all important reasons why improving your digital literacy is vital to your success in your future career.
What you’ll learn in Digital Media
Our Digital Media course will help you develop critical digital literacy and key digital skills. It provides you with an introduction to the key forces which shape the digital world today. And help you develop skills to enable you to confidently intervene in and create online media.
You’ll come out of it knowing how to:
- Be able to navigate and reference existing information on the web.
- Be able to construct and manage a thoughtful and creative professional digital identity
- Demonstrate skills in digital media production
- Be able to recognise and reflect on the risks and opportunities in digital spaces.
You will learn skills which will be transferrable to whichever field you decide to build your career in.
How can you protect yourself online?
In just one session you’ll cover a lot of theory and practical skills to become a digital media genius! But one of the most important skills you’ll learn in this course is how to stay safe online. You’ll learn how to protect your own information, examine issues like copyright and how to use information in a legally safe way.
There are many legal and ethical issues with digital media. It is important that you develop skills to ensure that you are not putting yourself or your employer into danger. You’ll learn:
- Licensing, creative commons and copyright
- Protest and dissent online
- Sharing economy and collaboration
The course aims to develop your critical media skills and improve your understanding of digital technologies, their impact on society and how you can use them in your future career.
Why digital media skills are essential for everyone
Developing or brushing up on digital media skills is becoming essential in all careers. Whatever industry you’re in, or hoping to be in, digital skills will take you far.
Understanding digital media is essential for success in the modern world, with most jobs requiring some kind of media interaction. Hands-on industries such as healthcare, engineering, construction and farming are all adding digital elements to their everyday practices.
No matter which industry you see yourself in, you’ll need digital skills! The course will help build skills that will increase your productivity, employability and adaptability to future work.
Ready to get digital media savvy?
Digital Media is the perfect course for getting yourself upskilled. In just one subject, you get the definition, the soft skills, the technical knowledge and the ethical grounding you need to excel in any digital-first career. Or surprise your employer with your digital literacy skills in an analog career.
Contact us to find out more or apply to study now.
When is the next intake for this course?
This course is available in session 2 both online and on campus on our Bathurst campus. It is also available in session 3, online only.
Can I take the digital media course online?
Yes! Digital media is available online and on campus at our Bathurst campus.
What are soft skills?
Soft skills are personal attributes that help you interact effectively with other people. They are intangible attributes and interpersonal skills that help you work better with others and make you a more attractive employee. They include things like work ethic, time management and listening skills.
Why are digital media skills so important?
Today’s work landscape is constantly changing and adapting to the modern era. Technology and digital platforms are changing workplaces and the skills that you need to complete your job to the best ability. Even if you don’t think you need digital literacy skills, you might in the future! It’s best to learn them now and have them under your belt ready to impress your future employer when you need them.
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