The challenges of media planning in the digital environment: towards a model of effectiveness, efficiency and creativity dominated by technology

Abstract

The digital evolution —or digital revolution— is changing the media landscape. All media, without exception, are affected by the new communication model that has established. In this context, media agencies have an important role in deciding how to put brands into contact with the target audience. In order to reflect on the challenges of media agencies and how media planning must react in this new media ecosystem, after a comprehensive analysis of national and international references, exploratory research on advertising professionals has revealed the new demands of advertising that evolves from a mass communication towards personalised communication. One example is the multi-screen effect in which individuals access multimedia content through mobile devices. But the effect is not only to replace or combine the traditional television set with new mobile devices, but new media applications facilitate interaction between brands and users in real time. In this sense, it is clear that the advertising industry is evolving towards a new approach where technology and creativity are at the centre of the business, elements that reflect the changing patterns of social interaction.