Media Studies

Half way through the course In Year 12, students are challenged to create professional-looking cross-media productions using their own photography and designs. Through these tasks, students build critical thinking and visual communication skills.
These days, every company must be acutely aware of how it presents itself to the world; Media Studies students are best placed to help them with that.

Course Details

A Level Media Studies, Eduqas
Specification – https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/media-studies-as-a-level/#tab_overview

Course Description

The media play a central role in contemporary culture, society and politics. They shape our perceptions of the world through the representations, ideas and points of view they offer. The media have real relevance and importance in our lives today, providing us with ways to communicate, with forms of cultural expression and the ability to participate in key aspects of society. The economic importance of the media is also unquestionable. The media industries employ large numbers of people worldwide and generate significant global profit. The globalised nature of the contemporary media, ongoing technological developments and more opportunities to interact with the media suggest their centrality in contemporary life can only increase.

The Eduqas specification offers learners the opportunity to develop a thorough and in depth understanding of these key issues, using a comprehensive theoretical framework and a variety of advanced theoretical approaches and theories to support critical exploration and reflection, analysis and debate. The study of a wide range of rich and stimulating media products is central to the specification, offering opportunities for detailed analysis of how the media communicate meanings in a variety of forms.

Programme of Study

Component 1 – Media Products, Industries and Audiences – 35%

In this component, learners will develop knowledge and understanding of key aspects of the theoretical framework – media language and representation – as an essential basis for analysing media products from a variety of forms. In addition, learners will study products from specific media industries and for specific audiences to develop their knowledge and understanding of those areas of the theoretical framework. Learners will also explore how media products relate to their  social, cultural, historical, political and economic contexts.

Component 2 – Media Forms and Products in Depth – 35%

In this component learners are required to study three media forms in depth, exploring all areas of the theoretical framework – media language, representation, media industries, and audiences – in relation to audio-visual, print and online products set by WJEC. The forms to be studied in depth are: television, magazines, blogs and websites.

Component 3 – Cross-Media Production – 30%

This component synthesises knowledge and understanding of the media theoretical framework gained throughout their course by requiring learners to apply their knowledge and understanding of the media synoptically to practical production. In Components 1 and 2, learners gain a detailed understanding of the theoretical framework in relation to a range of media forms. In this component, learners are required to apply their knowledge and understanding of media language, representation, audiences, media industries and the digitally convergent nature of the media in an individual production for an intended audience. The production must be based on two media forms and completed in response to a choice of briefs set by the exam board.

Assessment

Component 1 – Media Products, Industries and Audiences

• Written examination – 2 hours 15 minutes
• 35% of qualification
• 90 marks

Component 2 – Media Forms and Products in Depth

• Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes
• 35% of qualification
• 90 marks

Component 3 – Cross-Media Production

• Non-exam assessment: internally assessed and externally moderated by the exam board.
• 30% of qualification
• 60 marks

Home Learning

• In 6^thform you will be set weekly tasks to complete for the following weeks lessons.
• We also expect students to be self-starters and independent learners and read around the subject regularly.
• If you have ‘spare time’, make sure that it is not wasted.
• If you have completed work set by the teacher, do some extra work.
• You could research the next topic to be studied or start writing media revision notes.

Where can Media take you

Further Study

Degrees / Courses in:

• Performing arts
• Broadcast
• Publishing
• Journalism
• Advertising and marketing
• Film Studies
• Media Management
• Television Studies

Careers

This course allows students to gain an insight into all types of information and the ways in which we receive it, this is a valuable skill and would be beneficial in a number of jobs including:

• Advertising
• Broadcasting
• Social networking
• Design
• Film production
• ICT, journalism
• Music
• Publishing
• Sales

How can parents support their child’s learning

• Encourage your child to question what they see or hear in the media.
• Encourage your child to stay up to date with what is in the news.
• Encourage your child to explore a range of media products including newspapers and radio.
• Take an interest in your child’s learning when completing work at home.

Useful Links

• Exam Board – eduqas.co.uk
• BBC Bitesize – bbc.co.uk/bitesize
• Media Knowall – mediaknowall.com
• Seneca Learning – senecalearning.co.uk