Every day in our lives, you are surrounded by the media. From your TV, smartphone and games console, to the advertising billboards we pass in the streets. In Media Studies you investigate how the media sends messages to audiences and how media companies work. You also learn how to make media products such as TV dramas, websites, music videos and magazines.
COURSE CONTENT
In Media Studies you will explore the following industries:
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Advertising
• Film marketing & promotion
• Websites & social media
• The music industry & music videos
• Television
• Video Games
• Radio
We study various theorists, approaches and case studies to understand how these industries work.
ASSESSMENT
• Exam Board: Eduqas
• For this GCSE, there are two examinations (worth 35% each) as well as a Controlled Assessment project (worth 30%)
• The examinations are based on using case studies analysed in class, with some unseen material to assess your ability to analyse new texts. There are both short questions, and longer essay style questions on both exams.
• The Controlled Assessment entails researching, planning and creating a still image (e.g. magazine cover, print advert) or moving image (e.g. TV sequence, music video) product.
Legacy Specification – Year 11 only
COURSE DETAILS
This course is designed to enable you to develop a critical understanding of the role of the Mass Media in society. Media Studies is the study of the press (newspapers and magazines), film, television, radio and advertising. It also incorporates the study of other areas such as popular music and the Internet. Within these areas, you will investigate the industries behind the media, the products they produce and the audiences that consume them.
There are many reasons why we should study the media:
• we live in the age of mass communication;
• we are bombarded by messages through advertising, the press, television and film;
• leisure time is dominated by a media culture;
• political and social values are largely shaped by the media who provide much of the material by which people shape their identity;
• the media also cuts across gender, class, race, creed, and nationality to form bonds between groups of people who may exist in totally different circles, bringing us closer to a global culture;
• the media is a powerful force and constantly changing, providing students with endless material for deep and contemporary debate;
• it is necessary to be able to understand, interpret, and criticise the messages which stem from the media.
HOW YOU WILL BE ASSESSED
At Wigston Academy the GCSE WJEC specification is taught. The course offers a balance between examination and coursework.
Written Examination 40% (Thinking about the Media: Investigating and Planning)
• Section A: Thinking about the media – Investigating
Four questions: candidates respond to stimulus material chosen from a topic set by WJEC. This unit section will also assess the way the contemporary media is convergent.
• Section B: Thinking about the media – Planning
A series of tasks: candidates demonstrate planning and creative skills through a series of creative tasks which demonstrates knowledge of the convergent nature of the contemporary media.
Coursework 60% (Creating for the media: Investigating and Producing)
Three pieces of work from at least two different media:
• two textual investigations on two different media areas [one must be print-based] (20%)
and
• one media production consisting of research, planning, the production itself and an evaluation of the production (40%).