Media Studies

WHY SHOULD I STUDY A LEVEL MEDIA STUDIES?

The media now plays a very central role in contemporary culture, society and politics. The media industries employ large numbers of people worldwide and generate significant global profit. This course offers the opportunity to study a range of media texts and develop some production skills. Media Studies will provide you with the analytical skills to study a wide range of media texts. The course will build on and extend your enjoyment and knowledge of media texts. The wide range of media to be explored means that you will be developing your knowledge of social, economic, political and cultural issues.

The course is delivered by a team of experienced teachers, with a dedicated media technician. Students have the opportunity to further develop their skills by getting involved with the college radio station and the college magazine. Second year students also have the opportunity to compete for prestigious work placements after finishing their studies. Past placements have included The X Factor, BBC Radio 2, and This Morning.

COURSE CONTENT

Learners study a range of media forms – advertising and marketing, film, magazines, music video, newspapers, online media, radio, television and video games.

The study of media forms is based on the theoretical framework for analysing and creating media, which consists of four inter-related areas: media language, representation, media industries and audiences.

The Eduqas course consists of the following units:

• Analysing Media Language and Representation. This includes the study of advertising and marketing, music video and newspapers.
• Understanding Media Industries and Audiences. This includes the study of advertising, newspapers, radio, video games and a cross-media film case study.
• Television in the Global Age. This includes the in-depth study of two crime dramas, including a foreign language option.
• Magazines – Mainstream and Alternative Media. This includes the in-depth study of a magazine from the 1960s and one contemporary alternative text.
• Media in the Online Age. This includes the study of two online texts including a content creator and a website.
• Cross-Media Production. The production work will be in response to a brief set by the exam board to create a production for a specific audience and industry context.

ASSESSMENT

Examination: 70% of grade. Two written examination papers are taken at the end of the second year:

Paper 1: 35% of A Level- Media Products, Industries and Audiences. A mixture of short and long answer questions.

Paper 2: 35% of A Level- Media Forms and Products in Depth. A mixture of short and long answer questions.

Production work: 30% of grade. Non-exam assessment: An individual cross-media production based on two forms.

MINIMUM ENTRY CRITERIA 

Standard College entry requirements and a minimum of:

 

PROGRESSION ONTO YEAR 2

Progression to the second year of this A Level course will be dependent on having made satisfactory progress in the first year of the course, including achieving at least an E grade in a formal late spring assessment, as well as the maintenance of a good level of attendance and commitment throughout the year.

Media Studies, as a subject, can be helpful to any student and can be studied with any other A Level subject, such as Art, English Language, English Literature, Performing Arts, Politics, Sociology, Drama and Theatre and Business.

This course provides a suitable foundation for the study of Media Studies or a related area on a range of higher education degree courses, for the next level of vocational qualifications, or for employment. In addition, the course provides a coherent, engaging and culturally valuable course of study for learners who do not progress to further study in this subject.