Subject Leader:	Miss Mashford
Media Studies Teacher:	Mr Lonergan
Website:	St Wilfrid's Catholic School: Media Studies

 

Overview

Why choose Media Studies?

The new AQA GCSE Media Studies will be attractive to students who are creative but also enjoy analysing the media in its various forms, ( these are called the platforms: Print, Web and Broadcasting). It makes learning interesting, challenging, creative and fun.  It offers rigorous learning on a subject of key importance for young people’s understanding of the media saturated landscape they experience daily.  From social media to cinema-going, right through to advertising; we look at a variety of texts across the media spectrum.    

This qualification is linear. (Linear means that students will sit all their exams and submit all their non-exam assessment at the end of the course).

Core content is based around the MEDIA FRAMEWORK

1. Media language

2. Media representations

3. Media industries

4. Media audiences

 

 

What’s assessed: Paper 1

Questions will focus on three areas of the theoretical framework: industries, audiences and representation.

There will be a balanced approach to these three areas of the theoretical framework in that: Section A will focus on industries and audiences whilst Section B will deal with the representations.

How it's assessed

• Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes • 84 marks • 35% of GCSE Questions

• Multiple choice questions assessing breadth of knowledge.

• Short answer questions assessing in depth knowledge.

• An extended response question assessing in depth knowledge.

Paper 2: What's assessed

Questions will focus on media language and contexts of the media. Students will be expected to analyse media products both in relation to the theoretical framework and their contexts. Section A will focus on language and Section B will focus on contexts.

How it's assessed

• Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes

• 84 marks

• 35% of GCSE Questions

• Multiple choice questions assessing breadth of knowledge of language.

• Short answer questions assessing in depth knowledge of language.

• Stepped response questions assessing breadth of knowledge of language.

• Extended response questions assessing in depth knowledge of all elements of the media studies course.

Non-exam assessment: creating a media product

What's assessed?

• Application of knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework.

• Practical skills relating to the media format of their choice.

How it's assessed

• A choice of topics related to the over-arching (annually changing) theme

• 72 marks

• 30% of GCSE

• Assessed by teachers

• Moderated by AQA.

Tasks Students produce:

• a statement of intent

• a media product for an intended audience.

Students are required to study media products from all of the following media forms:

• audio-visual forms (TV, film, radio, advertising and marketing, video games and music video) •online forms (social and participatory media, video games, music video, newspapers, magazines, advertising and marketing)

•print forms (newspapers, magazines, advertising and marketing

 

Futures:

This qualification will enable you to follow A-level courses in Sixth Form.  Many colleges and employers want students who have creative skills and the Media industry is a fast developing and ever-changing landscape that is always looking for new talent.   GCSE Media helps you develop a variety of skills that would be desirable to potential employers.   Today there are more jobs than ever for students who have studied Media e.g. web design, journalism, graphic design and broadcasting.  

You should consider taking this course if:

If you are interested in the many facets of our media saturated world and you want to explore them in depth. Over the two years you will delve into many areas of the media; complete research and practical work based on a variety of products and texts.

 

 

A Level Media Studies (first teaching from September 2017) Eduqas

Component 1: Media Products, Industries and Audiences.  Written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes.

35% of qualification

The examination assesses media language, representation, media industries, audiences and media contexts. It consists of two sections:

Section A:  Analysing Media Language and Representation

This section assesses media language and representation in relation to two of the following media forms: advertising, marketing, music video or newspapers. There are two questions in this section:

• One question assessing media language in relation to an unseen audio-visual or print resource.
• One extended response comparison question assessing representation in one set product and an unseen audio-visual or print resource in relation to media contexts.

Section B: Understanding Media Industries and Audiences

This section assesses two of the following media forms- advertising, marketing, film, newspapers, radio, video games – and media contexts.

• One stepped question on media industries
• One stepped question on audiences

 

Component 2: Media Forms and Products in Depth

Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes.

35% of qualification

The examination assesses media language, representation, media industries, audiences and media contexts. It consists of three sections:

Section A- Television in the Global Age

There will be one two-part question or one extended response question.

Section B-Magazine: Mainstream and Alternative Media

There will be one two-part question or one extended response question.

Section C- Media in the Online Age

There will be one two-part question or one extended response question.

 

Component 3: Cross –Media Production

Non exam assessment

30% of qualification

An individual cross-media production based on two form in response to a choice of briefs set by WJEC, applying knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework and digital convergence.