Curriculum Intent

Media Studies offers a broad, coherent and engaging course of study which enables learners to:

• demonstrate skills of enquiry, critical thinking, decision-making and analysis
• acquire knowledge and understanding of a range of important media issues
• develop appreciation and critical understanding of the media and their role both historically and currently in society, culture and politics
• understand and apply specialist subject-specific terminology to analyse and compare media products and the contexts in which they are produced and consumed in order to make informed arguments, reach substantiated judgements and draw conclusions about media issues
• appreciate how theoretical understanding supports practice and how practice supports theoretical understanding
• develop practical skills by providing opportunities for creative media production

What is Media Studies?

The media plays an increasingly significant and influencial role in society and the way in which audiences use and interact with media changes rapidly. With the advancement of technology and new ways of communicating, media plays a vital role in the shaping of attitudes, opinions and valuesin every walk of life. Media Studies is designed to help students develop their practical and analytical understanding of the role the media plays in all our lives.

Skills Students will develop during the course:

• Analysing a range of different media products
  
• A broad knowledge of how to create media products
• Understanding how different audiences consume different media products
• Creativity and imagination in creating your own media products
  

Media industries we will study:

Course Content

Component 1: Exploring Media, Language and Representaion: Written Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
This component assesses media language and representation. It covers all of the following media forms: newspapers, radio news/current affair programmes, advertising, video games, magazines and music videos. Students will be assessed on three of these forms.

Component 2: Understanding Media Forms and Products: Written Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
Four questions in total, including: Three stepped questions, one extended response question based on context.

Component 3: Non Examination Assessment (NEA)
An individual media production for an intended audience in response to a choice of briefs decided upon by the examination board, applying knowledge and understanding of media language.