Media Studies

Overview

The mass media is the major force in society behind the communication of information and the provision of entertainment in today’s society. It is also arguably the most important factor in shaping people’s beliefs, values and attitudes. GCSE Media Studies sets out to unravel the different strands that contribute to the media and to enable students to gain a critical understanding of these varied elements.

Topics covered

The course explores and evaluates not only the media product itself, but also its means of production, the underlying commercial and industrial forces, and the crucial importance of different audiences as well as the social, cultural and historical significance of the media products. Over the course each class will study and critically analyse media products drawn from:


In each case the students must demonstrate a critical awareness of the types of media language employed, the influence of institutions, the nature of representation and the intended and secondary audience/s.

Assessments

Assessment is made up of 30% of non-exam assessment and 70% exams at the end of Year 11


Non-Exam Assessment

Each student will create a major project in response to a set brief. They are required to work independently. This will be in the form of conceiving, planning, and producing a media product for an intended audience. This could be pages for a newspaper or magazine, creating a working webpage or shooting and editing a very short film or advertisement. This assesses their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework as well as providing the opportunity to develop and demonstrate practical skills to create their own media products.


Exam

There will be two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2, both lasting 90 minutes. Students will be required to answer short and extended response questions. Most of the questions will require students to analyse one of the Close Study Products (CSPs) identified each year by the exam board.  A booklet of approximately 15 CSPs is supplied each year. Each paper is worth 35%, totalling 70% overall.


Recent Exam Topics:

TV CSPs Dr. Who and His Dark Materials; Print CSPs The Daily Mirror and The Times; Advertising CSPs OMO, NHS Represent adverts; Radio CSPs KISS Breakfast and BBC Radio 1; Music CSPs Arctic Monkeys and Blackpink; Online and Participatory Media, Marcus Rashford, Kim K Hollywood App and Lara Croft.



FAQs

How am I assessed in Media Studies?

All students will sit two exams in Media Studies and these take place at the end of Y11. In addition to two exams, all students produce a Non Exam Assessment (NEA) that is worth 30% of the total GCSE qualification. This can be started in Year 10 but is always submitted in the spring term of Year 11. We follow the AQA exam course. 

 

What are Close Study Products (CSPs) in Media Studies?

Close Study Products are like ‘set texts’ for the two final exams. They encourage students to closely analyse and compare different media products in relation to social, cultural, historical and political contexts. 

 

What are the key areas of study?

At the core of Media Studies lies a theoretical framework which consists of 4 key areas of study: