Media Studies

WJEC GCE Media Studies

The AS and A Level Media Studies course will encourage you to analyse media concepts and conventions in a range of contemporary and classic texts in mediums such as films, music, TV, adverts, magazines, video games and websites. You will look at how the media represents people, places, issues and events. You will explore how we influence and are influenced by the media. Recent case studies have included ‘Blade Runner’, ‘Prime Supect’, Chanel adverts and pop music videos. It is not essential to have studied GCSE Media, but it is vital to have a keen interest in most of the aforementioned areas.

The course will require students to

  • watch, or read, and respond to a variety of audio-visual and print-based sources

  • use media language accurately and fluently to express ideas and viewpoints, develop arguments, analyse and evaluate, in discussions and writing

  • develop an understanding of the global multi-media world in which we live

  • apply many communication skills to their learning by contributing to group seminars, presentations and whole class debates

  • understand and explore the key concepts of media: language, audiences, representations, narratives, genre and industries

  • develop personal foreknowledge of media texts through the reading of newspaper or online media supplements

  • use media technology creatively and skilfully in the construction of production artefacts

Summary Assessment

AS Unit 1 – (24%) Investigating the Media - Examination

AS Unit 2 – (16%) Creating a Media Production - Coursework/Non-Examination Assessment

A2 Unit 3 – (36%) Media in the Global Age - Examination

A2 Unit 4 – (24%) Creating a Cross-Media Production - Coursework/Non-Examination Assessment

Course Leader: Mrs K Lumby-Jones

50% of students gained a grade A in the 2021/22 examination series in Media Studies

Career information

This media course complements a number of others due to its focus on key communication skills; developing and improving students’ confidence and ability in debating, researching and sharing ideas. The course helps develop study skills that many find relevant for university. Media is becoming an increasingly popular subject at university and is helpful, obviously, if you are considering careers such as film/broadcast production, journalism, photography, marketing and advertising. Many former pupils studying a range of subjects, such as Geography, medicine, teaching and Law, comment on the invaluable communications skills developed in their Media A Level.