Question 1 and Question 2

1. Analyse the different representations of gender in the sources. 

Use Van Zoonen's gender theory in your answer. [10]

2. Source A and Source B cover the same news event from two tabloid newspapers.  

How far is the media language in the sources typical of the tabloid genre? 

In your answer you must:

• explain the written, symbolic and technical conventions of different newspapers

• analyse the use of these conventions in the sources

• make judgements and reach conclusions about how far the media language in the sources is typical of their genre. [15]

1. Analyse the different social representations in the sources. 

Use hooks' theory of intersectionality in your answer. [10]

2. Source A and Source B cover the same news event from two newspapers.  

How far do the sources use media language to reflect the typical codes and 

conventions of their genre?

In your answer you must:

• explain the codes and conventions of different newspapers

• analyse the use of these conventions in the sources

• make judgements and reach conclusions about how far the sources reflect the typical codes and conventions of their genre. [15]

1. Analyse the different representations in the sources in relation to social and/or cultural contexts.

Use Gilroy’s theory of postcolonialism and ethnicity in your answer. [10]

2. Source A and Source B cover the same news event from two online twitter posts.

How far do developing media technologies impact the media language in the 

sources?

In your answer you must:

• analyse the media language in the sources 

• explain how developing media technologies impact the media language

• make judgements and reach conclusions about how far do developing media technologies impact the media language in the sources. [15]

1. Analyse the media language in the sources in relation to social and cultural contexts. Use Barthes’ theory of semiology in your answer. [10]

2. Source A and Source B cover the same news event from two different form of news, one an online twitter post and the other a tabloid newspaper front page.

How far might audiences respond to and interpret the representations in the    

sources differently?

In your answer you must:

• analyse the different representations in the sources

• explain how audiences might respond to and interpret the representations differently

• make judgements and reach conclusions about how far the sources use media representations to position audiences differently. [15]

1. Analyse the representations in the sources in relation to historical contexts. Use Gilroy’s theory of postcolonialism and ethnicity in your answer. [10]

2. Source A and Source B cover the same news event from two different tabloid newspapers. 

Genre conventions are dynamic – they change over time to stay relevant. 

How far  do the sources demonstrate this?

In your answer you must:

• explain how the genre conventions of tabloid newspapers have changed over time

• analyse the use of genre conventions in the sources

• make judgements and reach conclusions about how far the sources demonstrate that thegenre conventions of tabloid newspapers have changed over time. [15]

1. Analyse the representations of cultural and political events in the sources. Apply Hall’s theory of representation in your answer.  [10]

2. Source A and Source B cover the same news event from two different newspapers.

Genre has instances of repetition and difference to stay relevant. 

How far do the sources demonstrate this?

In your answer you must:

• explain how the genre conventions of newspapers have changed over time

• analyse the use of genre conventions in the sources

• make judgements and reach conclusions about how far the sources demonstrate that the genre of newspapers have instances of repetition and difference to stay relevant. [15]

1. Analyse the representations in the sources in relation to social contexts. Apply hooks' theory of intersectionality in your answer.  [10]

2. Source A and Source B cover the same news event from two different newspapers.

How far are the sources typical of their genre?

In your answer you must:

• explain the different codes and conventions in the sources 

• analyse the use of codes and conventions in the sources in relation to their genre

• make judgements and reach conclusions about how far the sources are typical of their genre. [15]

Question 2 is astrixed (*) meaning it is testing your ability to make judgements and reach conclusions: 

AO2: 3 Apply knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework of media to make judgements and draw conclusions

This therefore means you need to explain to the examiner why producers have done certain things in relation to the key concept being tested. 

In your analysis, you may consider some these reasons to help you make judgements and draw conclusions: 

• PROFIT:

Newspapers are profit-driven and will include stories to draw audiences in. 

• COMPETITION:

There is competition from other national newspapers. The print industry is also in a decline so there is competition from online news outlets. 

• NEWS VALUES:

News values (Galtung and Ruge) will somewhat dictate what makes onto the front cover - stories which score high in terms of newsworthiness (politics, global or national interest, negativity, elite nations) will most certainly dominate front page news.   

• AUDIENCE EXPECTATIONS:

Audience expectations and needs are shifting. With the growing demand of online news, audience prefer quick, image-driven stories to read. Broadsheets which target ABC1 audiences have a niche demographic. 

Exemplar paragraph on the Set 1 Practice Questions.

Judgements and Conclusions (AO2.3) is highlighted:

Both sources depict a political scenario with national significance. The Daily Mirror covers the story with the sensationalist headline 'Time's Up,' reinforcing their left-wing political affiliation and alluding to the prime minister's incapacity as she completes a '2nd U-turn.' The Daily Mirror may have featured a hard news political article owing to its newsworthiness - the huge scale political significance and the fact that it is dealing with elite nations indicate that it will bring a significant readership to the newspaper due to a number of news values it demonstrates. Similarly, the Daily Mail, despite its right-wing political affiliation, has constructed a negative depiction of the prime minister through its headline - 'How much more can she take?' as well as the anchoring image and caption. This is attributed to the Daily Mail's populist stance on political topics, a strategy used by DMGT to attract a mainstream audience despite the decline of print newspapers. Given the prime minister's harsh criticism, it would be risky for the Daily Mail to overtly defend Liz Truss for fear of alienating their readers.