Mrs. K. Hosey
Head of Department
The Reasons For Studying This Subject:
It is impossible to over-emphasise the significance of the media in our lives today. Studying the media will give you the skills to analyse media texts (both print and moving image); understand how the texts are produced; develop investigative, critical thinking and decision-making skills through consideration of issues that are important, real and relevant to you; develop your appreciation and critical understanding of the media and its role in society. Controlled Assessment will allow you to become a media producer in your own right when you plan and create either a moving image piece or a print product. The skills you learn will help to prepare you for further study in the subject at Level 3 BTEC or A level and help you to access an increasing number of exciting and creative careers.
What You Will Be Studying:
- Types of media, for example TV, film, magazines, adverts, video games, websites.
- How these texts appeal to and are influenced by their audiences and how audiences use them.
- How to research, plan, produce and evaluate your own media product.
You Will Learn The Following Skills:
- How to analyse the language of media texts
- How to analyse the way media texts represent different areas of society, for example, gender, age, ethnicity and topical issues
- How to analyse the production of media texts
- How to reflect on the relationship between media texts and their audience
- How to research, plan, produce and evaluate a media text
How You Will Be Assessed:
External assessment 40% – responding to a brief set by the exam board. You will have time to research, plan and create a media product for a specific purpose and audience. This will be externally marked.
Non-Examined Assessment (coursework) 60% – two pieces of work, one written and one practical.
General Comments
Nearly every area of work has some contact with or involvement in the media, whether that be through promotion, production, or understanding of the influences the media have on the world. This course contributes to an understanding of the media that will allow you to make informed judgements both of your future courses and employment prospects. It is both analytical and creative and fits well alongside any other Option Choice. It also leads in to either A Level or Level 3 BTEC Media courses in the Sixth Form.
Students opting for this course will not be able to opt for the alternative GCSE Media course.
Careers In Media
There are a wealth of different areas linked to jobs in the media from journalist, to researcher to TV or radio presenter. The 3 key skills you need are working cooperatively with others, using imagination to generate new ideas and being able to set real goals and devise a route to achieving them. However, most jobs nowadays need an understanding of how the Media works whether that is for a media-specific career or in a company that wishes to promote itself.
The LMI for All portal provides high quality, reliable Labour Market Information – see link below:
You can find out about average salary and how the workforce is projected to change. For example, within journalism the workforce is projected to grow by 5.7% over the period to 2027, creating 5,100 jobs. In the same period, 56.1% of the workforce is projected to retire, creating 49,900 job openings.
Learning Pathways
Pathways at 16
Media can lead into A Level English, Media Studies, Performing Arts and vocational courses in production and design.
Pathways at 18
Example degrees are Digital Media, Media and Communication Studies, Film Studies, Culture and Technology and Media Management and Apprenticeships in Events, Digital Marketing or Media Assistant.