Mrs. S. Jackson
Head of Department
Examining Board WJEC
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, film and edit a piece for Television. 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:
You will study the topics of radio news, current affairs programmes, newspapers, advertising, video games, magazines, music videos, TV crime drama and film marketing. Within each topic you will carry out a variety of tasks around the following areas:
- The texts themselves – genre, narrative and representation.
- The organisations that produce the texts – marketing, rules and regulations and issues of control.
- The audiences and users of the texts.
You will also have a choice of Controlled Assessment of:
- Plan, film and edit a piece for television.
- Plan and produce the front page and a double page spread for a new magazine.
- Plan and produce a poster and DVD cover for a new film
You Will Learn The Following Skills:
- How to analyse the language of media texts (both print and moving image texts).
- How to reflect on the cultural messages and values presented in texts.
- How to compare texts, their institutions and their audiences.
- How to research and plan a media production.
- Production techniques, technical skills and evaluative skills.
How You Will Be Assessed:
Exam 70% – There are two exams for Media Studies GCSE:
Component 1 – Exploring Media Language and Representation; 1hour 30mins; 30%.
This is based around the topics of adverts, magazines, film posters, newspapers, video games and radio.
Component 2 – Understanding Media Forms and Products; 1hour 30mins; 40%.
This is based around the topics of TV crime drama and music videos.
Controlled Assessment 30% – An individual media production for an intended audience in response to a choice of briefs set by WJEC, applying knowledge and understanding of media language and representation.
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 GCSE 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 Level 2 BTEC Tech Award in Creative Media Production (Vocational) course.
Curriculum Content of each academic year
Year 9 | |
Course | Content |
KS3 National Curriculum | Insert Topics here |
How its assessed: |
|
Year 10 | |
Course/ Exam Board | Content |
EDUQAS Media Studies GCSE | Advertising, film marketing, magazines, newspapers, video games and TV crime drama looking at representation, technical code analysis, audience issues and industry perspective. |
How its assessed: | At end of Year 11 |
Course/ Exam Board | Content |
Pearson BTEC Level 2 Tech Award in Creative Digital Media Production | TV crime drama, print adverts and video games and will produce your first coursework piece. You will practice a range of different film production techniques to develop these skills for your coursework. |
How its assessed: | 1 coursework piece: Component 1 – 30%
|
Year 11 | |
Course/ Exam Board | Content |
EDUQAS Media Studies GCSE | Film marketing, magazine extract or the opening to a new TV crime drama and will study radio and music videos. |
How its assessed: | 2 exams: Component 1 – 40% Component 2 – 30% 1 coursework: Component 3 – 30% |
Pearson BTEC Level 2 Tech Award in Creative Digital Media Production | You will complete your second coursework piece reworking a music video or fashion magazine and will prepare for the external assessment responding to a client brief |
How its assessed: | 1 coursework piece: Component 2 – 30% 1 External assessment: Component 3 – 40% |
Year 12 | |
Course/ Exam Board | Content |
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Creative Digital Media Production | Representation of age, gender, ethnicity and topical issues as seen in examples of newspapers, magazines, advertising, film, TV and the Internet. Close study of film genre and music video production. |
How its assessed: | Unit 10 Film production Assignment 1 Unit 4 Pre-production Assignment 1 |
Year 13 | |
Course/ Exam Board | Content |
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Creative Digital Media Production | Representation of age, gender, ethnicity and topical issues as seen in examples of newspapers, magazines, advertising, film, TV and the Internet. Production of own short film for coursework. |
How its assessed: | Unit 1 Media Representations Exam (January) Unit 4 Pre-Production Assignment 2 Unit 10 Film Production Assignment 2 Unit 8 Responding to a Commission External Assessment (June) |
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.