A-Level in Media

Media Studies allows you to interrogate the way our world, its events and its people are represented. By looking at a variety of ‘media texts’ such as film, television, news, print, online sources and radio, you will get the opportunity to engage with how audiences are manipulated into thinking a particular way.

Media Studies combines creativity with theory and allows you to create your own products for a clear purpose. You will be able to make decisions that will influence the audience and get them thinking just the way you want!

More info in our Arts Department options booklet: https://options.ashbyschool.org.uk/flip/leaflets/Arts.pdf

Framework for the course consists of four inter related areas:

• Media Language: how the media communicates meaning through their forms, codes, conventions and techniques.
• Representations: how the media portrays events, issues, individuals and social groups.
• Media Industries: how the processes of production, distribution and circulation engaged in by the media affect media forms and platforms.
• Audiences: how media forms target, reach and addresses audience. How audiences respond to media forms and how audience members become producers themselves.

Students will learn to understand how products constructed with encoded messages are decoded by the audience. They will discover how media products present versions of reality and reflect a dominant ideology of the creators of the product.

Students will produce an individual cross-media production in response to a choice of briefs set by Eduqas, applying their knowledge and understanding of media language, representation, industry and audiences. The forms that learners can work in include television, magazine, film marketing, music marketing and online options. The intended audience and industry context are specified in the brief.

Component 1 – Media Products, Industry and Audiences 35%

Component 2 – Media Forms and Products in Depth 35%

Component 3 – NEA Coursework 30%

For all Sixth Form courses, students must have five GCSE (or equivalent) passes at Grades 9-4, which must include Mathematics and English Language/Literature at a Grade 4 or above.

Media Studies is very similar to English as a subject, focusing on your ability to analyse and discuss the meaning created by Media texts. It is also a highly creative subject so having a passion for media products such as magazines, gaming, radio, digital media and audio visual media such as television and film will be an asset.

Students will have the opportunity to film on location, as well as specialise in the area of the media they feel most passionate about. Media Studies can lead to careers in journalism, fashion, news reporting, editing, directing, cinematography, web design and other creative media jobs. The possibilities are endless!

People who study Media go on to, Journalism, Film and Television Production, Radio Production, Set/Costume/Props/Make Up/Visual effects design, working within the Gaming industry, Advertising and Marketing, Event Promotion, Directing, Producing, Acting, Camera Operators, Lighting/Sound Technicians, Magazine Columnists/Editors, Event Organisers, Short/Feature Film Makers.