A Level Media Studies will provide students with an in depth study of media products in relation to the four key concepts

• Media language
• Media representation
• Media industries
• Media audiences

Students will be required to study media products from all of the following media forms:

• Audio-visual forms (TV, film, radio, advertising and marketing, video games and music video)
• Online forms (social and participatory media, video games, music video, newspapers, magazines, advertising and marketing)
• Print forms (newspapers, magazines, advertising and marketing).

In addition to the broad coverage of all nine media forms, students might engage in the in depth study of at least one audio-visual, one print and one online media form.

Component 1: Media Products, Industries and Audiences

The examination assesses media language, representation, media industries, audiences and media contexts. It consists of two sections:

Section A: Analysing Media Language and Representation

Section B: Understanding Media Industries and Audiences

Component 2: Media Forms and Products in Depth

The examination assesses media language, representation, media industries, audiences and media contexts. It consists of three sections:

Section A: Television In The Global Age

Section B: Magazines: Mainstream and Alternative Media

Section C: Media in the Online Age

Component 3: Cross-Media Production

An individual cross-media production based on two forms in response to a choice of briefs set by AQA, applying knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework and digital convergence.

Learning strategies:

Independent Learning is the key term for this department’s teaching methods. You will be expected to organise and contribute to student led lessons.  This is a hands-on course and you will need to be prepared to make your own media as well as being able to analyse it.  A key attraction of Media Studies for both student and teacher is its contemporary nature and we will expect you to be able to bring up to the nanosecond examples of media products to our class discussion.