GCSE Media Studies

Media, What’s That?

Television, Radio, Film, Pop Music, Advertising, Magazines, Comics and ICT Based Media

Doesn’t sound very educational?

The Media play an increasingly important role in contemporary society, providing us with information and entertainment. In Britain it is almost impossible to avoid: TV or radio in every room in the house, home computers connected to the Internet, magazines and newspapers on the doormat, posters on the local bus shelter advertising the latest movies at the local multiplex... I could go on and on.

Today it is easy to argue that the mass media not only reflect our attitudes and values, they also help to shape them. How they do that, why they do that, and the effect that has on individuals, communities and cultures, are issues at the heart of Media Studies.

In Media Studies we assess and analyse a range of different media products, across the worlds of radio, TV, film, new media and print. We investigate the larger businesses responsible for giving us our daily media fix, and the nature of media consumption by different audiences.

We also learn how the media tries to manipulate its audience through the use of particular kinds of language, and we learn to use those tools for ourselves in producing our own original media products. Media Studies is part sociology, part psychology, with a smattering of art, economics, politics and business studies thrown in for good measure.

GCSE Media Studies is not a course designed to prepare you for a career in film-making, any more than English prepares you for a career as a novelist. Only talent and determination will win you that prize. It is a fascinating subject, however, and a lot of fun.

Where is it?

Media Studies is taught in the E Block.

Who does it?

Media Studies is a GCSE course that students may follow in Years 10 and 11.
There is a ‘fast track’ group of year 9 students studying the course one day a week.

Will we be watching Eastenders?
Yes, you will watch it but you will be expected to analyse it as a Media text.

So it’s just watching Eastenders?
No, presently different teaching groups are studying the following Media Forms:
Tabloid Press, Television Advertising, Horror Films, Reality Television, Children's Comics, Soap Opera, Advertising and Comedy Films

Is there any coursework?
Yes there are 3 assignments and a Practical Production that together make up 50% of your final mark.

It sounds like a lot of essays?
There are some essays but the majority of the work is practical.

So there’s an exam as well?
Yes the examination board sets the exam. Each year the exam is on a different Media Form:
Summer 2007 - The Music Press
Summer 2008 - Situation Comedy

What are the department’s results like then?
The department results are very good. Of the 118 Year 11 students who studied it at KS4 last year 66% of them achieved an A* - C grade.

The 24 ‘fast track’ students who took Media GCSE Last Year 95% of students in Year 9 all achieved A or B =grades.

What will I need?
Access to a computer at home A creative mind The ability to analyse the Media Organisational Skills.

Staff

 
Kate Forsey (Head of Media)

Ms J Hewston – Senco