2. Industry
Question 1:
The BBC is a publicly funded media organisation that relies on the licence fee as a source of income.
Give one other source of public funding for media organisations.
Answer:
• Government Grants
• Lottery Funding
Question 2:
Many organisations within the media industry are not publicly funded
2a: Name two privately funded media companies.
Answer:
• Channel 4
• ITV
2b: Give two benefits for a media company of being funded privately.
Answer:
• Increased Revenue
• Increased Marketing
Question 3:
Give the name of the governing body of the BBC.
Answer:
• BBC Trust
3. CVs and Portfolios
Question 4:
4a: Give one benefit for the potential employee of using a CV when applying for a job in the media industry.
Answer:
• Flexible
• Low Cost
4b: Give one drawback of using a CV when applying for a job in the media industry.
Answer:
• Can become out of date
Question 5:
A news organisation requests the CVs of potential employees when recruiting for full-time, permanent jobs.
Give two equality issues that the news organisation will need to consider when employing someone for their 24-hour news output.
Answer:
• Unsocial hours
• Medical Conditions
• Flexible Working Patterns
• Discrimination
• Biased
4. Permanent & Freelance
Question 6:
Give one benefit of being employed by a media organisation on a full-time permanent basis.
Answer:
• Security
• Support
• Regular Wage
Question 7:
Working in the media industry means either collaboratively or independently.
7a: Give one advantage of working collaboratively in the media industry.
Answer:
• Working With Others
• Specialised Roles
• Develop Own Skills
7b: Explain two advantages of working independently in the media industry.
• Multiskilling will be allowing a wider range of skills to be developed
• Higher levels of motivation and as reputation is linked to the project outcome
Question 8:
A television production company prefers to promote a production assistant to a floor manager rather than recruit a new staff member.
8a: Give two advantages of this decision for the company
• Easier/Quicker
• Working relationships are already established
8b: Explain one reason why relying on internal promotion might be a drawback for the television production company
• A limited number of applicants to chose from and meaning the company is less likely to recruit the very best person for the job
5. Media Organisations
Question 9:
9a: The BBC is a national media organisation.
Name one other national media organisation in the UK
Answer:
• Talk Sport
• Sky
• Virgin
• Channel 4
9b: Many local newspapers are now owned by a small number of national or international organisations.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this type of ownership
Answer:
Advantages Disadvantages
National Distribution – can indicate national news stories and
so operate more efficiently
Limited Independence
Financial Security Diminished link with local audience
Shared Resources Distant relationship between owners and audience
Share Delivery Systems – distribution and manufacturing
processes are shared leading to greater efficiency
Generic content that may not engage with local audiences
6. Conglomerate
Question 10:
Writers are paid to a proportion of their fee before they produce their work.
Give the name of this type of contract
Answer:
• Prepayment
• Retainer
• Signing of Contract
Question 11:
11a: Name one media conglomerate
Answer:
• Walt Disney
• 20th Century
11b: Give two differences between a media conglomerate and an independently owned media company
Answer:
• Range of Products
• Ownership Structure
7. Audience and Community
Question 12:
The wider use of the internet has led to more community media organisations being set up around the country
Outline two benefits for the audience of this type of organisation being based in their community
Answer:
• Serves the Community
• Easy to Discover
• Increases local audience participation
Question 13:
A publisher owns a range of magazine titles on subject including fashion, beauty, cycling and fishing.
This type of ownership is described a ‘horizontal integration’.
Explain one advantage for the publisher of this type of ownership
Answer:
• Flexibility in term of titles to reflect audience demand
• Create influence being able to set the agenda
8. Mainstream
Question 14:
A major film studio begins production on a mainstream movie.
Explain two advantages of the movie being backed by a major film studio
Answer:
• Attracts star names leading to box office draw
• High production values and budgets enhancing the brand or franchise
• Access to exhibition through associated cinema networks
9. File Sharing
Question 15:
Music producers are concerned about illegal file sharing on the internet
15a: Give one impact that file sharing is having on the music industry
Answer:
• Inability to find new talent
• Loss of Revenue
15b: There is public concern about some of the content available on the internet.
This has lead to calls for stricter regulation
Discuss reasons for and against stricter regulations of the internet
Answer:
Reasons For Reasons Against
Control of offensive material – in order to protect young
people and children
Free Speech – the controls may limit free speech as in some
countries
Propaganda – tighter controls would limit the ability of
websites to promote propaganda or misleading information
Mass harvesting of private data
Terrorism – the stricter controls could help in the fight against
terrorism
Enhances user skills/technical currency later life
11. Radio Industry
Question 1:
Commercial radio broadcasters have to ensure that the content of their programmes does not offend their listeners
1a: What is the name of the regulatory organisations that deals with listener complaints about the content of programs on commercial radio
Answer:
• OFCOM – Office For Communications
1b: Give two sources of income for commercial radio broadcasters
Answer:
• Advertising
• Sales
Question 2:
2a: State two responsibilities of a private media broadcaster
Answer:
• Making Profit
• Increased Audience Share
2b: Give one disadvantage of a production relying on private funding
• Smaller Budget
• Lack of Security
12. Employment in the Industry
Question 3:
Give one benefit for a media organisation of advertising in the trade press when recruiting staff
Answer:
• They are available on different platforms
Question 4:
Give one example of unpaid work in the media industry
Answer
• Work Experience
• Volunteering
Question 5:
A music video producer is self-employed and works for a range of record companies
5a: Give one other example of a media production role that is likely to be self-employed
Answer:
• Cameraman
• 3D Modeller
5b: State two ethical issues a producer would have to consider when making music videos
Answer:
• Type of language you say
• Offensive Videos
13. Copyright
Question 6:
A music producer ensures that their work is protected by copyright
6a: Name one body that protects the rights of music copyright holders
Answer:
• PRS – Preforming Rights Society
6b: Explain two benefits of copyright legislation for a music producer
Answer:
• Copyright material so that the holder can choose what products their work is associated
• Legal redress in the event of infringement to ensure against plagiarism
14. Recruitment
Question 7:
A media company wants to recruit production staff to make a new television show
7a: Outline two benefits for the company of requesting applicants’ showreels
Answer:
• Ability to access practical skills of applicants
• Established practice
7b: Many of the applicants have freelance experience.
Explain one advantage of working freelance in the media industry
Answer:
• Flexibility over working hours being able to achieve a better work-life balance
