This document provides an overview of the reformed A-Level Media Studies course structure and requirements. Key points include: - Exams now account for 70% of the final grade, with coursework making up the remaining 30%. - Students must analyze 9 different media forms and cover 19 different theorists. - The non-exam assessment (coursework) involves creating a cross-media product such as a music video and accompanying website. - Exam papers assess knowledge of both traditional media concepts and the new theoretical framework, and include questions on two in-depth areas of study and unseen media content. - Areas of study include print and online newspapers, radio, video games, film, and television across two

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3. WELCOME TO A LEVEL
MEDIA
Review of course structure

4. INTRODUCTIONS
• NAME
• WHY YOU CHOSE MEDIA

5. REFORM IN MEDIA
• Increased value on exam (70 exam/30 coursework)
• No AS
• Must cover 9 media forms
• No film in media (except the industry side)
• Set media products in exam
• Theoretical Framework replaces media concepts
• 3 in-depth studies (quite broad)
• Must cover 5 ‘contexts’
• Must cover 19 theorists
• Individual NEA
• NEA done in 2nd year (topic not announced until March/April)
• Cross media NEA (main task + online) (i.e. music video + website)
• NEA topics change every year (institution/audience/genre etc)
• R&P not assessed and no evaluation

6. OLD MEDIA CONCEPTS
• GENRE
• NARRATIVE
• REPRESENTATION
• AUDIENCE
• MEDIA LANGUAGE
• INSTITUION

7. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
• MEDIA LANGUAGE
• MEDIA INDUSTRIES
• MEDIA AUDIENCES
• MEDIA REPRESENTATION

8. 9 MEDIA FORMS
• Advertising (print)
• Radio
• Magazine
• Music video
• Film (industry only)
• Newspapers
• Video games
• Television
• Online, social and participatory media

9. CONTEXTS
• HISTORICAL
• POLITICAL
• SOCIAL
• CULTURAL
• ECONOMICAL

10. COURSE OUTLINE
A Level
Exam
Paper 1
35%
Paper 2
35%
NEA
(coursework)
30%

11. COURSE OUTLINE
A Level
Exam (70%)
A: Newspapers** (45 marks)
B: MEDIA LANGUAGE & REPRESENTATION:
Advertising, Music Videos, Magazines (25 marks)
A: MEDIA INDUSTRIES AND AUDIENCES: Video
Games, Radio, Film (30 marks)
B: Long Form TV Drama* (40 marks)
NEA (30%)
(coursework)
Research & Planning N/A
Statement of Intent N/A
Music video (25)
Website (25)
Cross media link (10)

12. THEORISTS
• There are 19 theorists in total
• You need to know the theories, evaluate theories and apply them to media products
• You will have to think on your feet in the exam as they are unseen in different
questions
• On each section in exam, there will be a 10 mark question on theory/theorists

13. PAPER 1: MEDIA MESSAGES
Section A: PRINT AND ONLINE NEWSPAPERS
45 marks
1. *In-depth study = print newspaper
2. *In-depth study = online newspaper (online,
social and participatory media)
Section B: MEDIA LANG & REPRESENTATION
25 marks
(Music Video + Magazine +
Advertising/Marketing)
2/3 in exam
• 3 x 10 mark questions
• 1 x 15 mark extended question
• Unseen assessments (printed front covers)
• Tabloids & Broadsheets = range of newspapers
• All 4 theoretical frameworks
• Everything/anything on newspapers
MV M A
Contrast of a more
straight forward
music video
against a more
abstract one
Big Issue (unseen
cover)
Contrast of
Aftershave
(commercial)
Soft drink
(commercial)
Charity (non-
commercial)

14. PAPER 2: EVOLVING MEDIA
Section A: MEDIA INDUSTRIES AND AUDIENCES
30 marks
(Radio, Video Games, Film)
2/3 in exam
Section B: MEDIA LANG & REPRESENTATION
25 marks
(1 US + 1 non-English lang show)
*In-depth study #3
• 2 x 15 mark questions
• Will study products outside of set products
• 1 x 30 mark extended question
• 1 x 10 mark questions (theory)
• Contrast of the 2 shows
• All 4 theoretical frameworks
• Everything/anything on these showsR VG F
Radio 1 Breakfast
show
Minecraft Contrast of
contemporary and
historical film
Jungle Book (old
and new version)

15. MAKING MEDIA:
NEA (NON EXAM ASSESSMENT)
• Choice of 2 options:
• Print + online
• Music video + online
• Practical tasks throughout the year (also in relation to exam material)
• Individual work!
• Some group work = filming ok
• You have ‘directorial role’
• Can have very little same footage
• Edit is alone
• Research + Planning = done but no marks (to authenticate the work)*
• Statement of Intent = approx. 500 words*
• *If not done, 10 marks lost each and cannot access top band marks (so quality matters)
• Audience = always 16-25 year olds
• Some change every year:
• Institution (ie. What channel)
• Day/Time/Slot/exhibition point)
• Genre
• Other udience demographic

16. NEA
Research &
Planning
Statement of Main product Online Cross media link
Not sure if online
or print
no marks*
500 words
No marks*
3 minutes
(if print = different)
25 marks
2 pages (such as
weebly/wix – you
have to change the
templates)
25 marks
How well do they
match/link?
10 marks

17. QUESTIONS?

18. STUDENT WORK SAMPLE
• Old spec – would you like to see?