Component Two Assignment Brief

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BTEC Level One / Two
Tech Award in
Creative Media Production
Component 2:
Developing Digital Media Production Skills
Name: .................................................................................................
Form: ....................................... Deadline: Friday 20th May 2022

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THE COURSE
Welcome to the BTEC Tech Award in Creative Media Production. You will find this a
practical, work-related course where you will learn by completing projects and assignments
based on realistic workplace situations, activities and demands.
We aim to help you to develop your creative and technical skills, as well as helping you to
gain an understanding of the underlying theory of digital media production. In addition to
learning about the employment area you have chosen, you will develop the skills needed to
start a career in the media industry.
To do this, you will be required to produce a portfolio of practical productions supported by
paperwork and theoretical research. To be successful in doing this, you will have to work
both independently and within groups in a professional manner, showing yourself to be
organised, resourceful, reliable, committed and being capable of meeting strict deadlines.
We hope that you will benefit from this challenging, yet rewarding course and that it will
lead to you continuing your studies or eventually finding a job in the media industry.

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YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
• You are expected to treat all equipment and accommodation with care.
• You are NOT allowed to bring food, drink or chewing gum into work areas.
• You may NOT use mobile phones while you are working, unless otherwise instructed.
• NEVER allow other students or friends to use equipment that is booked out to you, and
do not leave equipment unattended at any time. If it is damaged, lost or stolen, it is
YOUR responsibility. You will need to sign an agreement of responsibility prior to using
the department’s equipment.
If you experience any problems with equipment, ask for help from your teacher. Do not try
to repair the equipment yourself.
Please remember
It is your responsibility to back up your work onto a memory stick and / or Google Drive at the end
of every lesson. You are responsible for saving your work to the hard drive of the computer and the
safekeeping of your original material. Please remember to take your memory stick at the end of
every session, and only use the memory stick to transport work. All work should be backed-up on
computer hard drives. You must provide a folder for each unit and bring it to every session. You will
also be introduced to a referencing system to allow you to produce comprehensive bibliographies of
the materials you have used in your study.
How to contact your teacher…
Telephone: 020 8498 1300
Blog: zcmediastudies.wordpress.com
E-Mail: zchristodoulou.317@kkshs.uk
Twitter: @ZCMediaStudies
YouTube: ZCMediaStudies

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COMPONENT TWO:
DEVELOPING DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION SKILLS
Introduction
Working in the creative media industry involves the application of a wide range of practical
processes, skills and techniques. The industry requires practitioners who can create
products that are effective and well matched to their audience and purpose.
In this component, you will develop practical media production skills and techniques. You
will have the opportunity to specialise in the publishing sector. You will take part in
workshops and classes where you will develop practical skills and techniques. You will apply
these skills and techniques to relevant pre-production, production and post-production
processes when reworking an existing media product.
Print and publishing technology and techniques have moved a long way from a potato
print, linocut or lithography. Many publishers are now producing their products using digital
technology. This increases their opportunity to reach new markets, expand the content of
their product and provide interactive links to services and products. Audiences can use
digital publishing products in a variety of ways. This might be using an electronic reader,
such as a Kindle, to read a book or magazine. It may well be through the Internet using a
handheld device – for example, a mobile phone or a tablet. These products can also be
viewed through a games console, such as a PlayStation.
Throughout your development, you will review your progress and consider how you can
make improvements to your techniques.
Being able to learn and apply new practical skills through experimenting, reflecting and
refining, is highly valued in the creative industries. This component will also enable you to
develop transferable skills, such as teamwork, time management and communication, to
prepare you for further study and employment.

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LEARNING AIMS
In this unit, you will:
A – Develop media production skills and techniques
B – Apply media production skills and techniques
C – Review own progress and development of skills and practices
Learning Aims Content
A1: Practical Skills and Techniques
* Planning skills relevant to the publishing sector, such as:
• Mood boards; house style; thumbnails; sketches; flat plans; design layouts; mock-
ups.
* Skills and techniques for creating content relevant to the publishing sector, such as:
• Writing and editing copy; taking photographs; cropping, scaling and resizing images;
image manipulation techniques; creating graphics.
* Skills and techniques for combining, shaping and refining content relevant to the
publishing sector, such as:
• Page layout and design; typography; use of colour; paragraph and character styles,
text wrap; columns; creating a visual hierarchy; using white space.
B1: Pre-Production Processes and Practices
* Publishing pre-production processes and practices, such as producing:
• Thumbnails; sketches of page layouts; design and layout plans; page mock-ups.
B2: Production Processes and Practices
* Publishing production processes and practices, such as:
• Preparing copy; taking photographs; creating graphics; saving images in appropriate
file formats.
B3: Post-Production Processes and Practices
* Publishing post-production processes and practices, such as:
• Combining elements into a page layout and design that makes effective use of
colour, balance, proximity, alignment, repetition, contrast and space; image
manipulation; exporting files for digital publication.

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C1: Review of Progress
* The review can include audio-visual commentaries (such as screen recordings),
annotated practical work and / or written content, with reference to the following:
• Development of skills and techniques.
• Responding to audience feedback.
• Identifying strengths and areas for development.
• Actions and targets for future production work.
• Reference to professional working practices.
• Use of terminology appropriate to the media field.

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ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR COMPONENT TWO
Level 1 Pass Level 1 Merit Level 2 Pass Level 2 Merit
Level 2
Distinction
Learning Aim A: Develop Media Production Skills and Techniques
A.1P1
Demonstrate limited
development of
media production
skills and techniques.
A.1M1
Demonstrate basic
development of
media production
skills and techniques
through some
experimental
practical work.
A.2P1
Demonstrate
appropriate
development of
media production
through relevant
experimental
practical work.
A.2M1
Demonstrate
effective
development of
media production
through focused
experimental
practical work.
A.2D1
Demonstrate
comprehensive
development of
media production
through creative
experimental
practical work.
Level 2
Distinction
Learning Aim B: Apply Media Production Skills and Techniques
B.1P2
Demonstrate limited
application of pre-
production skills and
techniques when
reworking aspects of
an existing media
product.
B.1M2
Demonstrate basic
application of pre-
techniques when
an existing media
product.
B.2P2
Demonstrate
relevant application
of pre-production
when reworking
aspects of an existing
media product,
leading to
appropriate
outcomes.
B.2M2
Demonstrate
effective application
of pre-production,
production and post-
techniques when
an existing media
product, leading to
effective outcomes.
B.2D2
Demonstrate
imaginative
application of pre-
production,
techniques when
an existing media
product, leading to
creative outcomes.
B.1P3
Demonstrate limited
application of
techniques when
an existing media
product.
B.1M3
Demonstrate basic
application of
techniques when
an existing media
product.
B.2P3
Demonstrate
relevant application
of production and
post-production skills
and techniques when
an existing media
product, leading to
appropriate
outcomes.
Level 2
Distinction
Learning Aim C: Review Own Progress and Development Skills and Techniques
C.1P4
Identify own
development of skills
and techniques, with
use of limited
examples.
C.1M4
Identify own
development of skills
and techniques,
strengths and areas
for improvement,
with use of basic
examples.
C.2P4
Describe own
development and
application of skills
and techniques,
using adequate
examples to identify
strengths and areas
for improvement.
C.2M3
Explain own
development and
and techniques,
using appropriate
strengths and areas
for improvement.
C.2D3
Analyse own
development and
and techniques,
using considered
strengths and set
targets for
improvement.

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An example of a digital print-based text – complete with interactive features.
You have been approached by Zed Publishing Ltd, a local
publishing company, to re-develop your local youth council’s
newsletter into a digital format, which can be read on a number
of electronic platforms, including personal computers, tablets
and smartphones. This will enable the audience to benefit from
interactive features, such as audio clips, video clips and links to
other texts or sites.
The seasonal newsletter will remain an information-based
product about youth culture in Redbridge, aimed at 14 to 16-
year-olds. Expected topics for the newsletter include music,
sports, fashion and extra-curricular clubs.
The expected release of the new issue will be the first week of
June, ready for the summer season.

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TASK ONE
(Comp. 2 = A.1P1, A.1M1, A.2P1, A.2M1, A.2D1; B.1P2, B.1M2, B.2P2, B.2M2, B2.D2)
Create a slideshow that discusses the range of digital print texts available, as well as the
devices on which they are accessible. Your slideshow should also include an evaluation of
the potential advantages of using digital publishing compared to traditional publishing
methods. Remember to include a bibliography of references regarding your used sources.
Things to consider:
i. Definition of digital texts (including examples).
ii. Explanation of analogue (including examples).
iii. Explanation of digital (including examples).
iv. Examples of digital print-based texts (digital comics, digital instruction manuals, e-
leaflets, e-magazines, e-newsletters, e-newspapers).
v. Examples of devices used to access digital print-based texts.
vi. Advantages of digital print-based texts.
vii. Disadvantages of digital print-based texts.
TASK TWO
Create a slideshow that evaluates the use of interactive elements in digital publications.
Also, explain how and why these individual interactive elements are combined.
Remember to create a separate bibliography that references your used sources.
Things to consider:
Interactive features (audio; video; graphics; links; page navigation).
i. Explanation of each interactive feature.
ii. Examples of each interactive feature.
iii. Advantages of each interactive feature.
iv. Disadvantages of each interactive feature.
v. Explanation of why these interactive features are combined in digital texts.

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TASK THREE
Create a handout entitled ‘Top Ten Tips for Creating a Magazine Advert’. As well as giving
your top ten tips, illustrate two examples of good adverts and two examples of poor
adverts, with explanations of why they were chosen.
Things to consider:
Top tips; examples of good; examples of poor; annotations.
TASK FOUR (A)
and (B)
a) Using Adobe Photoshop, design an A4-sized advertisement that could feature in your
final newsletter. Remember, your advert must link to one of the three topics that will
feature in the newsletter: fashion, music or sport.
b) Your designs must be accompanied by explanations and justifications of your decisions.
Things to consider:
Layout; fonts; colours; images; interactive features.

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TASK FIVE
(Comp. 2 = A.1P1, A.1M1, A.2P1, A.2M1, A.2D1; B.1P2, B.1M2, B.2P2, B.2M2, B.2M2, B2.D2;
B.1P3, B.1M3, B.2P3)
Design a guide / manual / handout that explains and illustrates how a beginner can use
Adobe Photoshop to create an A4-sized advertisement. This new advert can be from a topic
or product of your choice (i.e. food, perfume, video game, etc.).
Things to consider:
Step-by-step instructions; screenshots; animations; embedded videos; embedded
audio.
TASK SIX
Create a handout entitled ‘Top Ten Tips for Creating a Newsletter’. As well as giving your
top ten tips, illustrate two examples of good newsletter and two examples of poor
newsletters, with explanations of why they were chosen.
Things to consider:
Top tips; examples of good; examples of poor; annotations.
TASK SEVEN
(Comp. 2 = B.1P2, B.1M2, B.2P2, B.2M2, B2.D2)
Using a creative software package of your choice
(Word, PowerPoint, Prezi, Publisher, Sway),
design a planning document that sets out all of
your ideas for your [future] final newsletter.
Things to consider:
Title; colour scheme; articles; images;
interactive features; mock-ups / layout of
pages; peer feedback.

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TASK EIGHT (A)
and (B)
(Comp. 2 = A.1P1, A.1M1, A.2P1, A.2M1, A.2D1; B.1P2, B.1M2, B.2P2, B.2M2, B.2M2, B2.D2;
B.1P3, B.1M3, B.2P3)
a) Using Adobe Photoshop, create your A4-sized, four-page newsletter for release across a
range of digital platforms.
b) Keep a production diary of your progress, which consists of screenshots and
annotations (including evidence of file and folder organisation).
Things to consider:
Layout; fonts; colours; images; [imagined] interactive features; Production Diary.
TASK NINE
(Comp. 2 = C.1P4, C.1M4, C.2P4, C.2M3, C.2D3)
You now need to obtain audience feedback on the
strengths and weaknesses of your draft text. Ask
your audience to inspect and analyse your text – all
the while, making a note of what works well and
what requires improvement. In addition, you must
look to take a step back and scrutinise your own
work, comparing it to [similar] existing texts.
Things to consider:
Survey (traditional and online); focus groups; feedback forms.

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TASK TEN
(Comp. 2 = B.1P3, B.1M3, B.2P3, B.2M2, B2.D2; C.1P4, C.1M4, C.2P4, C.2M3, C.2D3)
Using the audience feedback, as well as your own findings, make the necessary edits and
alternations to your newsletter.
Things to consider:
Update newsletter; update Production Diary.
TASK ELEVEN
(Comp. 2 = C.1P4, C.1M4, C.2P4, C.2M3, C.2D3)
Finally, you must now evaluate the overall progress of your skills development, including a
plan of action for future productions.
Things to consider:
Development of skills and techniques; actions and targets for future production work;
reference to professional working practices; use of key media terminology.

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Task 1
Task 2
Task 3
Task 4
Task 5
Task 6
Task 7
Task 8
Task 9
Task 10
Task 11
Portfolio hand-in Friday 20th
May 2022

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RECOMMENDED READING
Key:
Author (year), Title (edition), Publisher.
International Standard Book Number
Branston G and Stafford R (2010), The Media Student’s Book (fifth edition), Routledge.
ISBN: 978-0-415-55842-6
Connell B (2010), Exploring the Media: Text, Industry, Audience (second edition), Auteur.
ISBN: 978-1-906733-47-6
Long P and Wall T (2009) Media Studies: Texts, Production and Context, Pearson
Education.
ISBN: 978-1-4058-5847-2
McKay J (2013) The Magazines Handbook (third edition), Routledge.
ISBN: 978-0-415-61756-7
Turow J (2019), Media Today (seventh edition), Routledge.
ISBN: 978-1-138-59384-8
The Design Council UK – www.designcouncil.org.uk/about-design/Types-of-design
The Sector Skills Council for Creative Media – www.creativeskillset.org
Wikipedia entry for “Electronic Publishing” – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_publishing
Issuu Publications – www.issuu.com

Component Two Assignment Brief

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