We media refers to citizen-generated media created by ordinary people. It has emerged online and allows greater participation and democracy. Contemporary media can be both more and less democratic than traditional media. Candidates should compare examples of we media like blogs and social media to more traditional forms of media ownership in their essays. They must refer to at least two different media, including past, present and future examples, and discuss critical media theories.

1. Essay Planning
Advice and Guidance

2. SECTION B: Contemporary Media Issues
 ‘We Media and Democracy’
 Example Questions: ‘How far can the media in 2010 be considered to be democratic?’
‘Assess the claim that the media is becoming more democratic.’
‘Discuss the meanings of the term ‘we media.’’
‘What is ‘we media’ and what difference does it make to citizens?’
You should always consider the following when approaching any of the above questions:
 What are ‘We Media’?
 Where/how has ‘We Media’ emerged?
 In what way are the contemporary media more democratic than before?
 In what way are the contemporary media less democratic than before?

3. Advice from the Exam Board
 Candidates might explore combinations of any two media in relation to the previous slide prompts.
 Candidates should compare potentially alternative or progressive ‘We Media’ examples with other
examples of more orthodox production and ownership models.
 Consider media within an understanding of democracy so any contemporary examples that support
your argument will be credited.

4. Mark Scheme
 Explanation/Analysis/Argument (20 marks)
Candidates adapt their learning to the specific requirements of the question in excellent fashion. The
answer offers a clear, articulate balance of media theories, knowledge of texts and industries and
personal engagement with issues and debates.
 Use of Examples (20 marks)
Examples of texts, industries and theories are clearly connected together in the answer with coherent
argument developed in response to the question.
 Use of Terminology (10 marks)
Throughout the answer, material presented is informed by contemporary media theory and the
command of the appropriate theoretical language is excellent.

5. YOU MUST:
 You MUST refer to at least TWO different media
To ensure you do this, a comparison between online media and any form of traditional media (newspapers,
broadcast news, film) would ensure you quickly meet the criteria.
 You MUST refer to past, present and future (with the emphasis on the present- contemporary examples
from the past five years)
Ensure you have a majority of material from the past five years. This really should not be a problem when
using online media, and to be honest You could use material from the last few months to construct a really
good answer!
 You MUST refer to critical/theoretical positions
You should have a range of writers that you could use, we have discussed theorists in each of the case
studies we have looked at. There are at least 2 with conflicting ideas you could use to support your own
work.