The document provides past paper questions for media exams focusing on topics such as media ownership, production and distribution, technological convergence, and global vs national media institutions. It also lists related topics to research such as the impact of new technologies, audience targeting, synergy across media platforms, and changing audience behaviors in a converging media landscape. Key terminology is defined including niche vs mass audiences, convergence, synergy, and concepts like user-generated content, subscriptions, and active vs passive consumers.

1. Past Paper Questions Ownership/Institutions Technology/Digi Media Distribution Techniques January 2009 Discuss the ways in which media products are produced and distributed to audiences, within a media area, which you have studied. June 2009 How important is technological convergence for institutions and audiences within a media area which you have studied? January 2010 “Media production is dominated by global institutions which sell their products and services to national audiences” To what extent do you agree? June 2010 What significance does the continuing development of digital media technology have for media institutions and audiences? January 2011 Discuss the issues raised by media ownership in the production and exchange of media texts.

2. Magazine Topics to Research and Study The issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice; The importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing; The technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels of production, distribution, marketing and exchange; The significance of proliferation (rapid increase or spread) in hardware and content for institutions and audiences; The importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences; The issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically, British) by international or global institutions; The ways in which the candidates’ own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends of audience behaviour.

3. SYNERGY How one media area feeds off another and depends on it. Together they produce a stronger market force. e.g Apple and ipod need the link with the music and television / film industry to offer music and video in itunes / video. This also benefits music and film industry. A SYNERGETIC relationship. This is also an example of media industries increasingly coming together. CONVERGENCE!!!

4. Terminology Niche vs. Mass audience or market Convergence Synergy Portfolio Consumers ‘Prosumers’ (a term coined by Future Publishing – Total Film as a rival magazine as ‘young men or young-at-heart men’ who are very technologically involved and know about the latest technologies) Circulation Revenue Demographics – the physical ways that people can be categorised (age, gender, location, ethnicity) Psychographics – the personal attitudes and beliefs people can be grouped together by (tastes, views, interests, hobbies [e.g. SciFi/Music/Film interests]) Target audience User-submitted and generated content Subscriptions Interactivity Multimedia Distribution Multiplatform Hard copies Mode of address Print media/online media Active/passive consumers