The document provides information and discussion points for an upcoming media studies exam, including: - A short test on representations, public sphere, and hegemony theories from the class blog. - Instructions to learn about narrative theory for the following Thursday. - A debate prompt on how the media is becoming more democratic, with examples to support or deny the claim. - Discussion of citizen participation and informed democracy in relation to definitions of democracy from sources like Wikipedia. - Tasks to investigate examples of user-generated content and assess claims of increased democracy. - Guidance on writing successful exam answers, including clear structure, examples, and terminology.

1. A2 Media StudiesConstructing a Written Response

2. Advanced Warning! Tomorrow…Short test on representations theory / Public Sphere theory / Hegemony – everything from the blog so far. www.cheneya2media.blogspot.comLearn Narrative theory for next Thurs

3. MEDIA DEBATE OF THE DAY!Media Debates Starter:- point to supportEvidence / Example- point to denyEvidence / Example

4. Review – what are the other applications mentioned by ALAN RUSHBRIGER ?

5. Learning intentionWe are learning to:- Understand the features of good quality writing in Media Studies exams

7. What are We-Media?We-Media describes any media that is homegrown, organic, produced by the audience rather than by an established media institution.

8. Dan Gillmor2004

9. What is democracy?Democracy is the situation where the people - ‘demos’ - are able to vote for and make decisions about the direction of the society in which they live. It is strongly connected with ideas about liberty, freedom and choice.Many believe that a requirement for democracy is to have informed, educated citizens – the media therefore plays a key role.

10. Wikipedia on DemocracyMajority rule is often listed as a characteristic of democracy. However, it is also possible for a minority to be oppressed by a "tyranny of the majority" in the absence of governmental or constitutional protections of individual or group rights. An essential part of an "ideal" representative democracy is competitive elections that are fair. Furthermore, freedom of political expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press are considered to be essential, so that citizens are adequately informed and able to vote according to their own best interests as they see them. It has also been suggested that a basic feature of democracy is the capacity of individuals to participate freely and fully in the life of their society.

11. Assess the claim that the media is becoming more democratic.

12. Assess the claim that the media is becoming more democratic.

13. Assess the claim that the media is becoming more democratic.Prepare a response to this question by next Thursday (October 6th)

14. How are we marked?Explanation, analysis, argument (20 marks)Use of examples (20 marks)Use of terminology (10 marks)

15. PlanningPair share – come up with points you could makeWhat examples would you use?

16. Case studies – find examples of UGC from the following media areas…Politics TVAdvertisingMusicFor each one, prepare a presentation which gives examples and suggests if the media is becoming more democratic, ie is it resulting in more freedom, liberty, individual choice?

17. Learning intentionWe are learning to…Understand the range of different ways that political parties try to employ or emulate we-media

18. http://www.labour.org.uk/home

19. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blogTaskInvestigate your areaCreate a 3 slide presentation with examples of We-Media or otherwise in actionAssess whether or not this is evidence for heightened democracy

20. Learning intentionsWe are learning to...- Understand the key features of successful exam answers in A2 Media Studies

21. Think-Pair-ShareWhat are the key indicators of success for essay writing?What are the examiners looking for?

22. How are we marked?Explanation, analysis, argument (20 marks)Use of examples (20 marks)Use of terminology (10 marks)

23. Also – show understanding of...

24. Possible IntroAccording to Alan Rushbriger, writing in the Guardian in 2009, We-Media have caused the ‘... greatest explosion of democracy ... the world has ever seen.’. In this essay, I will explore evidence to support Rushbriger’s views, giving the case for ‘digital optimism’ is assessing the impact of we-media. However, I will also consider things from a ‘digitial pessimist’ point of view, by exploring ways that the growth of we-media could be said to have reduced genuine democracy in the media.

25. Is the Media becoming more democratic?

26. Create a clear, simple structure for your essay

27. Clear, simple structure

29. News ParagraphWhat points would you make, and what examples would you give, to suggest that we-media has made news more democratic?

30. How do we know that we are doing it well?

31. Social networking – skilled planningMore democratic as allows people to talk to each other without government interferenceSome campaigns are done on Facebook

32. Social networking – excellent planningAllows unregulated discussion – freedom of expression and informationFacebook – influence on Arab Spring – Syria, Egypt – allowed ‘the people’ to bypass old media - unstoppableAlso Facebook for social campaigns, eg student protests/ current Wall Street protests – easy to get together and arrange protestHowever, also can be undemocratic – eg BBM in London Riots – meant that liberty and freedom was reduced for many – Twitter and privacy with Ryan Giggs affair

33. The Paragraph - Point and topic established – topic sentenceRelevant evidence providedIncreasingly detailed explanation and discussion

34. How do we know that we are doing it well?

35. Social networkingOne way in which the media can be argued to have become more democratic is through the use of social media to organise and enable political protest. A recent example of this is the ‘Arab Spring’ unrest across the Middle East in early 2011. In Syria, for example, news of an individual protest in a small town was quickly carried via Facebook across the country, resulting in lots of copy-cat protests, riots, and eventually to the downfall of the King. In the past, any such individual protests would have been prevented from appearing on Syrian state television, and therefore prevented from spreading. However, the rise of social networking meant that democratic forces such as access to information and freedom of speech were given a place where they could flourish.

36. Annotate the strengths hereOne way in which the media can be argued to have become more democratic is through the use of social media to organise and enable political protest. A recent example of this is the ‘Arab Spring’ unrest across the Middle East in early 2011. In Syria, for example, news of an individual protest in a small town was quickly carried via Facebook across the country, resulting in lots of copy-cat protests, riots, and eventually to the downfall of the King. In the past, any such individual protests would have been prevented from appearing on Syrian state television, and therefore prevented from spreading. However, the rise of social networking meant that democratic forces such as access to information and freedom of speech were given a place where they could flourish.

37. Social networkingOne way in which the media can be argued to have become more democratic is through the use of social media to organise and enable political protest. A recent example of this is the ‘Arab Spring’ unrest across the Middle East in early 2011. In Syria, for example, news of an individual protest in a small town was quickly carried via Facebook across the country, resulting in lots of copy-cat protests, riots, and eventually to the downfall of the King. In the past, any such individual protests would have been prevented from appearing on Syrian state television, and therefore prevented from spreading. However, the rise of social networking meant that democratic forces such as access to information and freedom of speech were given a place where they could flourish.

38. Social networkingOne way in which the media can be argued to have becomemore democratic is through the use of social media to organise and enable political protest. A recent example of this is the ‘Arab Spring’ unrest across the Middle East in early 2011. In Syria, for example, news of an individual protest in a small town was quickly carried via Facebook across the country, resulting in lots of copy-cat protests, riots, and eventually to the downfall of the King. In the past, any such individual protests would have been prevented from appearing on Syrian state television, and therefore prevented from spreading. However, the rise of social networking meant that democratic forces such as access to information and freedom of speech were given a place where they could flourish.

39. Social networkingOne way in which the media can be argued to have become more democratic is through the use of social media to organise and enable political protest. A recent example of this is the ‘Arab Spring’ unrest across the Middle East in early 2011. In Syria, for example, news of an individual protest in a small town was quickly carried via Facebook across the country, resulting in lots of copy-cat protests, riots, and eventually to the downfall of the King. In the past, any such individual protests would have been prevented from appearing on Syrian state television, and therefore prevented from spreading. However, the rise of social networking meant that democratic forces such as access to information and freedom of speech were given a place where they could flourish.

40. TaskWrite up one paragraph / point from your essay - either about News, or just from your own thinking