KS5 Media Studies

Overview

The WJEC Eduqas  Media Studies specification offers students the opportunity to develop a thorough and in depth knowledge of the media as a form of cultural expression and social change.  Students will explore the globalised nature of contemporary media, industry structures and audience categorisation, targeting and response.  The curriculum is designed to allow media students to draw on their existing experience of the media and to develop their abilities to respond critically to the media.

The specification also encourages creative work to enable students to gain a greater appreciation of the media through their own production work and to develop their own production skills.  Students are given the opportunity to research a topic, which will then form the basis for their production, thus encouraging them to create productions informed by an awareness of contemporary media issues.

Year 12

In Year 12 students will develop knowledge and understanding of key aspects of the theoretical framework – media language and representation – as an essential basis for analysing media products from a variety of forms. In addition, students will develop knowledge and understanding of key aspects of media industries, including the significance of ownership and funding, the role of regulation in global production and distribution, the impact of digitally convergent platforms and the effect of individual producers on media industries. In addition, learners will study media audiences, considering aspects such as the targeting of mass and specialised audiences, the categorisation and construction of audiences, as well as how audiences’ use of and responses to the media reflect identity and social, cultural and historical circumstances. Learners will also explore how media products relate to their social, cultural, historical, political and economic contexts. In this component, learners will develop their ability to use relevant subject-specific terminology and theories.

Year 13

In Year 13, students are required to study three media forms in depth, exploring all areas of the theoretical framework – media language, representation, media industries, and audiences – in relation to audio-visual, print and online products set by WJEC Eduqas. The forms to be studied in depth are:

• television
• magazines
• blogs and websites.

Learners will explore these three media forms through close analysis of the set products, comparing their use of media language and the representations they offer in relation to relevant social, cultural, economic, political and historical contexts. Learners will study the role of media industries in shaping media products, as well as considering the way in which both mass and specialised audiences are targeted and addressed. Relevant and advanced theories will inform study of the set products and learners will reflect critically upon these theoretical perspectives.