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A Level Specification Template GCE A LEVEL WJEC Eduqas GCE A Level in MEDIA STUDIES ACCREDITED BY OFQUAL SPECIFICATION Teaching from 2017 For award from 2019 Version 5 February 2020 This Ofqual regulated qualification is not available for candidates in maintained schools and colleges in Wales. SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS Version Description Page number Information added to clarify that, in the Component 1 examination, across Section A as a whole, there will always 2 be one unseen audio-visual resource and one unseen print- 24 based resource; Question 1 will relate to an audio-visual resource and Question 2 will relate to a print-based resource. Production work must be uploaded as an e-portfolio. 56 GDPR guidance added. 3 'Making entries' section has been amended to clarify resit 58 rules and carry forward of NEA marks. Component 1, Section A – the set newspaper front pages and 14 articles have been changed for assessment from 2021. Component 1, Section B – one of the set films has been 18-19 changed for assessment from 2021. 4 Component 1, Section B – the set radio podcast has been 20 changed for assessment from 2021. Component 2, Section C – option 1 of the set online magazines has been changed: from DesiMag (for assessment 41-47 in 2019 & 2020) to gal-dem (for assessment from 2021 onwards). Component 1, Section B – the set video game product has 18 been changed for assessment from 2022 to the Assassin’s 20 Creed franchise. 5 Component 1, Section B – the approach to questions 3 and 4 24 has been broadened to at least one form. Component 2, Section C – names and links have been 41-47 updated. © WJEC CBAC Ltd. A LEVEL MEDIA STUDIES 1 WJEC Eduqas GCE A LEVEL in MEDIA STUDIES For teaching from 2017 For award from 2019 Page Summary of assessment and overview of specification 2 1. Introduction 5 1.1 Aims and objectives 5 1.2 Prior learning and progression 7 1.3 Equality and fair access 7 2. Subject content 8 2.1 Component 1: Media Products, Industries and Audiences 12 2.2 Component 2: Media Forms and Products in Depth 25 2.3 Component 3: Cross-Media Production 49 3. Assessment 54 3.1 Assessment objectives and weightings 54 3.2 Arrangements for non-exam assessment 55 4. Technical information 58 4.1 Making entries 58 4.2 Grading, awarding and reporting 58 Appendices A: Component 3: Cross-Media Production assessment grid and marking guidelines 59 B: Summary of theories studied 63 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. A LEVEL MEDIA STUDIES 2 GCE A LEVEL MEDIA STUDIES SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT Component 1: Media Products, Industries and Audiences Written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes 35% of qualification The examination assesses media language, representation, media industries, audiences and media contexts. It consists of two sections: Section A: Analysing Media Language and Representation This section assesses media language and representation in relation to two of the following media forms: advertising, marketing, music video or newspapers. There are two questions in this section: • one question assessing media language in relation to an unseen audio-visual or print resource • one extended response comparison question assessing representation in one set product and an unseen audio-visual or print resource in relation to media contexts. Section B: Understanding Media Industries and Audiences This section assesses two of the following media forms – advertising, marketing, film, newspapers, radio, video games - and media contexts. It includes: • one stepped question on media industries • one stepped question on audiences. Component 2: Media Forms and Products in Depth Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes 35% of qualification The examination assesses media language, representation, media industries, audiences and media contexts. It consists of three sections: Section A – Television in the Global Age There will be one two-part question or one extended response question. Section B – Magazines: Mainstream and Alternative Media There will be one two-part question or one extended response question. Section C – Media in the Online Age There will be one two-part question or one extended response question. Component 3: Cross-Media Production Non exam assessment 30% of qualification An individual cross-media production based on two forms in response to a choice of briefs set by WJEC, applying knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework and digital convergence. This linear qualification will be available for assessment in May/June each year. It will be awarded for the first time in summer 2019. Qualification Accreditation Number: 603/1149/6 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. A LEVEL MEDIA STUDIES 3 Overview of Specification Learners study a range of media forms in terms of a theoretical framework which consists of media language, representation, media industries and audiences. (See section 2 for more detail.) The following forms are studied in depth through applying all areas of the framework: newspapers, magazines, television, online, social and participatory media. Advertising and marketing, film, music video, radio and video games are studied in relation to selected areas of the framework. Aspects of this framework are studied in the following way across the three components: Component 1 – Media Products, Industries and Audiences Film (cross- Newspapers Theoretical Advertising media study, Music Video (in-depth Radio framework and Marketing including film video games study) marketing) Media language Section A Section A Section A Representation Section A Section A Section A Media industries Section B Section B Section B Section B Audiences Section B Section B Section B Section B Sections Sections Media contexts Section B Section A Section B Section B A and B A and B Component 2 – Media Forms and Products in Depth Theoretical Online, social and Television Magazines framework participatory media Media language Section A Section B Section C Representation Section A Section B Section C Media industries Section A Section B Section C Audiences Section A Section B Section C Media contexts Section A Section B Section C Component 3 – Cross-Media Production Advertising Advertising Online, social Theoretical and and and Television Magazines framework marketing: marketing: participatory film music media Media ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ language Representation ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Media ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ industries Audiences ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ © WJEC CBAC Ltd. A LEVEL MEDIA STUDIES 5 GCE A LEVEL MEDIA STUDIES 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Aims and objectives The media play a central role in contemporary culture, society and politics. They shape our perceptions of the world through the representations, ideas and points of view they offer. The media have real relevance and importance in our lives today, providing us with ways to communicate, with forms of cultural expression and the ability to participate in key aspects of society. The economic importance of the media is also unquestionable. The media industries employ large numbers of people worldwide and generate significant global profit. The globalised nature of the contemporary media, ongoing technological developments and more opportunities to interact with the media suggest their centrality in contemporary life can only increase. The WJEC Eduqas specification offers learners the opportunity to develop a thorough and in depth understanding of these key issues, using a comprehensive theoretical framework and a variety of advanced theoretical approaches and theories to support critical exploration and reflection, analysis and debate. The study of a wide range of rich and stimulating media products is central to the specification, offering opportunities for detailed analysis of how the media communicate meanings in a variety of forms. Learners will work from the product outwards to debate key critical questions related to the social, cultural, political and economic role of the media. Through studying media products holistically in relation to all areas of the theoretical framework, learners will engage with the dynamic relationships between media products, media industries and audiences. Learners will also consider established media forms alongside more contemporary forms, developing an awareness of emerging and evolving media. Although the primary emphasis in this specification is on the contemporary media, learners will explore how the products relate to their wider historical contexts. Learners will also extend their experience of the media through the study of products with which they may be less familiar, including those produced by or for a minority group, non-mainstream and non-English language products. This specification aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the transnational nature of the media, considering the effect of different national contexts on representations in media products, the global reach of media industries, and the targeting of audiences on a national and global scale. Choice and flexibility are a vital part of the specification, enabling teachers to select the most appropriate, relevant and engaging products for their learners to study in Component 2. This specification also recognises the fundamental relationship between theoretical understanding and practical work, providing learners with exciting opportunities to develop media production skills in different forms, apply their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework to media forms and products, and become creators of meaning themselves. Learners will be offered a choice of briefs and forms within which to work, enabling them to explore and pursue their own media interests. © WJEC CBAC Ltd. A LEVEL MEDIA STUDIES
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