Media Studies

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Applications made before 01 January will be considered while blocking subjects for our timetable. If you apply after this date, the blocking for subjects will have already been determined. If the subjects you have chosen do not fit into the blocking, you will be notified as soon as possible, to arrange a conversation with our Sixth Form team in order to discuss alternatives.

Media Studies is an accessible and contemporary but rigorous course that enables learners to study the media in an academic context and apply their knowledge and understanding to the process of creating their own media productions. Media Studies widens the intellectual horizons of the learner through the analysis of both global and historical media. By encouraging practical and academic engagement in the debates surrounding today’s media, this course will help you to develop critical and reflective thinking, skills that will serve you well both in higher education and in the workplace.

A Level in Media Studies enables learners to:
• demonstrate skills of enquiry, critical thinking, decision-making and analysis, and a critical approach to media issues,
• demonstrate appreciation and critical understanding of the media and their role both historically and currently in society, culture, politics and the economy,
• develop an understanding of the dynamic and changing relationships between media forms, products, media industries and audiences,
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the global nature of the media,
• apply theoretical knowledge and specialist subject specific terminology to analyze and compare media products and the contexts in which they are produced and consumed, in order to make informed arguments, reach substantial judgements and draw conclusions about media issues,
• engage in critical debate about academic theories used in media studies,
• appreciate how theoretical understanding supports practice and practice supports theoretical understanding,
• demonstrate sophisticated practical skills by providing opportunities for creative media production.

Components
1. Media Messages
2. Evolving Media
3. Making Media

Media Messages – Section A: News and Online Media
Learners will focus on contemporary news in the UK. They shall explore how and why newspapers and their online counterparts are evolving as media products and the relationship between both online and offline news.

Media Messages – Section B: Media Language and Representation
Learners will explore media language and representation, through media products set by OCR in the
following media forms:
• Advertising and Marketing
• Magazines
• Music Vidoes

Evolving Media – Section A: Media Industries and Audiences
Learners will explore media industries and audiences, through media products set by OCR for:
• Radio
• Video Games
• Film

Evolving Media – Section B: Long-form Television Drama
Learners will engage in one in-depth study of television as an evolving, global media form. Learners shall study one complete episode of a contemporary Englishlanguage long-form television drama and one complete episode of a non-English long-form television drama.

Making Media
Learners will create a cross-media product. This component offers learners the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework in the production of their own individual cross-media product from a choice of set briefs issued by OCR.

Assessment
1. Media Messages – one two-hour written examination.
2. Evolving Media – one two-hour written examination.
3. Making Media – learners will create a cross-media product in response to an OCR set brief.

English Language and English Literature 4-4

Progression into the second year of the course is reliant on students achieving a minimum D grade in the End of Year 1 Exam.

As a media studies student, you will be expected to have an informed, critical understanding of the media and mass communication. Media studies can be useful in a range of careers including marketing, sales and advertising, roadcast media and performing arts, journalism, publishing, and leisure sport and tourism. Media is a highly popular, and therefore competitive field, so hands on experience is critical.