Year 13 — Media Studies

Term 1: Introduction to Newspapers

This section consists of two linked in-depth studies that focus on contemporary news in the UK, requiring learners to explore how and why newspapers and their online counterparts are evolving

as media products and the relationship between both online and offline news.

Introduction to media theory and applying theory to LFTVD (Long Form TV Drama).

Revision paper 2

Preparation on NEA - learners continue to work on the preparation tasks and statement of intent

LFTVD Exam question

Masthead

The top section of a newspaper which gives the paper’s title, price and date.

Splash

The front page story

Sub-headings

Smaller, typically one line headlines for other stories.

Tabloid

Smaller newspapers aimed at a large audience. News is reported in less depth and emphasises human interest stories. The language level is lower, paragraphs and stories shorter, with more use of images. Content often includes more celebrities, media news a

Typography

The collective term when considering elements of print media relating to the style of the text such as the font, colour, serif, sans serif etc.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural

Develop the individual:

Create a supportive community:

Term 2: Creating Media

NEA - Working through my product.

Revision - for mock 1

Theory:

LFTVD applying theory

Theory - Media language and representation

Newspaper applying theory

Mock exam paper 2 and paper 1 section B only.

App

Short for application, a program that runs inside another service. Many smartphones allow apps to be downloaded, leading to a burgeoning economy for modestly priced software.

Blogs

An online commentary or diary often written by individuals about hobbies or areas of specialist interest. Blogs commonly allow comments below entries and are published in reverse chronological order.

Flash

A program used to display design-heavy, animated content.

Text to image ratio

This involves considering how weighted the print media text is with regards to text and image – you need to ask yourself why the ratio exists.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural

Develop the individual:

Create a supportive community:

Term 3: Post Production

Post production stages for NEA

Continue to explore the news applying knowledge and understanding to the set text 'The Guardian' and 'The Daily Mail'.

Revision for mock 2 - paper 1 and paper 2

Mock 2 - Paper 1 & 2

Audience

A key Media concept. The recipients of a media text, the people who are intended to consume a variety of media texts.

Connotation

Meaning created by associations – deeper levels of meaning e.g. red = danger, passion, love.

Conventions

The widely recognised way of doing something - this has to do with content, style and form.

Ideologies & Values

A key Media concept. The set of beliefs and ‘world views’ that are conveyed in a media text.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural

Develop the individual:

Create a supportive community:

Term 4: Revision

Learners will revise the theoretical framework and set texts across both papers. Revisit theory across media products.

NEA final feedback

Exam questions

Close Up Shot

This shot type is often used to draw close attention to a particular subject in a frame e.g. filling the frame with a person’s face to convey emotions.

Establishing Shot

This shot type is often using to show where a scene is taking place e.g. a shot of New York City before we see inside Joey and Chandler’s apartment.

Tracking Shot

This shot type involves the camera moving along rails, following a subject – often used during travel or a longer view of a setting.

Non-Diegetic Sound

This type of sound involves things which the characters cannot hear and have likely been added in post production. This includes things like voiceovers and musical soundtracks.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural

Develop the individual:

Create a supportive community:

Term 5: Exam practice

Learners will go through exam technique for both papers.

Applying theory to media products.

Exam questions

Point of View Shot (POV)

This shot type allows the audience to witness events in a narrative through the eyes of a character.

Enigma

A central question or mystery used to drive a narrative forward.

Diegetic Sound

This type of sound involves anything that the onscreen characters can hear. Environmental sounds like birds tweeting, kettles boiling etc.

Non-Diegetic Sound

This type of sound involves things which the characters cannot hear and have likely been added in post production. This includes things like voiceovers and musical soundtracks.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural

Develop the individual:

Create a supportive community:

Term 6: Exam

Learners sit the national exams for paper 1 & paper 2.

Revision will cover both papers and the theoretical framework and context.

Mise-en-scene

This is the term for the overall composition of a scene and includes things such as lighting, costume, props, acting etc.

High Key Lighting

This type of lighting constructs a fairly natural, everyday form of lighting, free from dark shadows. This type of lighting is often used in sitcoms and comedies.

Low Key Lighting

This type of lighting highlights the contours on objects, creating dark shadows onscreen. This type of lighting is often seen in the horror genre or film noir.

Broadsheet

Large format newspapers that report news in depth, often with a serious tone and higher level language. News is dominated by national and international events, politics, business, with less emphasis on celebrities and gossip. Examples: The

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural

Develop the individual:

Create a supportive community: