WELCOME TO MEDIA STUDIES
Why study Media?
Media play an important role in society, providing information and entertainment as well as shaping attitudes and social values. It is important, therefore, that students develop the  ability to understand the way different media industries work, become able to respond critically to media texts and improve their own media production skills by using media technology. The media plays a central role not only in our own lives but also in the cultural and economic development of the modern world. Studying the media gives students the opportunity to systematically study how media texts are produced, the institutions which produce them and how they create their meanings.
Departmental Staffing
Miss A. Guzowska; Head of Media
Miss H. Bedford; Media and English teacher
Mrs N. Atkinson; Media and English teacher
Miss E. Stokes; Media and English teacher
Miss T. Sheridan; Media and English teacher
Departmental facilities
The department is made up of two teaching classrooms with interactive white boards and a media suite, with editing equipment suitable for our courses. Both still image cameras and camcorders are available for use in school for those students studying media as are CDs and DVDs to save coursework to. We also have access to a Mac suite.
Subjects Covered
Media at Key Stage Three
The National Curriculum in English requires that students study media in a range of different ways. One of these is through reading assessments where pupils will be introduced to a wide range of media, e.g. magazines, newspapers, radio, television, film. They will be given opportunities to analyse and evaluate such material, which represents a range of forms and purposes, and different structural and presentational devices. In addition, pupils will be given opportunities to consider how texts are changed when adapted to different media. At St John Fishers we have also integrated media skills into year 7 and 8 Art lessons, so that students develop confidence using media technology whilst encouraging flair, creativity and enjoyment in the practical aspect of the course.
Media GCSE Course
Media St udies is offered as a double award for those starting the GCSE course in 2010 and onwards, this is examined through AQA and assesses both analytical and practical skills. During the course students will study a range of different media texts over the print, broadcast and web platforms analysing them using the four key concepts: media language, institution, audience and representation. Within this they will study three media types and industries in depth from a choice of television, film, music, radio, newspapers, magazines and comics.
Assessment:
Single Award
Unit 1- Investigating the Media (pre-released topic)
Written, externally assessed paper (1 ½ hours)
Unit 2- Understanding the Media (coursework)
Three internally assessed assignments:
1. Introductory
2. Cross- Media
3. Practical Production and Evaluation
Double Award
Units 1 and 2 as for single award
Unit 3- Exploring Media Industries
Externally assessed written paper 1 ½ hours
Unit 4- Responding to a Media Brief (a coursework type assignment under exam conditions) controlled assessment are based on annually-changed set brief
Media at A Level
Media Studies is a popular and well-established subject, examined through AQA, in which a variety of media forms are studied, including television, film, print and online media. Like all A-levels, it is primarily an academic course with a strong emphasis on research, but it does provide students with the opportunity to develop practical production skills in filming, editing and website or print design. We tend to focus on mainstream media, but examples of independent and alternative media are dealt with as well.
Assessment:
AS Media Studies
Unit 1- Investigating Media (50% of AS, 25% of A2)
Examination, 2 hours. Four questions based on an unseen media text and a second longer answer question based around an independently researched case study.
Unit 2- Creating Media (50% of AS, 25% of A2)
Coursework comprising of pre production work and research, two practical pieces over two different media platforms: website, print or broadcast, with an evaluation of the work included.
A2 Media Studies
Units 1 and 2 as for AS level
Unit 3- Critical Perspectives (25% of A2)
Examination, 2 hours. Three questions based on two unseen texts and a second longer question based around a choice of two topics independently researched.
Unit 4- Research and Production (25% of A2)
Coursework comprising of a written critical investigation about the student’s chosen topic and a linked practical production piece.
Career opportunities
The media is a growing, increasingly wide-ranging field. Jobs such as journalism, public relations, advertising, communication studies, information management, broadcasting, TV and film are some of the many students go on to study for. Of course all students do not go into a career in media, however communication in all its forms is becoming more sophisticated, and is demanded in a more educated workforce so that Media Studies is becoming increasingly useful. | 
