Subject content

A-level Media Studies engages students in the in depth study of media products in relation to the four areas of the theoretical framework:
  • media language
  • media representation
  • media industries
  • media audiences.
Students are required to study media products from all of the following media forms:
  • television
  • film
  • radio
  • newspapers
  • magazines
  • advertising and marketing
  • online, social and participatory media
  • video games
  • music video

Film is an inextricable part of the wider media landscape, which is intimately connected with other media, such as television, video games and online media. However, to avoid overlap with GCE AS and A-level film studies, film should not be a primary object of study in this context. Students may study individual feature films, but this must only occur in the context of cross-media study, which explores the convergence of media platforms and technologies, or in the context of the study of media industries. For the purposes of this specification, film will only be studied in the context of the study of media industries.