MEDIA STUDIES

A LEVEL

Is the media out of control? Judge for yourself on this course that's sure to make headlines in your CV.

Across every channel and platform, the media is being disrupted.

Streaming services threaten mainstream TV. Independent journalists launch highly successful newsletters and blogs, eating the lunch of their former employers.

Social media makes – and breaks – news that changes the world, and swings election results.

And eSports and Twitch are fast gaining traction among your peers, generating millionaire-gamers and further decimating the traditional way of consuming content.

The media has never been a more fascinating, fast-paced industry. And now it’s your chance to become a reporter by joining us for this entertaining, educating and inspiring Media Studies course.

Students will review the industry of 21st century content and its consumption, from television to Twitter, magazines to music videos to video games, movies to marketing and advertising.

We’ll learn why the media is so important to culture, politics and society. The changing face of content consumption. And how media got here.

While studying the different types of media and how they represent us, you’ll have the chance to work on your own multimedia projects resulting in printed and digital work of which you’ll be deservedly proud.

Your work might event make it on to the roster of national mediamaking competitions. Past students have even enjoyed success with the BFI Film Academy.

During your course you might also get the chance to join a college trip to the media hubs of New York City or London.

You’ll also get to learn from media influencers who visit Xaverian on a regular basis to host interactive workshops.

And we’ll have plenty of opportunities to experience media being made and shared with a packed calendar of events at one of our favourite Manchester haunts, HOME.

In addition to expert tutors who have worked in the media, Xaverian has plenty of cutting-edge technology to help you achieve your best in this subject.

You’ll also get to learn from media influencers who visit Xaverian on a a

There are more than 40 Macs and PCs available for you to use to construct your media masterpiece. And 40 digital SLRs on which you can shoot still or moving images.

regular basis to host interactive workshops.

A big part of this course is analysing how people and places are represented in the media. In the case of music videos, these representations are constructed.

LESSON TIME!

Fancy yourself as a sleuth? Today you’ll join four of Xaverian’s literary detectives to peel back the construction of a core A-level text – Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.

In this session we’ll be looking through the lens of one music video how adult men, and teenagers, and America, are represented.

We’ll be looking at the ideology behind representations and who they serve.

And then we’ll challenge you to make a music video that presents an alternative representation of a group of people based on their gender, ethnicity, place or age.

Media Studies is for everyone – but if you’re a fan of Beyonce you’ll be particularly excited to hear the music video for Formation will be under the microscope on this course.

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What’s next?

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CAREERS

A growing number of large organisations are providing degree apprenticeships in marketing and social media.

Or you might wish to study a conventional degree and move into roles such as:

Digital marketer
Journalist
Market researcher
Marketing executive
Media researcher, buyer, planner or researcher
Music producer
Photographer
Public relations officer
Social media manager
UX designer
Video producer
Web content manager
Writer

COURSES

If you enjoy the breadth of experienced gained on this course you might wish to continue to a Media Studies degree.

There are also plenty of chances to specialise, in areas such as games development, marketing, journalism, graphic design or film studies.

Meanings and Representations in the Media:

You will analyse how media products are constructed and study different representations, such as how age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality and political issues are represented in the media.

Media Forms and Products in Depth:

You will study particular media industries and products in depth and what they show about how the media industry is changing , including global TV drama, online media and mainstream and alternative magazines.

Coursework – Cross-Media Production:

You will produce an individual cross media production from a brief set by the exam board and produce two products
– Print (e.g. film posters, magazine pages)
– Audio visual (e.g. sequence from a TV programme or music video)

Entry requirements:

Six good passes at GCSE including two at grade 6 or above

Course specific entry requirements:

Grade 5 from English (4 will be considered)

Course duration:

2 years

Assessment methods:

2 exams and coursework

Course type:

Linear A-level

Exam board:

Eduqas

You will critically analyse a range of media products, developing your own analysis skills and your own ideas and opinions. You will also study up to date issues and trends in media industries and how society shapes the media. This will include both mainstream and alternative media, media produced in different countries, some historical products and future developments.

We have a range of up to date cameras and editing facilities so you can develop your production skills and try out your own creative ideas.

In class you will have your own individual camera, tripod and computer to edit. You can also use these outside class to complete your coursework.

INTERESTED IN APPLYING?

The staff have been really helpful with my university application, as well as presenting lots of different post-College options, and helping with entrance exams and interview technique. It all paid off, as I got an offer from my first-choice university. I worked really hard for it and found the interview process stressful, but rewarding in the end.