Media Studies

Create three print adverts for an advertising campaign for beauty/grooming products which are aimed towards a gender of your choice. Each advert should be distinct but they should share visual branding to ensure that they are perceived as part of a unified campaign. You can choose to create three different adverts (eg magazine adverts, newspaper adverts, billboard) or three adverts of the same type.

You should identify typical placement locations for each advert either in your Statement of Intent or in your presentation of each advert. The target audience for the adverts is young adults aged 15–25 years.

Each advert should demonstrate a clear USP (unique selling point) to target the audience.

Each advert should use at least one unique image whilst also ensuring the overall advertising concept remains coherent across the adverts. Audiences should recognise each advert as being part of the same campaign.

You should consider how social media will factor into your adverts in attempting to raise the profile and circulation of the product(s) with the audience.

Your concept must allow you to include all original images.

Minimum Requirements

Three different adverts, each aiming to engage the audience as identified in the brief.

• Appropriate copy, layout and design choices for each advert
• A common house style to the overall campaign creating a recognisable brand and visual identity for the product
• A distinct marketing strategy should be identifiable in each advert/across the campaign
• At least three original images across the three adverts with a different dominant image in each advert
• Images should be created and chosen to appeal to the target audience
• Appropriate choices of font, type sizes and colours to create meaning
• Each advert should include a tagline
• Clear consideration of the industrial context of production

Create the home page and two further pages for a hobby-based website catering for a special interest audience which would appeal across age and gender. The site’s main audience will be those interested in the hobby which could relate to interests such as food/crafting/sport/home/mechanics etc.

You should create the home page and two further pages featuring your chosen hobby.

The site should generate a sense of community amongst the users and encourage audience interaction. Your pages will feature different layouts and design but should be recognisable as part of the same site through the application of a house-style that is common across all pages. All pages should be linked together via hyperlinks and be accessible via a browser.

The types of pages that could be included are reviews, forum, shop, blog, news, instruction.

Your website should be illustrated with a minimum of eight self-generated images and you should include some audio and/or video material.

Minimum Requirement

All pages should demonstrate the use of appropriate language and register for the target audience.

Home page
• Original title and logo for the website
• Menu for the site
• Social media links
• Links to other pages in the site
• Main page image – this image should not be used on the other pages created for this brief and should be original
• Images and text that establish a clear house style.

Two related web pages
• Representations of people, social groups, events or places that are appropriate and relevant to the content of your website and
to your target audience
• Appropriate conventions of a website must be used throughout
• Pages should share design elements with the homepage but be distinct and different

The pages should include content that:
o offers audiences appropriate information
o offers some multimedia content via audio or video (up to one minute)
o encourages the audience to interact and/or share information in some way.

All pages
• Hyperlinks across all pages
• Original copy across the site – at least 400 words
• At least eight original images
• Clear house style for website, including use of images, colour palette, page design and fonts.

Create a three minute opening and title sequence of a new prime-time, pre-watershed TV documentary. You can select the genre of the documentary and you will seek to attract a mainstream family audience. The documentary will be shown on a broadcasting channel and will also be available for viewers to watch on ‘catch-up’ eg onscreen prompt, introductory comment from presenter, pre-credits plug etc.

The opening sequence will introduce the topic of the documentary such as special interest, current affairs etc and should create audience appeal and communicate the genre and tone effectively.

You should ensure the importance of social media in increasing the circulation of the documentary is addressed.

Minimum Requirements

• At least three filming locations
• Clear communication of ideas about the documentary topic
• Clear use of TV documentary codes and conventions
• A range of camera shots, angles and movement, to establish the locations, topic or issue and representations
• Appropriate framing of shots
• Diegetic sound (which could include but is not restricted to dialogue, foley and ambient sound) and non-diegetic sound (which could include but is not restricted to soundtrack and voiceover) as appropriate to create meaning
• Consideration of the mise-en-scène (including props, costume, location, and lighting) in the construction of shots
• Use of narrative codes appropriate to the genre and form to create appeal for the target audience
• Editing of the footage, soundtrack and dialogue to establish meaning
• Use of graphics and titles as appropriate to the form and genre
• Appropriate consideration of the industrial context of production.

Media One has sections on Media Language and Representations (Section A) and Media Industries and Audiences (Section B).

Section A features questions on the following forms: advertising/marketing, music videos.

Section B features questions on any two of radio, newspapers and film.

The questions themselves will focus on the theoretical framework and contexts of the media, but you will be expected to answer by reference to the relevant CSPs. Section A will also feature an unseen media product to be analysed.

It is a written exam lasting 2 hours and is worth 35% of the A-Level.

The second exam, Media Two, features questions based on all the in depth studies (Magazines, Video games and Online, social and participatory media, Television).

The questions will focus on the theoretical framework and contexts of the media, but you will be expected to answer by reference to the relevant CSPs. There is also one unseen product on this paper.

It is also a 2 hour paper and is worth 35% of the A-Level.

You should create a front cover, contents page and double page spread for a magazine for gamers similar to PC Gamer, Pocket Tactics, Games TM. The magazine should represent the gaming community and culture and you will need to convey this via original images used throughout your magazine.

You should use the presentational codes and conventions of magazines and the information should be communicated in a way that is appropriate for a gaming audience.

Some topics you might consider could include:
• Covering a Cos-Play/fan convention
• Covering a competitive gaming or E3 type event
• The launch of a new game
• Responses to a new game from gamers’ perspectives

The target audience for the magazine can be either anyone interested in gaming culture or you may opt to identify a more niche audience such as fans of a specific game or users of a specific platform such as Nintendo or Playstation.

Your magazine will need to convey a house style which is recognisable throughout the publication.

Minimum Requirements

Front cover:
• Title and masthead
• Selling line
• Cover price
• Dateline
• Main cover image and at least two further smaller images related to the content of the magazine • At least 5 cover lines

Internal Pages
• Content that is appropriate to the conventions of the genre of magazine being created
• Original copy (at least 400 words)
• Each page to use original images as illustrations (the main cover image must not be repeated but the smaller images from the front cover can appear on internal pages)
• Internal pages should reflect the design codes and conventions of the genre of magazine being created

All pages
• A clear house style should be used in the presentation of all pages.
• A minimum of 7 original images should be included in the submission.
• All copy should be original and a minimum of 400 words should be submitted
• Work should be presented on pages that are an appropriate size or in proportion to the size of paper used by magazines

Create three full page print adverts suitable for inclusion in the magazine created for task one. At least one of the adverts should be related to the content of the magazine created for task one. At least one of the adverts should promote some aspect of audience engagement online.

Each advert should promote a different product, event or service and should demonstrate clear targeting of a segment of the niche audience likely to read the magazine.

Adverts could be for:
• games
• books related to games
• adverts for conventions/gaming competitions
• any other products, events or services you feel are appropriate in the context of the magazine and its target audience.

Minimum Requirements

• engage the audience/audiences as identified in the brief
• Appropriate copy, layout and design choices for each advert
• A distinct marketing strategy/specific unique selling point should be identifiable in each advert
• At least three original images across the three adverts
• Images should be created and chosen to appeal to the target audience
• Appropriate layout, design and content choices relating to the placement of the adverts
• Appropriate choices of font, type sizes and colours to create meaning
• Appropriate consideration of the industrial context of production.

Indicative content – Magazine

This is not an exhaustive list but indicates areas that students are likely to cover/include:

• a title for the magazine, that is appropriate to and that would engage the target audience
• a clear brand for the magazine, including masthead, colours, fonts, and page layout, that would appeal to the target audience
• appropriate use of the conventions of a magazine front page and double page spread, including cover lines, columns, headings and sub-heading
• a clearly established house style, linking the pages both visually and through the use of appropriate language, register and mode of address
• mise-en-scène and style within the original images that help to establish the style of the magazine and to engage the target audience
• appropriate integration of text and images
• acknowledgement of the media industry context

In the top bands, students may:

• include intertextual references if and as appropriate
• position the audience to engage with the magazine’s content
• create a direct appeal to audiences in order to encourage them to engage with the magazine
• use or subvert stereotypes of the topic and/or the people covered within the magazine as appropriate
• communicate a clear point of view and ideological message appropriate to the industrial context
• convey values, attitudes and beliefs appropriate to the specified industry context, constructing a clear point of view and message.

Indicative content – Print adverts

This is not an exhaustive list but indicates areas that students are likely to cover/include:

• an overall concept and strategy for each advert that is appropriate for the chosen product and that would appeal to the target audience
• an identifiable concept for each advert
• mise-en-scène and style within the original images that help to establish a brand image for the product or a recognisable visual identity for the product that acts to attract and position the target audience
• use of fonts, type sizes and colour that are appropriate both to the product/event/service and the target audience
• appropriate use of the conventions of advertising
• a clearly conveyed strategy in each advert to appeal to the specific audience group
• appropriate consideration of the industrial context of production.

In the top bands the students may:

• use intertextual references if and as appropriate within the adverts including the exploitation of convergence with the specialist magazine created for this brief
• create a direct appeal to audiences in order to promote the product, event or service
• use or subvert stereotypes as appropriate to the campaign
• communicate a clear point of view and message appropriate to the industrial context.

Create a film website promoting a new low budget independent film in one of the following genres:
• Rom-Com
• Drama

You will create three pages of the website that aims to promote the new film. Your website should include the following:
• A home page that gives information to the audience about the film and communicates a clear brand identity.
• The second page should contain a synopsis of the film and could include information on the cast and/or crew
• The final page should offer further information that would be of interest to your target audience

The website should attempt to encourage interaction and sharing to help in the promotion
of the film. You should include up to one minute of audio and/or video material on the website.

You are primarily targeting an audience of fans of Independent films.

Minimum Requirements
All pages should demonstrate the use of appropriate language and register for the target audience.

Home page
• Original title and logo for the website
• Menu for the site
• Social media links
• Links to other pages in the site
• Main page image – this image should not be used on the other pages created for this brief and should be original
• Images and text that establish a clear house style

Two related web pages:
• Representations of people, social groups, events or places that are appropriate and relevant to the content of your website and to your target audience
• Appropriate conventions of a website must be used throughout
• Pages should share design elements with the homepage but be distinct and different
• The pages should include content that:
o offers audiences appropriate information
o offers some multi-media content via audio or video (at least 1 minute)
o encourages the audience to interact and/or share information in some way

All pages:
• Hyperlinks across all pages
• Original copy across the site – at least 400 words
• At least 8 original images
• Clear house style for website site, including use of images, colour palette,
page design and fonts

You should create three posters to help promote the film from task one. You should identify typical placement locations for each poster either in the Statement of Intent or in the presentation of your posters.

Each poster should be different, targeting a specific aspect of the film creating different ways to appeal to the film’s audience. Aspects of the film that could be used include:

• an example of enigma and/or action within the narrative
• a focus on celebrity or star appeal
• the use (or subversion) of specific genre conventions
• any other aspect of the film that can be used as a hook for the poster and would appeal to the film’s audience.

Each poster should use a different image, but the advertising campaign should appear coherent. Audiences should recognise each poster as being part of the same campaign.

The posters should actively promote the website and act to encourage sharing and/or audience participation.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Appropriate copy, layout and design choices for each poster
• Three different posters, each identifying a specific aspect of the film to act as a selling technique
• A common visual style creating a recognisable brand for the campaign
• At least three original images across the three posters with a different dominant image in each poster – these must be images generated specifically for the poster campaign
• Appropriate choices of font, type sizes and colours to create meaning
• Appropriate consideration of the industrial context of production.

Indicative content – Website

This is not an exhaustive list but indicates areas that students are likely to cover/include:

• a concept for the website that is appropriate to the target audience and the site’s function
• a clear brand for the site, including title, colours, fonts and page layout, that would appeal to the target audience
• the clear visual communication of the site’s message
• a clearly established house style for the website design, linking the pages visually and through the use of language and register
• appropriate language, register and mode of address, that are used throughout the website
• mise-en-scène and style within the original images that help to establish the style of the website, to engage the target audience and that relates to the content and ideas being communicated
• appropriate integration of text and images
• acknowledgement of the media industry context.

In the top bands, students may:

• include intertextual references if and as appropriate
• incorporate website features that would engage the target audience (such as interactive and multimedia elements)
• use a clear persuasive strategy appropriate for the target audience
• use or subvert stereotypes of the places, ideas and people related to the site’s content as appropriate
• convey values, attitudes and beliefs appropriate to the specified industry context, constructing a clear point of view and message.

Indicative content – Film posters

This is not an exhaustive list but indicates areas that students are likely to cover/include:

• an overall concept for the posters that is appropriate and that would appeal to the target audience
• an identifiable concept for each poster focusing on specific aspects of the film offering differing audience appeal
• mise-en-scène and style within the original images that help to establish the branding of the film and to attract and position the target audience
• use of fonts, type sizes and colour that are appropriate both to the product and the target audience
• a clearly established house style across the posters clearly uniting them within one campaign
• appropriate use of the conventions of film posters
• acknowledgement of the media industry context.

In the top bands, students may:

• use intertextual references if and as appropriate including the exploitation of convergence with the website created for this brief
• create a direct appeal to audiences in order to promote the film and encourage them to engage with it
• use or subvert stereotypes of the places, ideas and/or people represented within the posters as appropriate to the campaign
• communicate a clear point of view and message appropriate to the industrial context.