Media – Text, Industry and Audience (MS4)

MEDIA – TEXT, INDUSTRY AND AUDIENCE

Introduction

This unit contributes to synoptic assessment. It is designed to develop your understanding of the connections between different elements of the specification and to develop your knowledge and understanding of the relationship between media texts, their audiences and the industries which produce and distribute them.

Progression from AS is demonstrated through this emphasis on the relationship between text, audience and industry and the debates surrounding the nature of that relationship. Candidates' understanding of the media will also be more informed by appropriate theoretical perspectives.

Content

You will be required to select three different media industries from the list below to study Television

• Radio
• Film
• Music
• Newspaper
• Magazine (including comics)
• Advertising
• Computer Games

For each industry, three main texts will provide the focus for your study. At least two of the chosen texts must be contemporary and one must be British. Centres are advised to select contrasting texts so that candidates acquire as wide an understanding of the media industry as possible. What constitutes a 'text' will vary depending on the industry.

For each text selected, you should consider the following as appropriate:

Text

• genre
• narrative
• representation

 Industry

• production
• distribution (and exhibition where relevant)
• marketing and promotion
• regulation issues
• global implications
• relevant historical background Audience
• audience/user targeting
• audience/user positioning
• audience responses and user interaction
• debates about the relationship between audiences/users and text

You have a three questions to answer in theexam using the industries studied .