A2 Media Studies

Section B of the Exam

Case Studies

Use this booklet to help you plan your Case Studies, then hand it in to get feedback on your ideas

Section B Case Studies

You have to create 2 individual case studies for section B of the exam:

One of these is for ‘The Impact of New and Digital Media’ The other is for ‘Identities and the Media’.

A Good Case Study has:

A media focus 3-4 texts Lots to say about the texts used Texts from a variety of platforms Texts from both sides of the story/argument

Examples of NDM Case Studies:

The Impact of New and Digital Media on…

Gaming Sports journalism Reality TV News journalism The music industry Lifestyle media

You should try to have a narrow focus for your case studies. E.g. The Impact of NDM on the Music Industry is broad; you could narrow this down to look at a particular genre or artist.

Examples of Identities and the Media Case Studies:

Gender National or Local identities Religion Sexuality Cultures Disability Fandoms Hobby/interest groups Occupations

Again these should be narrowed down. E.g. British Identities in the Media.

A SPARK!

Your case studies may be sparked by a particular media event. For example, the World Cup may provide lots of information for the identities of British fans; you could explore print, broadcast and E Media sources to look at this event.

What kinds of questions might they ask?

In the exam you will have a choice of 4 questions:

2 on The Impact of New and Digital Media 2 on Identities and the Media

You only have to choose ONE question to answer.

Example Section B questions

The Impact of New and Digital Media

Does your case study suggest that new and digital media have had a positive impact by offering audiences a more diverse range of values and ideologies?

‘New and digital media have led many media producers to involve their audiences more. However audience involvement is only superficial and media producers have ensured they maintain control.’ Use your case study to evaluate whether new and digital media have changed the role of producers.

Identities and the Media

‘We are defined by the media we use.’ How does your case study suggest audiences use the media to construct their own identity?

‘The variety of media available encourages us to create many different identities for ourselves’. How far do you agree with this statement?

Example Identities and the Media Case Study

Teachers and Students

Text 1: Educating Yorkshire (Channel 4) Text 2: Bad Education (BBC 3) Text 3: Get into Teaching Website (UK Gov) http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching Text 4: Striking Teachers (The Daily Mail) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2465255/Teachers-

strike-protesters-spent-afternoon-PUB.html

Example analysis:

Text What representation

has been created? Where

is your evidence? Can

What is the audience’s response?

How can students and teachers use this text to help shape their own identities?

What is the purpose of the

piece?

Who is the institution behind it? Is this significant?

you link theory?Educating Yorkshire

Reflective representation to a point. Footage is real. Editing may embellish focus on certain narratives.

Identity – B&K for students and teachers. This is a realist and recognisable environment and scenario.

Discussion – Is their school like this?

Dyer – Transparency, we can see into another organisations way of working

To inform and provoke discussion on Education in the UK.

To some degree is to entertain as the narratives focussed on are selected on their merit as entertainment.

Channel 4Known for innovative documentaries and programming.

Generally more adult audience.

Have had other ground breaking reality TV, looking into different areas. Dispatches, UnDatables….

Bad Education

NegativeStereotypical characters, many ‘token’ (black, gay, disabled etc.) Crude and childish storylines.

For teacher and students there may be an element of schadenfreude. (B&K)

However OTT and comic the narratives we still have elements of relatable content.

To entertain, it is an entirely fictional comedic narrative.

Typical youth focus.This may give more simplistic representations because of the lower (perceived) ability – due to age- of the audience.

It may also show teachers as the main fool to allow students some catharsis, imagining these horrible scenarios for their own teachers.

Get Into Teaching

Overtly positive.Lots of high key images with positive facial expressions, positive language and incentives offered on the home page!

For aspiring teachers there may be a positive response.

For the more realistic (jaded?) experienced teacher there may be some discussion of their motives and experiences of teaching.

For some it may help to reinforce their passion to the vocation. (inflation of Authority B&K)

To promote the career of teaching.

Government institution.

This si s significant as they need to recruit teachers constantly and also need to maintain the profile of the profession to make it desirable.

This is becoming harder in the growing political climate.

The Daily Mail

Negative and sensationalist.

Heavily constructed to suit their own news agenda. (Negative news sells!)

Discussion B&K, Striking is a hot topic.

Moral Panic may be caused over the state of education!

To inform, although some may argue their journalistic credit due to their especially sensationalist tabloid nature.

Tabloid NewspaperEspecially known for fear-mongering sensational stories.

Relies heavily on negative news agenda to sell copies.

Brainstorm a variety of topics that you could use for you Identities and the Media Case Study:

Final Idea:

Complete the table below for your Identities and the Media Case Study:

Text What representation has been created?

Where is your evidence? Can you link

What is the audience’s response?

How can the group you have studied use this

What is the purpose of the piece?

Who is the institution behind it? Is this

significant?

Different Identitites.

theory? text to help shape their own identities?

Example Impact of New and Digital Media Case Study

The Impact of NDM on Journalism - WITH A SPARK FOCUS: The London Riots 2011

Text 1: Is technology to blame for the London riots (BBC News Website) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14442203

Text 2: Our Crime : Riots (BBC 3 Documentary) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-wyANyRG10

Text 3: Q&A: Why has BlackBerry been blamed for the London riots? (Wired.com) http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-08/09/why-are-we-blaming-bbm-for-riots

Text 4: 'It's unbelievable BlackBerry Messenger hasn't been shut down': Mayor's aide calls for ban on riot 'tool' (Daily Mail) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2023924/London-riots-2011-BlackBerry-Messenger-shut-unbelievable.html

Example analysis:

Text What is the representation of New and Digital Media like? (Positive? Negative?)

What is the audience’s response to this media

text?

What is the purpose of the

piece?

Who is the institution behind it? Is this significant?

Where is your evidence for this?

BBC News Website

Neutral, States facts and is not written from the journalists point of view.

Blulmer and Katz:Information, Discussion of the issue

Website has comments and sharing function to enable users to contribute their own thoughts and opinions directly.

To inform and to debate the issue.

BBC have a Public Service Remit (PSR) that dictates they must Inform, educate and entertain their audiences.

They are not strictly affiliated with any political parties and are not subject to any pressure from advertisers which might alter the bias in their reporting.

BBC 3 Documentary

Positive (but unbiased)Looks at the untold stories from the riots. How some people used NDM to respond and reach out after the riots to help.

Constructed using the original footage and to camera interviews.CITIZEN JOURNALISMNDM has allowed the public to be the creators themselves.

Blumer and Katz:Identity – Victims’ or rioters may be able to relate.Discussion- of how they may have used their social media at the time.

Dyer:Transparency – We get to see first-hand the experiences had by people involved.

To inform, to give an opposing view to that of the media as a whole – to tell the untold stories.

As Above

BUT

We should take into account that BBC3 is aimed at a youth audience so may portray their use of technology in a much more positive way.

WIRED.com Neutral. Very factual about the events and in particular, hot Blackberry and RIM have responded. Explores some issues of regulation, but also looks at how the same tech has been used for positive impact.

Blulmer and Katz:Information about the response from Blackberry.

Discussion facility available on Wired to respond to the article.

DiscussionInformation

The institution is primarily focused on New technologies.In this respect it may be given a more positive spin so as not to offend the tech providers who may also be advertisers.

Daily Mail Negative –“chilling looter” “havoc”Emotive language used to heighten the story.

Plays on news agendas and values – negative news sells!

Blulmer and Katz: Information on the event.Discussion of the events.Identity (possibly) for some teens who do identify with this negative representation.Dyer:Intensity of the event is exciting.

Inform (on the surface) but also to persuade a particular audience into a way of thinking. Unashamedly Biased!

Known for being right-wing politically and often running exaggerated campaigns.

Brainstorm a variety of topics that you could use for you NDM Case Study:

Final Idea:

Complete the table below for your Impact of New and Digital Media Case Study:

Text What is the representation of New and Digital Media like?

What is the audience’s response to this media

text?

What is the purpose of the piece?

Who is the institution behind it? Is this

significant?

The Impact of New and

Digital Media on…

(Positive? Negative?) Where is your evidence

for this?

Feedback on your Case Studies

Identities and the Media

Strengths

Improvements

Directives

Evaluate your next steps: What action do you need to take on this case study?

The Impact of New and Digital Media

Strengths

Improvements

Directives

Evaluate your next steps: What action do you need to take on this case study?