Section B: Contemporary Media Issues

Section B: Contemporary Media Issues

One question to be answered from a choice of six topic areas offered by OCR. There will be two questions from each topic area.

The topic areas require understanding of contemporary media texts, industries, audiences and debates.

Candidates must choose one of the following topic areas, in advance of the examination and, through specific case studies, text, debates and research of candidates’ choice, prepare to demonstrate understanding of contemporary issue. This understanding must combine knowledge of at least two media and ranges of texts, industries, audiences and debates, but these are to be selected by the centre/candidate. The assessment of the response will be generic, allowing for the broadest possible range of responses within the topic area chosen. Each topic is accompanied by four prompt. There should be emphasis on the historical, the contemporary and the future in relation to the chosen topic, with most attention on the present. Centres are thus advised to ensure that study materials for this unit are up to date and relevant. Candidates may choose to focus on one of the following contemporary media issues:

• ·      Contemporary Media Regulation
• ·      Global Media
• ·      Media and Collective Identity
• ·      Media in the Online Age
• ·      Post-modern Media
• ·      “We Media” and Democracy