Our new topic is Online, Social and Participatory Media - or OSP for short.
There are two CSPs to study here but we'll be looking at them alongside each other - Marcus Rashford and Kim Kardashian's social media and online presence. This is an in-depth CSP and needs to be studied with reference to all four elements of the Theoretical Framework (Language, Representation, Industries, Audience) and all relevant contexts.
But before we study these two celebrities in detail, we need to look at the rise of social media influencers and the impact this has had on media, society and culture.
The rise of influencers
The rise of influencers is a major change in media and culture due to technology, the internet and social media. Influencers give brands a new and powerful way to reach audiences but critics think that social media stars are taking advantage of their relationship with their followers.
User-generated content
Influencers exist because of changes in technology and the internet. This created social media sites like YouTube and Facebook and led to the rise in user-generated content.
User-generated content (UGC) is any content—text, videos, images, reviews, etc.—created by people, rather than brands.
UGC means audiences can be producers as well as consumers – we create and share media as well as viewing it.
How do influencers make money?
Kim Kardashian is worth an estimated $1.7 BILLION which shows how much money influencers can make.
It is estimated that Kardashian can make anywhere from $500,000 to $2 million for each promoted Instagram post. She has also endorsed and promoted 57 brands which range from one-off posts to long-term contracts.
Influencers and their impact on media and culture
Are influencers having a positive or negative impact on society, media and culture? You need to be able to form your own opinion on this question. To help you, watch the following video from the BBC on how influencers make money and see if it changes your views:
Here's the extended 28-minute Panorama if you'd like to see more:
Extension - Bad Influencer: Belle Gibson & The Great Insta Con
The danger with user-generated content is whether we can trust what we see on social media. Belle Gibson was one of the first lifestyle influencers but ended up in a controversy over faking cancer diagnoses to promote her posts. This is a preview of a BBC3 documentary on Belle Gibson and the Great Insta Con:
1) What years did YouTube, Twitter and Instagram launch?
2) What is the definition of an influencer?
3) Give an example of an influencer and how many followers they have. Try and add some additional information, brand associations or other statistics if you can.
4) How big is the influencer industry according to the article?
5) What are the problems associated with being an influencer?
6) Why is it suggested that audiences actually like being sold products by influencers?
7) What representation of beauty is often found on Instagram or other influencer sites?
8) What is YOUR opinion on influencers? Are they a positive or negative influence on our society and culture? Why?
Your December mock exam is a great opportunity to practice a full 90-minute exam and revise some of the CSPs we have studied so far.
Your December exam will be one full Paper 2 (Television and Online, Social and Participatory Media). Below is a full guide to what you need to revise for each section of the exam.
Know your exam
One of the most important aspects of preparing for examinations is knowing exactly what topics could come up and where. For your December exam, this is what will come up:
December mock exam - Tuesday 16th December
Section A: Television
Short extract from either Doctor Who – An Unearthly Child (1963) or His Dark Materials – The City of Magpies (2020).
The extract will be shown twice and you can make notes. There will then be three questions on the extract (2 marks, 8 marks, 12 marks).
The final question is a 20-mark essay on BOTH of your TV Close-Study Products.
Your real Paper 2 in the summer may have questions on Newspapers in Section B. However, these will not appear in your December mock exam as we have not studied the topic yet.
How to revise
Revision is a very personal thing and everyone has different techniques. Personally, I strongly recommend using flash cards (they are often called record cards if you are trying to buy them online or in WHSmiths). The simple act of distilling topics into a few key words or phrases to put on the card will seriously help in remembering the key information in the final exams. I have spare flash cards in DF07 if you'd like some. Media students in the past have created three sets of revision cards:
Media terminology
Media theory
CSPs
The two topics you need to focus on particularly in December are:
Television
OSP - Influencers, Rashford and Kardashian
Good luck with your revision and give this mock exam your best shot!
The preliminary exercise is a brilliant opportunity to learn the basics of filmmaking/print before creating your actual coursework project.
You now need to create a blogpost called 'Preliminary exercise learner response' and complete the following tasks as your feedback and learner response: 1) Type up your teacher's feedback in full. If you've received your feedback via email, you can simply cut and paste it from the email into your blog. 2) Using a combination of your own reflection on the preliminary exercise and the feedback you were given, write two WWW bullet points (What Went Well) and two Next Step bullet points for your preliminary exercise. 3) What have you learned from the preliminary exercise that will help you in the actual coursework project? List three things you have learned or will do differently as a result of this exercise. You may want to comment on organisation, actors, filming, editing or something else entirely but be specific.
The first 10 marks of our coursework are for a written Statement of Intent.
This is simply a Word or Google Document in which we write what we are planning to make for our coursework. Your completed summer project will give you most of the information you need for this - particularly the planning section - but you may have changed or developed your idea since the summer. Your preliminary exercise learner response may also help you consider what you plan to create for your real coursework production.
Our coursework brief for 2026 can be found here - remember you need to choose either video or print adverts.
The Statement of Intent word count is 300 words - you can go slightly above this if you want to but you need to keep it close to 300.
Another tip is that you can use subheadings and bullet points in your Statement of Intent - it doesn't need to all be in paragraphs. In fact, bullet points are very useful for keeping the word count down.
The Paper 1 baseline assessment was a great opportunity to revise some of the content from last year and develop our exam technique.
Every time we do a paper like this it helps us to learn how the questions are structured, how to answer social and cultural context questions and how to manage our time.
We now need to complete a learner response to the assessment to help reflect on what we are learning and how we can improve our exam technique. You may find reading the mark scheme useful for reflecting on these exams - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access these documents:
Year 11 Paper 1 assessment: Learner Response Create a blogpost called 'Paper 1 baseline assessment learner response'.
1) Type up your feedback:
a. What Mark and Grade did you get?
b. What targets were you given for the longer written questions?
2) Look at the mark scheme for this assessment. For Question 2 (12 mark unseen) use the indicative content in the mark scheme to identify three points that you could have referred to in your answer.
3) For Question 3 (Galaxy - narrative features) use the mark scheme to write down the main narrative theories and how we can link them to the Galaxy advert CSP.
4) Now look at Question 4 - Tatler and social/cultural contexts. Use the mark scheme to identify three points you could have made in your answer here.
5) On Section B, focus on Question 7 - film industry and Black Widow. Use the mark scheme to identify three ways Black Widow was marketed to its audience.
6) Finally, write down three things you are going to work on before your next mock exam in December (e.g. time management; revising CSPs etc.)
If you don't finish this LR in the lesson your papers are returned, complete for homework - due date on Satchel One
As we all know by now, the 2025/26 Media Studies coursework deadlines are fast approaching and it is therefore incredibly important that we stay on top of everything that we ned to accomplish in time for deadline day.
Below you will find two checklist tables; one for print and one for video.
Task: On a new blogpost titled 'Coursework Checklist', you are to copy over the table that applies to you and your coursework selection before changing the colours of the corresponding boxes to show which tasks you have made progress on, and which you are still yet to begin/complete.
To keep things simple, we'll stick to the obvious colour choices to represent how far along we are on each item:
Completed = Green
In Progress/Partially Done = Orange
Not Started Yet = Red
Print Table:
Item
Progress
Statement of
Intent (Max. 300 Words)
Front
Cover
Title for the
Magazine w/ Original Masthead Design
Selling Line
Cover Price
Dateline
Main Original
Cover Image
Min. Four
Cover Lines
Double
Page Spread
Headline
Standfirst
Subheadings
Original
Article (350-400 Words) that Links to Headline
Main Original
Image (Different to Cover Image)
Min. Three
Smaller Original Images
Music Video Table:
Item
Progress
Statement of
Intent (Max. 300 Words)
Min. Two Filming
Locations
A Clear
Narrative/Story
Min. Two
Characters (Including a Protagonist)
Variety of
Camera Shots, Angles and Movements
Diegetic
sound (which could include but is not restricted to
dialogue, Foley sound and ambience /atmosphere).
Non-diegetic
sound (which must include but is not
restricted to music).
Use of
narrative codes and media language to attract and
engage the audience.
Editing of
the footage, soundtrack and dialogue to establish
meaning.
Use of titles
and/or graphics to reinforce the message of
the video.
Your teachers will be reminding you to update this whenever necessary, but a big part of this checklist is keeping you accountable for the progress or lack thereof that you are making on your own coursework.
Year 11 assessment week is coming up before the next set of interims. As we're focused on coursework currently, we are going to give you a mini-Paper 1 assessment to help revise content from last year.
Your assessment will be similar to the exam you did at the end of last year but this time will focus on Paper 1. Your exact date will depend on the timetable as these assessments are in-class. Your Media teacher will be able to tell you when your assessment will run.
Below is a full guide to what you need to revise for this assessment.
Know your exams
One of the most important aspects of preparing for examinations is knowing exactly what topics could come up in each exam. For your Paper 1 assessment, this is what might come up:
Paper 1
Paper 1 Section A: Language and Representation
Unseen text: advert, social media screengrab or music promotion of some kind. Multiple choice questions plus media language analysis (12 marks).
Advertising & Marketing: OMO advert, Galaxy Audrey Hepburn advert and the NHS Represent blood donation campaign.
Music Video: BLACKPINK - How You Like That and Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.
Radio: Launch of BBC Radio 1 - Tony Blackburn, Kiss FM Breakfast with Jordan and Perri.
Your real Paper 1 exam will also contain a 20-mark essay on either Film, Radio, Music Video, Newspapers or Videogames/Online, Social and Participatory Media but this will not be part of this assessment as it is only half the full exam.
Paper 2
You will not be taking Paper 2 as part of this assessment but we will take on a full 90-minute Paper 2 as part of the December mock exams. More details on that nearer the time!
How to revise
Revision is a very personal thing and everyone has different techniques. Personally, I strongly recommend using flash cards (they are often called record cards if you are trying to buy them online or in WHSmiths). The simple act of distilling topics into a few key words or phrases to put on the card will seriously help in remembering the key information in the final exams. We recommend having three sections to your revision cards:
Media terminology and key words
Media theories
CSPs
I have spare flash cards in DF07 if you'd like some.
Good luck with your revision and give this assessment your best shot!
The first aspect of your GCSE Media Studies coursework is a preliminary exercise that introduces the basics of writing, photography and editing.
This is a brilliant opportunity to get to know the technical skills you will need to excel in your coursework. You may even create a piece of print media that you can end up using as part of your actual coursework! Preliminary exercise: Celebrity Gossip Magazine Your preliminary exercise involves creating and editing a front cover and single page spread - similar to your coursework. The magazine needs to be appropriate to the print brief we have been given in terms of content and target audience.
The magazine must include:
Front cover:Title for the magazine and original masthead design; Selling line; Cover price; Dateline; Main original cover image; At least four cover lines.
Single page spread:Headline, standfirst and subheadings; Original story for single page feature
(approx. 350–400 words) that links to one of the cover lines on the front cover; Main original image (different from that used on the front cover) plus at least three smaller original images.
Both:Clear brand and house style for the magazine, including use of images, colour palette and
fonts.
Key writing and editing skills
Watch this great introduction to article writing - it covers the basics of the creative process:
Magazine examples
Here's a reminder of some magazines you can use as inspiration for your preliminary exercise:
Task: Create a front cover and single page spread - similar to your coursework. The magazine needs to be appropriate to the brief we have been given in terms of content and target audience.
Length: approximately 350-400 words
Equipment: Smart phone or a school camera (limited numbers available); school computers/home computers Note: you may need to bring in the cable to capture the videos from your phone or use data to upload to Google Drive / iCloud. Groups: None. You MUST work individually. However, other people can appear in your photos or operate equipment (e.g. camera) as long as they are directed by the candidate submitting the work. You may want to get into groups of two or three to help each other complete this task. What your magazine needs to include: Content:
- A front cover and single page feature for a new celebrity gossip magazine, aimed at an audience demographic of NRS social grades C2DE.
- The double page feature must focus on a celebrity influencer who is launching their new book. - - The book is about making positive lifestyle changes.
- Two pages in total, including at least three original images.
Camerawork:
- You must include at least two unique shots but you will hopefully include much more from a wide variety of shot types (e.g. long shot, medium shot, close-up, extreme close-up, over-the-shoulder shot and either a high or low angle shot.
Features:
Front cover
• Title for the magazine and original masthead design
• Selling line
• Cover price
• Dateline
• Main original cover image
• At least four cover lines.
Single page spread
• Headline, standfirst and subheadings
• Original article for single page feature (approx. 350–400 words) that links to one of the cover lines on the front cover
• Main original image (different from that used on the front cover) plus at least two smaller original images.
Deadlines Planning and filming: This week's lessons. Editing and final deadline: Next week.
Specific deadlines: see Google Classroom. Initial Tasks: planning
Before creating anything in Media you need to plan out exactly what you are going to do. You need to complete the following planning tasks on your blog before you can film anything:
Create a blogpost called 'Coursework preliminary exercise' and produce the following.
1) Write a 100 word statement of intent explaining what you are going to make for your preliminary exercise. Statement of intent: 100 words explaining what you plan to make.
Example statement of intent [199 words]:
I plan to produce a two-page spread for a magazine focusing on a celebrity's recent fashion choices and lifestyle. The article will analyse a well-known figure's style evolution, from their early red-carpet appearances to their current, more refined looks.
The first page will feature a large, high-quality photograph of the celebrity in a recent, iconic outfit. The accompanying text will provide a brief introduction and an overview of the celebrity's fashion journey. I'll use a clean, modern font for the headlines and body text to give the spread a sophisticated feel.
The second page will break down specific elements of the celebrity's current style. I'll include a series of smaller photos, each highlighting a different outfit or accessory, such as a handbag or a pair of sunglasses. The text will offer insights into the designer brands they favour, and I'll add some quotes from fashion experts or the celebrity themselves to make the content more engaging. The page will end with a "get the look" section, offering readers affordable alternatives to some of the showcased items. The overall tone will be informative and aspirational, allowing readers to feel connected to the celebrity's world while also providing practical style advice. [199 words]
2) Write an outline for your preliminary exercise on your blog. This needs to include talking points and photo lists. To see how a magazine is presented, and to look at professional examples, check out the following link which gives lot of tips and tricks on how to layout and plan your magazine.
3) Casting: Who will be in your magazine? 4) Plan your locations: Where you will shoot your preliminary exercise? (You can take photos off-site if you wish to do this for homework - this is what we would strongly recommend). Important note: You CANNOT take any students out of any other lessons OR disturb any other lessons in the school. If you wish to take shots in-school then you will need to shoot with Mr Ray supervising or after school with a Media teacher present. 5) Write your shot list: every shot you plan to film. This needs to be far MORE shots than you will actually use in the final edited version - plan extra angles, close-ups, long shots and more. You can find an example shot list here. This is for a narrative film but the layout will be the same. Your planning needs to be completed this week. Good luck!
The first aspect of your GCSE Media Studies coursework is a preliminary exercise that introduces the basics of filming and editing.
This is a brilliant opportunity to get to know the technical skills you will need to excel in your coursework. You may even film a production that you can end up using as part of your actual coursework! Preliminary exercise: Music Video Your preliminary exercise involves filming and editing a 30-40 second music video - similar to your coursework. The video needs to be appropriate to the music video brief we have been given in terms of content and target audience.
The video must include at least two different sets/locations, some identifiable narrative content, at least two characters including a definitive protagonist, a variety of camera shots, both diegetic and non-diegetic sound (one of which must be your chosen music), and use of titles/graphics to reinforce the message of the video.
Key filming and editing skills
Watch this great introduction to filmmaking - it covers the basics of the creative process:
Match-on-action Match on action (or cutting on action) is an editing technique for continuity editing in which one shot cuts to another shot showing the same action of the subject in the first shot. This creates the impression of continuity - the action creates a 'visual bridge' which is easy for the audience to follow. Look at this YouTube clip for a basic match on action example:
Music Video examples
Here's a reminder of some music videos you can use as inspiration for your preliminary exercise:
Little Mix - Little Me:
Yungblud - mars
Grange Hill Cast - Just Say No
Preliminary exercise tasks: Music Video
Task: Create a a 30-40 second music video - similar to your coursework. The video needs to be appropriate to the brief we have been given in terms of content and target audience.
Length: approximately 30-40 seconds.
Equipment: Smart phone or a school camcorder (limited numbers available). Note: you may need to bring in the cable to capture the videos from your phone or use data to upload to Google Drive / iCloud. Groups: None. You MUST work individually. However, other people can act in your scene or operate equipment (e.g. camera, sound) as long as they are directed by the candidate submitting the work. You may want to get into groups of two or three to help each other complete this task. What your music video needs to include Content:
- At least two filming locations.
- Some identifiable narrative content.
- At least two ‘characters’, including a protagonist.
Camerawork:
- You must include at least three different shot types but you will hopefully include much more (e.g. long shot, medium shot, close-up, extreme close-up, over-the-shoulder shot and either a high or low angle shot. You also must include both fixed camera shots and camera movement (e.g. handheld, tracking, pan etc.) Editing:
- You must include match-on-action continuity editing and edit to clearly communicate the meaning of your music video. Sound:
- You must include diegetic sound (from within the world of the music video) which will be dialogue and any background sound. You also need to include non-diegetic sound (e.g. music or sound effects) to help communicate your key message in your music video. Deadlines Planning and filming: This week's lessons and start of next week. Editing and final deadline: Next week.
Specific deadlines: see Google Classroom. Initial Tasks: planning
Before creating anything in Media you need to plan out exactly what you are going to do. You need to complete the following planning tasks on your blog before you can film anything:
Create a blogpost called 'Coursework preliminary exercise' and produce the following.
1) Write a 100 word statement of intent explaining what you are going to make for your preliminary exercise. Statement of intent: 100 words explaining what you plan to make.
Example statement of intent [147 words]:
I plan to make a 30 second advert about a student struggling in school due to tiredness and behaviour issues who is helped by their rehydrating health drink. The beginning of the advert will have a montage editing sequence of different issues that the student is having with a soundtrack that fits a negative overall mood. My character will be in school uniform that is deliberately messed up to help communicate the struggles the student is experiencing.
The middle of the advert will involve the character discovering the product with close-up shots of the product (pack shot) and also the character drinking the product. The advert will then end with the character alert, in perfect uniform and answering a question in class and being successful. The final seconds will have a logo and slogan of the health drink with a voiceover saying the product name and slogan. [147 words]
2) Write a script for your preliminary exercise on your blog. This needs to include stage directions AND dialogue. To see how a TV drama script is presented, and to look at professional examples, check out the BBC Writers' Room and click on Script Library. These will not be music video scripts but the layout will be the same.
3) Casting: Who will be in your preliminary exercise music video? 4) Plan your locations: Where you will film your preliminary exercise? (You can film off-site if you wish to do this for homework - this is what we would strongly recommend). Important note: You CANNOT take any students out of any other lessons OR disturb any other lessons in the school. If you wish to film in-school then you will need to film with Mr Ray supervising or after school with a Media teacher present. 5) Write your shot list: every shot you plan to film. This needs to be far MORE shots than you will actually use in the final edited version - plan extra angles, close-ups, long shots and more. You can find an example shot list here. This is for a narrative film but the layout will be the same. Extension task - Storyboard: Draw a 5-frame storyboard mapping out your key shots. Storyboard sheets are available in DF07. Your planning needs to be completed this week. Good luck!
The summer project is a fantastic opportunity to start planning your music video. Your summer project contains compulsory and optional elements; everybody will be researching music videos, coming up with a new music video concept and then writing a Statement of Intent first draft. However, if you wish to plan and film your production over the summer while you have time available we would fully support you in this approach.
Summer project tasks Complete the following tasks on a blogpost on your Media blog called 'Summer Project: coursework planning': 1) Research: Music videos Watch the following music videos and analyse an aspect of media language for each one:
Music video 1: Marshmello x YUNGBLUD x blackbear - Tongue Tied How is narrative used in this music video to engage the audience?
Music video 2: Years & Years - I Wish I Knew
How is camerawork and mise-en-scene used in this video? Use CLAMPS to remember the different aspects of mise-en-scene.
Music video 3: Foals - Hummer
How is editing used in this music video to engage the audience?
Music video 4: Your choice
Select a music video of your choice and analyse an element of it e.g. narrative, camerawork, editing, visual effects etc. If you're not sure which video to use you could watch some of the following:
You may also want to look a completely different, creative approach to music video - such as these Lego stop motion productions and how they use narrative:
Plan out the basic details for your music video. What song do you plan to use? Will your video be performance or narrative based (or both)? Complete the following on your blog:
Artist and song you have chosen:
Plan for music video (narrative/performance etc.):
Link to brief (one small step to improving your community):
Actors/performers you plan to use:
Locations:
Costume/make-up/props required:
3) Statement of Intent
On the same Summer Project blogpost, write the rough first draft of your 300-word Statement of Intent for the two-minute music video you plan to create. The final draft of this document will be submitted to the exam board alongside your music video production and is worth 10 marks of the overall 60 marks available. Guidance and minimum requirements can be found in the AQA brief from their NEA Student Booklet.
Summer project deadline: all tasks above due in the second lesson back in September.
Summer project: optional extensions Pre-production tasks Some students have already expressed an interest in filming their music video over the summer break. This makes a huge amount of sense - far more availability of performers, much more time to schedule filming etc. However, if you want to do this, you need to complete the following aspects of pre-production and make sure you have parental permission and that you are staying safe at all times: Music video treatment Write a full treatment for your music video - this is effectively the script for your production. You can find an example of a real music video treatment here. Shot list Write a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film for your music video AND additional shots to create flexibility when editing. These additional shots are often close-ups, cutaways, alternative angles or similar. I advise using a simple table on Microsoft Word to set out your shot list - you can find an example here for a student film shot list. It makes sense to write your shot list by scene or location rather than a huge list of every shot in the extract in chronological order. You also need to plan FAR more shots than you think you'll need a - a two minute music video could easily have 120+ shots in it. Mise-en-scene What iconography or mise-en-scene are you including to ensure your audience understands the genre and narrative of your music video? Plan your performers, costume, make-up, props, lighting and setting. This can be simply completed using your blog or Microsoft Word - the key aspect is to have planned all the critical details. Shooting schedule Plan a shooting schedule for your filming over the summer. Include when, where, who is required and what shots you will complete at each time/location. Again, this can be on Word or Excel or you could simply use your blog. The most important thing is that you've planned it! Non-assessed participants You will need to provide a written record of all non-assessed participants in your production work. Keep a record of everyone involved - actors, camerawork, sound etc. You will also need a keep a record of any non-original sound you used and note it on the Candidate Record Form. Keep these on your blog for easy reference when submitting your work later this year. Production: Filming Once you have completed your pre-production tasks, you can film as planned. If you are unable to film over the summer, we will have time to film this production in September. Good luck!
