A Level Media Studies: The Essential Introduction

A Level Media Studies is a comprehensive guide to the subject content of AS and A Level Media Studies, across all examining boards. It is specifically designed to meet the needs of both students and teachers with an accessible writing style, helpful notes on key theories and theorists and a range of learning exercises.

The book’s overall approach is gradual immersion, assuming no prior knowledge of the subject. Starting with an overview of the discipline, the book moves on to develop increasingly sophisticated ideas whilst repeatedly reinforcing the basic principles of media studies. Each component of media studies is illustrated with practical examples and guided exercises that demonstrate the application of theories and concepts. In addition, numerous case studies offer examples of media studies in practice. Working through these examples, students will acquire the skill set and confidence to tackle the analysis of media products and the discussion of media issues to the standard required at A Level. The focus is on contemporary media, but there is also full acknowledgement of historical precedents, as well as the significance of social, cultural, political and economic contexts.

With its clear structure and integrative approach, A Level Media Studies is the ideal introductory resource for students and teachers.

Pete Bennett has twenty years’ experience teaching A Levels at an open access sixth form college. He has written textbooks and academic readers for Film, Media and Communication and Culture. He is co-author of After the Media: Culture and Identity in the 21st Century (2011) and co-editor of the new Routledge Research in Media Literacy and Education series. He has spent the last twelve years teaching further education teachers and writing and editing in the field of media and culture including Barthes’ Mythologies Today: Readings of Contemporary Culture (Routledge 2013) and Doing Text: Media after the Subject (2016).

Sarah Casey Benyahia teaches media and film studies at A Level and has extensive experience with qualification design and assessment. She is the co-author of several textbooks for media and film studies, as well as Doing Film Studies (2012), Crime (2011) and a contributor to The Routledge Encyclopedia of Films (2014).

Jerry Slater is an experienced teacher, examiner and qualification designer. He has taught media studies at all levels, from GCSE to degree. He is the co-author of A2 Media Studies: The Essential Introduction (2006), A2 Communication and Culture: The Essential Introduction (2009), AS Communication and Culture: The Essential Introduction (2008) and AQA GCSE Media Studies (2018).