Year 13 Baseline assessment: Learner response

 1) Type up your feedback in full (you don't need to write the mark and grade if you want to keep this confidential).

WWW- good knowledge and understanding of BBCs remit in relation to the newsbeat CSP. some knowledge of magazine CSP, GQs feature of Michael Ward. 

EBI- Need to attempt every Q in any assessment. Not enough focus on 25 mark Q3 more knowledge, understanding needed. Also need to your response and clear argument. 

2) Focusing on the BBC Newsbeat question, write three ways it helps to fulfil the BBC's mission statement that you didn't include in your original assessment answer. Use the mark scheme for ideas.

I correctly answered the question with full marks  

3) Question two asked you how useful media effects theories are in understanding the audience response to War of the Worlds. Complete the following:

• Gerbner’s Cultivation theory is very useful in understanding how American radio’s  in the 1930s of ‘breaking news’ (‘We interrupt this broadcast to bring  you…’) may have made audiences more likely to believe the fictional radio play was real.
• Gerbner’s idea of ‘mean world syndrome’ – that heavy consumers of media are more likely  to see the world as dangerous – is perhaps reinforced by the reported audience reaction to the broadcast.
• The two-step flow theory is useful in understanding how audiences may have been convinced by Orson Welles’s broadcast. The regular use of academic experts and
• A Level Media Studies government departments gave the broadcast authority – these came across as ‘opinion leaders’ that audiences were less likely to question and more likely to respond positively to or believe.

4) Write a full essay plan for the 25-mark Magazines question. The mark scheme contains plenty of ideas you can use here. Your plan should include notes/bullet points addressing the following:

Both GQ and The Gentlewoman demonstrate clear strategies for targeting their audiences, using media language, representation, industry practices and an understanding of changing social and cultural contexts. Their approaches differ significantly due to their brand identities, institutional backgrounds and audience expectations, but both magazines show how contemporary lifestyle publications must adapt to remain relevant in a digital media landscape.

GQ offers a range of audience pleasures that align closely with Uses and Gratifications theory, particularly personal identity and surveillance. The magazine’s content encourages readers to see their lifestyle, ambitions and cultural interests reflected on its pages, reinforcing a sense of belonging and aspirational identification. The audience—typically wealthy, middle to upper‑middle class men (average HHI £138k, 61% ABC1)—is positioned as knowledgeable and culturally engaged, with the magazine rewarding this expertise through exclusive interviews, fashion guidance and cultural commentary.

David Gauntlett’s theory of identity is useful here. Gauntlett argues that media is a force for change, liberalising society through a “slow and steady process of transformation”. GQ’s “New Masculinity” could be interpreted as part of this broader cultural shift. However, recent polling showing young men’s increasing support for right‑wing or populist politicians complicates this narrative. It raises the question of whether GQ is responding to audience desires or attempting to reshape them—potentially following a path that may not align with all male readers’ values.

In contrast to GQ’s mainstream positioning, The Gentlewoman targets a niche but highly engaged audience through a distinctive brand identity. Its biannual publication schedule, premium price (£10 per issue) and subscription‑based distribution model all signal exclusivity and high production value. This positions the magazine as a luxury print product for “confident, independent and stylish women and men from a broad range of age groups”.

Applying Uses and Gratifications theory, The Gentlewoman offers strong personal identity, personal relationships and surveillance pleasures. It focuses on issues often overlooked by mainstream women’s lifestyle magazines, appealing to readers who value authenticity, creativity and cultural depth.

Industry‑wise, The Gentlewoman reflects the rise of small, independent producers who use digital tools to reach global niche audiences. Unlike GQ, it was launched in the digital age and therefore has not suffered the same decline in print readership. Its thick, art‑book style format appeals to readers who value physical media as a luxury object rather than a disposable product.

5) Finally, identify three key skills/topics you want to work on in A Level Media this year before the final exams in the summer.

War of the Worlds , magazine CSP and Music video