AQA GCSE Media Studies key terms

A prescribed media product studied closely as evidence for applying the theoretical framework and understanding media contexts.

A satisfying resolution of a narrative or answer to an enigma.

A feature that communicates meaning, such as a camera shot, costume, sound or gesture.

Connecting and arranging selected elements so that they create meaning together.

A funding model in which a media organisation earns revenue from activities such as sales, subscriptions and advertising, with the aim of making a profit.

Media run as a business to generate income and profit, often through advertising, subscriptions or sales.

A media industry that produces and distributes products to generate income and profit.

A funding model in which a media organisation earns income from its products or services with the aim of making a profit.

Media ownership organised around earning revenue and making a profit, often through advertising.

Recognition of a problem and the challenges that deepen the narrative or make its solution more difficult.

The arrangement of people, objects and other visual elements within an image or frame.

Imagery created using computers. It can be combined with live-action footage.

The process through which fewer owners come to control a larger proportion of the media.

The process through which fewer organisations control a larger share of the media.

The final answer to the question, reached by weighing the argument and evidence developed in the response.

A large company that owns a range of other companies, often operating across several media sectors.

Ownership in which a parent company controls several smaller companies. Bauer’s radio and magazine businesses are part of a wider media group.

An associated meaning suggested by a sign, shaped by its context and the audience interpreting it.

The selection and arrangement of a media product’s elements, such as language, images and layout, to communicate meaning.

The process of checking and managing user contributions against a service's rules, including restricting or removing content when appropriate.

An organisation that supplies media material for audiences to access, such as the BBC or Marvel Studios.

A portrayal that challenges an established representation or offers an alternative to it.

The social conditions, attitudes and historical circumstances surrounding a media product’s production and reception.

A familiar feature commonly used in a particular media form or genre.

The coming together of media technologies and forms, allowing content such as radio, video and social posts to connect across platforms.

An arrangement in which organisations collaborate to make a media product, sharing resources, expertise and costs.

A representation that challenges or reverses an established stereotype.