Eduqas GCSE Media Studies key terms

A person’s understanding of who they currently are, including their experiences, values and sense of belonging.

Paid promotional content presented in the style of an editorial article.

A judgement about the age group for which a media product is suitable, based on its content.

A character’s capacity to make choices and influence what happens, rather than simply being acted upon.

Text that guides an audience towards a particular interpretation of an image.

A central character who performs heroic actions but has significant flaws or uses morally questionable methods.

The assessment objective requiring knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework of media, and of media contexts and their influence on products and processes.

A recognisable recurring character type, such as a maverick detective or a foolish comic sidekick.

An individual or group that consumes, interprets or responds to a media product.

The ways people access and engage with media products, such as watching television, listening to radio or playing a video game.

The attention or involvement audiences give a product, measured through indicators such as time spent using it or interactions with its content.

The division of audiences across an increasing range of media products, channels and platforms.

The way an audience makes sense of the meanings in a media product.

The number of people exposed to a media product within a stated period.

The way an audience reacts to a media product, such as feeling entertained, accepting its viewpoint, criticising it or sharing a response.

An element of sound that communicates meaning, such as music, dialogue, voiceover or a sound effect.

A digital character through which a user appears or acts in a game or other online environment.

A family containing relationships formed through different partnerships, such as a parent, stepparent and children.

The view that people deserve respect and confidence in their bodies rather than being judged against narrow appearance ideals.

The visual and verbal identity associated with an artist or organisation, created through features such as logos, imagery, language and recurring messages.

A line identifying the journalist or journalists responsible for an article.

An occupational social-grade grouping covering skilled manual workers (C2), semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers (D), and groups including casual workers and people dependent on state pensions or benefits (E). It does not determine an individual's interests or intelligence.

A prompt telling the audience what action to take after encountering a media message.

A narrative structure in which a settled situation is disrupted and the problem is resolved, returning characters to a familiar situation.

The number of copies of a newspaper distributed or sold; it is different from readership, because several people may read one copy.

An ending that leaves a significant danger or uncertainty unresolved, encouraging audiences to continue watching.

A way of communicating meaning through signs, such as camera techniques, costume or sound.