Media Studies key terms

The creation of a media product, including planning, making and editing it.

The qualities of a finished media product that suggest the resources used to make it, such as major stars, expensive locations or elaborate effects.

The inclusion of a brand or product within media content with the intention of promoting it.

Communication designed to promote a particular cause or viewpoint and influence audiences’ beliefs or behaviour.

A character function identified by Vladimir Propp, such as a hero pursuing a quest or a helper assisting the hero.

A character’s function in a story, such as hero, helper, donor or villain, rather than simply their personality.

A character role derived from Vladimir Propp’s analysis of stories: the hero acts to overcome a threat or resolve a problem.

Propp’s approach to narrative, which identifies recurring character roles and actions, such as a hero being sent on a quest.

An audience member who both consumes and produces media content.

A friendship group that performs some of the supportive functions normally associated with a family.

An audience characteristic based on interests, attitudes, values or lifestyle.

Grouping audiences by their values, attitudes, interests and lifestyles.

Grouping an audience by interests, values, attitudes, lifestyles, behaviours or aspirations.

An advertisement intended to inform people and influence behaviour for public benefit rather than sell a commercial product.

The wider benefit to society, such as exposing wrongdoing or protecting people from harm; it is not simply whatever interests an audience.

A broadcaster that provides programmes serving the public interest, including informing, educating and entertaining audiences.

Broadcasting intended to serve the public through purposes such as informing, educating and entertaining, rather than simply maximising profit.

A broadcaster's responsibility to serve the public through programmes that inform, educate and entertain, catering for a range of audiences.

A company responsible for bringing a media product to market, including organising its release and commercial distribution.

A broadcaster that obtains programmes from external producers rather than making them through its own in-house production operation.

A promotional feature on a front page that draws attention to content inside the newspaper.

A quotation selected from an article and displayed prominently to draw attention to a particular point.

Wordplay using similar sounds or more than one meaning of a word.

Research exploring meanings, opinions, attitudes and reasons, usually through descriptive responses.

A newspaper associated with detailed reporting and analysis of subjects such as politics, business and international affairs. ‘Quality’ describes its market positioning, not a guarantee that it is unbiased.

Research producing numerical information that can be counted or measured.

Treating someone as suspicious on the basis of their perceived ethnicity rather than evidence about their individual behaviour.