YEAR 13 LESSON FOUR [26th Sept 12]: Homework.

This session aimed to provide students with notes that can be used to respond to the following statement:
'MEDIA INSTITUTIONS ARE RIGHT TO FEEL THREATENED BY NEW/DIGITAL MEDIA.'
Consider this statement and show how media institutions are reacting to technological developments.

Class discussion considered the content that would be appropriate when attempting to answer this MEST3 challenge. Reference was made to a variety of texts including:

• The BBC and how and why they have embraced the challenge of the digital world.
• The music industry and how NAPSTER has changed how an audience can consume music. Reference was made to Spotify and how Mp3 file sharing has blurred the boundary between audience and producer. Illegal file sharing and copyright is a big issue here. 
• PAYWALLS and Rupert Murdoch.
• MySpace and Wikipedia.
• The publishing industry.

Students were offered a potential essay structure to accompany the notes created via class discussion. The interesting feature of this essay is that digital media institutions have struggled to survive in the digital world. It is not just old analogue media institutions that have struggled to create a business model that is appropriate for the digital world. Furthermore, digital media has allowed certain individuals the opportunity to thrive in the digital market-place. Reference was made to KHAN ACADEMY, SBTV, ROSIE HARDY and AMANDA HOCKING.

THIS IS A MASSIVE ESSAY. It will allow me to gauge who has been synthesising the information that I have been asking you to read and watch. The Virtual Revolution notes that relate to Wikipedia's gatekeeping system and the influence of Napster will be extremely useful. Remember, the whole aim of A2 Media is to encourage critical autonomy and independent study. This essay is your first test.

HOMEWORK: Complete the essay. The essay should consist of four detailed paragraphs and a convincing conclusion.

Students should also consider how media theory can be applied to the following title:
'VIOLENT FILMS CREATE VIOLENT PEOPLE.' Discuss.

Also...your next essay title will be:
'THE INTERNET AND WORLDWIDE WEB HAVE CREATED A MORE DEMOCRATIC WORLD.' To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Students need to think about how they will answer this question. We will be discussing this title in the next session.

LOTS TO DO FOLKS. SORRY about the Victoria Sponge...next week...I promise.

Below are some links to help with the essay:
MySpace BBC online:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19712478
Facebook: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18981495
The Virtual Revolution..The Cost of Free:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNAfnfcergc&feature=related
SBTV: http://sbtv.co.uk/
Rosie Hardy: http://www.rosiehardy.com/
Khan Academy: http://www.khanacademy.org/
Music piracy: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19599527
Amanda Hocking: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/12/amanda-hocking-self-publishing
NAPSTER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSpzW8bkkPc&feature=related
Rupert Murdoch discusses Paywalls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae4Cy6xee2o
Murdoch on new media: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae4Cy6xee2o