YEAR 13 LESSON ONE [4th Sept 14]: Homework

NOW THEN MEDIA FREAKS. WELCOME HOME. Our first session will explore issues relating to media and democracy. We will be considering the question:
'THE INTERNET AND WORLDWIDE WEB HAS CREATED A MORE DEMOCRATIC WORLD AND HAS EMPOWERED THE INDIVIDUAL.' To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Possible areas of study and research:
The views of Andrew Keen and Clay Shirky.
The Arab Spring and its aftermath.
Examples of how access to information has empowered individuals and allowed them to confront powerful institutions.
The significance of Wikipedia and the views of Jimmy Wales.
KHAN ACADEMY.
The ability for News sites such as THE YOUNG TURKS to challenge the representation of our world that is shaped by the mainstream media.
The story of Stephen Sutton.
SBTV.
The story of AMANDA HOCKING and self publishing in the digital age.
ISIS and their use of digital media.
Sites such as 38 degrees.
Ice bucket challenge!!!
The Ian Tomlinson moment.
The Phone Hacking scandal and Leveson Inquiry.
Trolling.
Martha Payne's blog NEVER SECONDS.

A good A2 essay considers the advantages and disadvantages before offering a confident and informed conclusion. The conclusion must offer an EVALUATIVE comment. This will be your first essay.

ESSENTIAL VIEWING for ALL A2 students is THE VIRTUAL REVOLUTION. Click on links below:
Episode One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBZ018z2WKM
Episode Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm0-i2_coqU
Episode Three:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ3ci16tk7I
Episode Four:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5kguqbbI1c

The BBC documentary THE VIRTUAL REVOLUTION is the starting point for A2 Media when considering THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL MEDIA. This series was first broadcast in 2010 and some of the content is now dated and serves to underline how quickly digital media zips through history. However, it still offers a FANTASTIC framework when considering the media issues and debates that have been generated by the digital revolution. THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL RESOURCE. THE WEB SITE IS ALSO A FANTASTIC RESOURCE.