Assessment Evaluation

ASSESSMENT 1B NEWS - GBHS MEDIA STUDIES A LEVEL Marksheet

 

Name: Aimee Coote                                   Date: 19/12/17

 

AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework of media and contexts of media and their influence

AO2 Apply knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework of media to:

Analyse media products/Evaluate academic theories/ Make judgements and draw conclusions

Level 3	·         A comprehensive response to the set question ·         Comprehensive and accurate knowledge and understanding ·         Convincing, perceptive and accurate analysis ·         Convincing, perceptive and accurate evaluation ·         Highly developed and accomplished judgements and conclusions The response demonstrates a highly developed and detailed line of reasoning which is coherent and logically structured. The information presented is entirely relevant and substantiated.
Level 2	·         An adequate response to the set question ·         Adequate and generally accurate knowledge and understanding ·         Adequate and generally successful analysis ·         Adequate and generally successful evaluation ·         Adequate and generally well-reasoned judgements and conclusions   The response demonstrates a line of reasoning with some structure. The information presented is in the most part relevant and supported by some evidence.
Level 1	·         A minimal response to the set question ·         Minimal application of knowledge and understanding ·         Analysis is minimal and/or largely descriptive and may not be relevant ·         Evaluation is minimal or brief, and is likely to be largely descriptive ·         Judgements and conclusions, if present, are minimal with limited support ·           Information presented is basic and may be ambiguous or unstructured. The information is supported by limited evidence.

Identify a strength or strengths in your assessment: I have provided a good overall understanding of the question, where question one has good detail and analysis. Moreover, in question 4, I have shown my level of understanding of the theorist George Gerbner and how he relates to the question.   What are the areas you need to improve? In order to improve, I must ensure my answers are in more detail, as they were too brief and lacking in enough analysis at times. Also, theories could have been evaluated more. I could have questioned if it was helpful; if I disagreed with any of it; why do I agree/disagree with it. In addition to this, further comparisons needed to be made, because it will allow me to reach into a level 3 and get up to 15 marks.   What do you need to focus on for your next assessment? For future assessments, I must remember to work on my timings. I should ensure that I give myself enough time more analysis and try to complete questions in a shorter amount of time. This will be of great significance as it gives me more time to proofread and check my answers thoroughly to notice any mistakes or areas which may need correcting or added to in more depth.

Daily Mail Cover Evaluation

WHAT WAS THE TASK YOU WERE GIVEN AND WHO WAS YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE?

The task that I was given was to create a front page for The Daily Mail, following the exact structure and layout that an original front cover has. In order to ensure I got it as close to the original as possible, I would need to address the same audience as The Daily Mail. My target audience were people who were more right-wing supporters, preferably those who supported the conservatives-this is who The Daily Mail follow. In addition to this, the target audience were people who fell more into the A,B and C1 demographic. 54.4.% of Daily Mail readers are 65 + years old. Therefore, my front cover needed to be understood by the older generations. However, other readers are younger, so my overall front cover needed to be easy to understand and not too complicated.

WHAT RESEARCH DID YOU UNDERTAKE AND WHAT DID YOU FIND WERE SOME OF THE TYPICAL CONVENTIONS OF A DAILY MAIL FRONT COVER-LAYOUT, TYPES OF STORIES, FONTS?

Before I began to design my final piece, I needed to consider planning and finding the appropriate fonts and sizes. Firstly, I searched previous Daily Mail front covers, which I then chose my favorite one to work from. I had to research their target audience and find out what there main stories and main images were usual about. After my research, it was clear that the Daily Mail often have stories that relate to immigration-portraying them in a negative light. Majority of the papers have a main headline, an article and a standalone picture, which are all different stories. The picture often features a short caption/subheading, which gives the reader a brief outline of the article that is being featured, but nothing more. The font style for the main heading is mostly the same, and the closest font I found and used was the font called 'Elephant'.


WHICH DAILY MAIL COVER DID YOU USE AS YOUR MAIN SOURCE? WHAT ARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS FROM THIS SOURCE?

The Daily Mail cover that I used as my main source highlights that the main story is about immigrants; they are portrayed in a negative way. Also, the implication that there are rewards and money to win are shown through their use of adverts. Another observations from this source informs the audience of three clear separate stories, presented in three different ways; one as the main heading, another as the main image and the final as a three columned article at the bottom of the page. In addition to this, the Daily Mail have chosen to keep the colours monochrome and darker tones, except from the lottery- they want their readers to take part so they have made sure it stands out and it noticeable. The use of a brighter yellow for the text colour withdraws the attention from the black font on the rest of the article.




WHICH AREAS DID YOU FIND MOST CHALLENGING?

When completing this task, the most challenging part was trying to get the gutter spacing between the article the correct size, and the blank spacing between lines in the headline. It was difficult to find the perfect line spacing to ensure that the headline looked the same as the original Daily Mail. Moreover, the font for the advert at the top of the page was difficult, because I struggled to find a font and stretch out the text so that the letters spread across the blue banner.

WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL FEEDBACK? WHAT DID OTHERS SAY ABOUT YOUR PRODUCTION? HOW SUCCESSFUL DO YOU THINK IT IS?

For this practical, my feedback highlighted that my layout was similar to the original, which showed my understanding of how the Daily Mail like to structure their newspapers. Moreover, the relationship between Harry and Meghan was presented well; and the main heading was easy to understand and the overall messages conveyed were too. Overall, I believe that my article was successful in terms of understanding the typical conventions of the Daily Mail and how they layout their images and texts.

IDENTIFY WHAT WENT WELL WITH HINDSIGHT WHAT YOU DO TO IMPROVE/DO DIFFERENTLY?

Overall, the layout and colours of the newspaper front page went well, as they were easy to follow and find out the suitable styles. Furthermore, I believe that the headline went well, as I followed the Daily Mail and the impression of immigration that they often portray to their audience.


IN THE EXAM YOU WILL BE ANALYSING NEWSPAPER FRONT COVERS. IN PRODUCING THIS COVER, ARE THERE ANY AREAS THAT YOU HADN'T NOTICED BEFORE? WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT FROM COMPLETING THIS TASK?

In the upcoming exams, I will be analysing newspaper front covers. After the outcome from this task, I have noticed that newspapers like to follow a set structure and want to ensure their audience is clear about their beliefs and message. For example, based on my main source, It was easy to understand the concept of their ideas and the overall implication of negativity that immigrants are bringing to our country.
Furthermore, I have learnt several key parts when undertaking the production of newspaper front covers. I have learnt how difficult it can be to find similar fonts that match the original as close as possible. In addition to this, making sure the line spacing was exactly the same took up a lot of time.  

Daily Mail Cover

Daily Mail Front Cover Planning

EXAMPLES

MAIN SOURCE

• main headline separate from the image
• logo top centre
• bold, capital letter title
• three column article underneath headline
• small gutter around the edge

5 W'S OF JOURNALISM

WHO-Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and Brett Carpenter, Miss Indiana Savannah

WHAT-an affair between Meghan and Brett

WHEN-story reported to Daily Mail 4^th December just after midnight

WHERE-met in New York

WHY-engaged to Harry just for the publicity and fame

The Daily Mail conventions

• they love the royals
• anti-immigration
• conservatives

Newspaper Historical Context

Licensing Act of 1662	This act was set up to preventing the frequent abuses in printing seditious treasonable and unlicensed books and pamphlets and for the regulation of the Printing Press.
Tax on newspaper’s 1711	The first bill in parliament advocating a tax on newspapers was proposed in 1711. This was introduced due to the increasing popularity and influence of newspapers, which were causing problems.
The Observer	A British newspaper published on Sundays. It is in the same place on the political spectrum as The Guardian; which is its parent company.
Reduction of the stamp tax in 1836	It was first imposed in 1912 and gradually increased until 1836 when the tax was reduced.
‘Golden Age’ of newspaper publication	The first national halfpenny paper was the Daily Mail, which became the first weekday paper to sell one million copies around 1911. Circulation continued to increase, reaching a peak in the mid-1950s; sales of the News of the World reached a peak of more than eight million in 1950.
Profits from advertising	Salespeople will solicit local businesses and sell them blocks in the newspaper to advertise their product.  A business may choose from several sizes and prices, according to how much space they will use.  It is very expensive, but seems to be beneficial for the business.  The newspaper must cover the cost of the salesperson and set up of the ad.
The Press Council	The Press Council was a British voluntary press organisation that was founded under threat of statutory regulation as the General Council in 1953, with a non-binding regulatory framework.
The Independent	It is a British online newspaper established in 1989. It was originally a morning newspaper, but stopped publishing in March 2016.
Phone Hacking Scandal	The Leveson Enquiry 2011 were when allegations on phone hacking were carried out. It was a code of conduct and tighter controls had to be imposed-even though nothing really happened except the new IPSO instead of the PCC.
Decline in Newspaper circulation	Television arrival in the 1950s began the decline in newspaper circulation. Although the big outbreak of the internet in the 1990s increased the range of media choices, further taking over newspapers dominance.

Summary of IPSO

The Independent Press Standards Organisation was established on Monday 8 September 2014 following the windup of the Press Complaints Commission, which had been the main industry regulator of the press in the United Kingdom since 1990.

Polarised News