choose one

 
Length: 2,000 words (you can go 10 per cent higher so the range is 2,000–2,200 words including
the question, references and the bibliography).
Please remember that plagiarism (copying from the internet or other written sources without
giving references to your sources) is a very serious academic offence. Students found guilty of
plagiarism will have their mark for that assignment reduced to zero, and in extreme cases may be
expelled from the University. When you submit to Turnitin, the essay undergoes a plagiarism
check.
Please ensure that you don’t base your essay entirely on non-academic web sources (e.g. news
snippets, corporate information, PR sources). Do NOT cite Wikipedia or Google (unless you are
using these companies as a case study). Make sure that you consult and reference academic
books and articles, recommended for this module (many of which are available as e-readings on
Blackboard or as e-books from the library database).
As this is an academic essay don’t forget to include:
• An introduction – that sets out what you are going to write about and how you will
structure your essay (about 100-200 words)
• A conclusion – that summarises your key findings and arguments (about 200 words)
• A bibliography at the end of the essay with at least 8 sources. At least 5 of these should
be academic sources i.e. not newspaper articles or online news items.
(8)
• References to your reading in the text e.g. (Gauntlett, 2007: 33). We want you to use the
Harvard system of referencing. For a quick guide to referencing look at the last page of the
Module Document (available on Blackboard) or the Referencing Guide under the ‘Study
Skills’ section of Media and Society Blackboard pages.
Here are the essay questions:
Choose one of the following questions. Don’t forget to write the full title of the essay you have
chosen at the start of your essay. Within your 2000 word answer, please make reference to some
examples (of media content, products, and/or organisations).
1. With reference to academic sources how might the study of media history help us to
understand contemporary media? Illustrate your answer with one or two examples.
2. Citing academic sources briefly explain the main characteristics of public service
broadcasting/media. Can public service broadcasting/media survive in a multiplatform
digital on-demand media landscape?
3. Citing academic sources how do both political and economic forces shape media
production? To answer this question choose one particular media industry or type of
content as a case study, and make this clear in your introduction.
4. Citing academic sources what do you understand by the term globalisation and how is
globalisation manifested in either radio or television or the PR industry or journalism or
social media (just choose one industry)?
5. Some commentators argue that direct media effects (e.g. violence) are very difficult to
prove. Citing academic sources how persuasive are the arguments for media effects?
6.With reference to academic sources what do you understand by the term consumer
society and why is consumption so important for the creative and media industries?
7. With reference to academic sources why are the media important during a General
Election or a Referendum? (Tip: you may want to think about the media’s ability to foster
a ‘public sphere’ (Habermas) for the open exchange of ideas).

DO NOT attach a CA1 form or any other form of cover sheet;