Media ecology — AS & A Level Media Studies (9607) questions by topic
Media ecology sets a compulsory Section B question evaluating the significance of contemporary technologies that have changed our relationship with media, or explaining how new media technologies have affected the codes and conventions of media texts, often synoptically drawing on your whole course. Explain, to what extent, evaluate and discuss are the top command words, each expecting you to weigh evidence rather than simply list technological changes.
Marked at 30 marks, this page holds 10 real questions from papers set between 2023 and 2025. Because these synoptic essays draw on learning across the whole syllabus, draft full responses and submit them for instant marking to check whether your case studies genuinely exemplify the theory you cite, rather than sitting alongside it unconnected.
What examiners look for
- Strong answers addressed the set question directly with detailed case studies, guided by independent study, that exemplified the relevant features of the chosen topic area.
- The best responses examined the smartphone as a key technology, contextualised through wider cultural debates around censorship, audience and industries.
- Reports praise answers that used data with comment, such as contrasting BBC viewer numbers in the tens of millions with YouTube's billions of monthly users to discuss prosumers and empowered niche voices.
- Strong scripts recognised that data is highly valuable, frequently referencing the idea that if a service is free, the user is the product.
- The most sophisticated answers explored personalised recommendation systems, citing Surveillance Capitalism by Zuboff to examine the darker side of the audience-industry relationship.
May–June 2025, Paper 41
Media ecology Identify and discuss the most significant contemporary trends in the media. [30] This question is compulsory. Candidates should refer to a range of media forms in…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 42
Media ecology 'The media have transformed us into global citizens.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? [30] This question is compulsory. Candidates should refer to a…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 43
Media ecology 'The media have transformed us into global citizens.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? [30] This question is compulsory. Candidates should refer to a…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 41
'Digital technology has had a significant impact on the representation of public and private lives.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? [30] This is a compulsory…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 42
Explain how new media technologies have had an impact on the codes and conventions of media texts. [30] This is a compulsory Section B question. This question is synoptic so…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 43
Explain how new media technologies have had an impact on the codes and conventions of media texts. [30] This is a compulsory Section B question. This question is synoptic so…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 04
'Digital technology should make everyone's access to media content equal; in fact, nothing could be further from the truth.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? [30]…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 41
Explain what you think is the most significant change in the media in recent years. [30] This is the compulsory Section B question.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 42
Explain why people's personal data is so valuable to media companies. [30] This is the compulsory Section B question.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 04
Evaluate the significance of contemporary technologies which have changed our relationship with the media. [30] This is the compulsory Section B question.
Answer this question and get it marked →Other AS & A Level Media Studies topics
- Media debates (30)
- Media contexts (14)
- Media texts (11)