Cambridge A Level Media Studies 9607 — 2025 May/June Paper 4 · Variant 1

1 ‘Without media regulation there would be chaos.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? [15] Postmodern media

Mark scheme: Section A: Media debates Question Answer Marks Guidance 1 EITHER 15 Candidates should be given credit for their knowledge and understanding, illustrated through case study material, Media regulation relevant to the question. Assessment will take place across five criteria: ‘Without media regulation there would be chaos’. To • Media concepts (AO1) [3 marks] what extent do you agree with this statement? • Contexts and debates (AO1) [3 marks] • Use of terminology (AO1) [3 marks] Indicative content • Analysis of how meaning is created (AO2) [3 marks] • Use of examples (AO2) [3 marks] Candidates may draw upon a wide range of contemporary and historical case studies which can be used to support Candidates’ work should be judged on each of these criteria and illustrate key points. Candidates should demonstrate individually and marks awarded according to the level knowledge and understanding of contextual issues attained. It should be noted that it is possible for a candidate surrounding media regulation and be able to link them to to achieve a different level for each assessment criterion. their chosen case studies. Candidates should refer to one or more media forms in their answer. This guidance should be used in conjunction with the Level Candidates may address: Descriptors. It is not prescriptive, nor is it exclusive; examiners must be careful to reward original but well- • The purposes of regulation – taste and decency; focused answers and implicit as well development. This protection of children; protection of plurality of voices; indicative content is intended to indicate aspects of restrictions on monopolies; protection of truth; protection questions that may feature in candidates’ answers. of reputation etc. • Formal/ informal regulation – shadow-banning of some perspectives • Argument that the Wild West Web has led to current scenario • Section 230 defining web hosts as non publishers • UK Online safety Bill – Beeban Kidron critiques of it • International regulation e.g. EU digital services act • spectrum form free speech libertarian arguments spectrum to authoritarianism • Case studies based on different regulatory bodies, such as Ofcom, BBFC, PEGI, IPSO, ASA • Case studies based on problematic/controversial cases

2 Explain the relationship between the postmodern media text and other media texts. [15] Power and the media

Mark scheme: 2 OR 15 Candidates should be given credit for their knowledge and understanding, illustrated through case study material, Postmodern media relevant to the question. Assessment will take place across five criteria: Explain the relationship between the postmodern media • Media concepts (AO1) [3 marks] text and other media texts. • Contexts and debates (AO1) [3 marks] • Use of terminology (AO1) [3 marks] Indicative content • Analysis of how meaning is created (AO2) [3 marks] Candidates may draw upon a wide range of contemporary • Use of examples (AO2) [3 marks] and historical case studies which can be used to support and illustrate key points. Candidates should demonstrate Candidates’ work should be judged on each of these criteria knowledge and understanding of postmodernism and be individually and marks awarded according to the level able to link them to their chosen case studies. Candidates attained. It should be noted that it is possible for a candidate should refer to one or more media forms in their answer. to achieve a different level for each assessment criterion. Candidates may address: This guidance should be used in conjunction with the Level • Theories of reading/interpretation Descriptors. It is not prescriptive, nor is it exclusive; • Postmodern thinkers including Baudrillard, Kristeva and examiners must be careful to reward original but well- Lyotard focused answers and implicit as well development. This • Intertextuality indicative content is intended to indicate aspects of • Collapse of the grand narrative questions that may feature in candidates’ answers. • Characteristics of Postmodernism including • Playfulness • Homage • Self-referentiality • Irony • Fragmentation of time/ space/ identity • privileging style over substance

3 ‘It’s not just what is said but how it is said that matters.’ Analyse the power of rhetoric in the media. [15]

Mark scheme: 3 OR 15 Candidates should be given credit for their knowledge and understanding, illustrated through case study material, Power and the media relevant to the question. Assessment will take place across five criteria: ‘It’s not just what is said, but how it is said that matters.’ • Media concepts (AO1) [3 marks] Analyse the power of rhetoric in the media • Contexts and debates (AO1) [3 marks] • Use of terminology (AO1) [3 marks] Indicative content • Analysis of how meaning is created (AO2) [3 marks] Candidates may draw upon a wide range of contemporary • Use of examples (AO2) [3 marks] and historical case studies which can be used to support and illustrate key points. Candidates should demonstrate Candidates’ work should be judged on each of these criteria knowledge and understanding of power and the media and individually and marks awarded according to the level be able to link them to their chosen case studies. attained. It should be noted that it is possible for a candidate Candidates should refer to one or more media forms in their to achieve a different level for each assessment criterion. answer. Candidates may address: This guidance should be used in conjunction with the Level • The style, form and rhetoric of media messages Descriptors. It is not prescriptive, nor is it exclusive; • Mode of address/other techniques of persuasion examiners must be careful to reward original but well – • Political economy – broligarchy/control of platforms focused answers and implicit as well development. This • Mark Fisher – capitalist realism – media control of indicative content is intended to indicate aspects of parameters of debate questions that may feature in candidates’ answers. • Critiques of media owners’ interests being evident in editorial output • Gramsci and Hegemony • Theories of audience reception – Hall/Morley • Theories of media influence • The language of news – Chomsky • The rhetoric of the image – Barthes • Theories of Dominant Ideologies and resistance to them • Notions of the ‘public sphere’; Twitter and Musk • Dominant/dominated ideologies 3 • Ownership – cultural industry/imperialism • Curran and Seaton’s work on influence of the press – Power Without Responsibility • Concentration of ownership limits pluralistic voices • Democratisation offered by web – cyber utopians vs dystopian views how online amplifies inequalities • Gerbner mean world syndrome Marking criteria for Section A Question 1, Question 2 and Question 3 AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts AO2: Analyse media products, and evaluate their and critical debates, using terminology appropriately. own work, by applying knowledge and understanding of theoretical and creative approaches, to explain how meaning is created, supported with relevant textual evidence. 9 marks 6 marks Media Concepts Contexts & Use of Terminology Analysis of how meaning Use of Examples Critical Debates is created, including use of theory 3 marks 3 marks 3 marks 3 marks 3 marks Sophisticated Insightful understanding of A wide range of media Sophisticated and Insightful and fully understanding of and the wider contexts and terminology is used insightful analysis of texts appropriate selection of insightful reference to critical debates raised in precisely and accurately, from multiple case studies examples from a wide several relevant key the question and with sophistication, to is used to explore the range of texts concepts make subtle points chosen area in depth Relevant theories are sophisticatedly used to explore the question 3 marks 3 marks 3 marks 3 marks 3 marks Clear understanding of Clear understanding of the Media terminology is used Clear analysis of texts Clear and appropriate and appropriate reference wider contexts and critical appropriately, to make from one or more case selection of examples from to some key concepts debates raised in the clear points study is used to respond a range of texts question appropriately Occasional references to relevant theories, not always accurately used or understood 2 marks 2 marks 2 marks 2 marks 2 marks AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts AO2: Analyse media products, and evaluate their and critical debates, using terminology appropriately. own work, by applying knowledge and understanding of theoretical and creative approaches, to explain how meaning is created, supported with relevant textual evidence. 9 marks 6 marks Media Concepts Contexts & Critical Use of Terminology Analysis of how meaning Use of Examples Debates is created, including use of theory 3 marks 3 marks 3 marks 3 marks 3 marks Basic understanding of Minimal understanding of Basic use of media Basic analysis, from case Basic and minimal and minimal reference to the wider contexts or terminology, with frequent studies which may not be selection of examples, any key concepts critical debates raised in errors which impede appropriate to the question may lack relevance in the question communication parts Minimal references to even basic media theory 1 mark 1 mark 1 mark 1 mark 1 mark No creditable content No creditable content No creditable content No creditable content No creditable content 0 marks 0 marks 0 marks 0 marks 0 marks Section B: Media ecology