In recent years the mass media has become an important focus for exploration by students in an increasingly mediasaturated world. This course offers candidates a framework through which they can study the distinctive contributions which the mass media make to their understanding and enjoyment of the world in which they live. The course builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills established in GCSE Media Studies and GCSE Film Studies, and it will be of advantage to candidates to have progressed from such courses in which the basic concepts and approaches, which this course seeks to extend and develop, will have been established. It is not, however, a condition that candidates should have followed a course in GCSE Media Studies, as this specification has been designed to attract candidates with a broad based set of qualifications. Candidates new to the basic requirements of Media Studies will need to be introduced to the basic framework for the understanding of media concepts early in the first unit. This will be extended in the A Level units by a deeper understanding of the dynamic relationship between texts and representations, the media institutions and industries which produce them and the audiences which use and enjoy media products. Candidates will progress to extend their abilities to respond critically to media forms, the debates about representations they raise and to consider them in relation to their own media pre-production and production work. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES/PROGRESSION Media Studies has been an expanding subject area within Higher Education for some years. Beyond lies possible careers in TV, film, newspapers, publishing - in fact, any work situation which requires analytical vigour and creativity in equal measure.