BBC Has a New iPlayer Advert

The BBC has ditched 'making the unmissable unmissable' for iPlayer.

Read all about it (and see it) here

Media Talk

This is a good way to catch up on issues to do with the media in general. Download the podcast and listen on your iPod.

Media Talk

Old Media New Media

Thanks for the heads up from Julian McDougall for this nugget from David Gauntlett.

Old Media New Media on Prezi

Oscar Nominations 2010

See all the important nominations for the Oscars right here

Foundation Portfolio G321

Your task for the foundation portfolio is in two parts:

First is the preliminary exercise: For this you have to use Apple Pages DTP program and Adobe Photoshop Express to produce the front page of a new school magazine, featuring a photograph of a student in medium close-up plus some appropriately laid-out text and a masthead. Additionally you must produce a DTP mock-up of the layout of the contents page to demonstrate your grasp of the program.

Second is the main task: Using the same software you have to make the front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine.

All images and text used must be original, produced by you, with a minimum of FOUR images for the publication as a whole. However realistically you will need far more images.

In order to complete the preliminary exercise you will first have to get the photograph. Everybody will have their photo taken in front of a coloured screen so that the background can be easily removed. While you are waiting for the photos to be put onto your computer you will open PAGES and start to get to grips with how it works. Once you have the photo you can open it with Photoshop and begin to correct any issues while also removing the background.

The Top Films: The Lists

At the end of the year you always get the annual 'best of' lists. This year is no exception as many websites / magazines / newspapers get in on the act. In fact this year is worse as there are also the 'end of the decade lists to compare.

Here are a few of them to agree or disagree with. What do you think?

Total Film Top 30 Films of the decade

Total Film 18 great noughties films you may have missed

Paste Magazine 50 best movies of the decade

The Observer Best films of the year

Why don't you post an image of your favourite film of 2009 with some reasons for your choice?

Future of TV

Marketing Video Games

After completing the research of a video games company of your choice and your case study of video game regulation, you are now ready to have a crack at marketing.

Choose an important release (a recent one will help) and see what you can find out. Some things to look out for will be:

• Trailers - audio and visual
• Examples of viral marketing
• Internet advertising
• Promotions, tie-ins and point of sale material
• Social networking
• Launch day activities
• Magazine activity
• Soundtracks
• Posters

Maybe a starting point would be the recent Modern Warfare 2 by Infinity Ward. Here is the trailer produced for release day:

And here is an example of blog that has content about the marketing campaign or alternatively in the LA Times.

The more detail you can find out about different marketing techniques the better off you will be in the exam.

The Marketing of GTA4

Grand Theft Auto 4 - Marketing

View more presentations from Media Studies.

Video Games Developer Case Study

You should produce a case study of a video games company of your choice.

You should include:

• The origins of the company
• Examples of the games that they have developed or are developing
• Information about the size of the business (local, national, international etc)
• Turnover / profits

Essay on Video Game Regulation

How are video games regulated in the UK and why is regulation needed?

You must cover:

• The role of the BBFC
• The role of PEGI
• Examples of games and why they have gained their age classification
• The concern over children accessing inappropriate games
• The status of the law in regard to supplying games to underage children
• Examples of games causing controversy. Look here for good examples.

There is no guidance on a word count except to say that all of the points above have to be covered in some detail. No plagiarism please. Use pictures as illustrations wherever necessary.

Regulation and Video Games

Videogames in the UK are classified by two regulatory bodies. The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) classify approximately 10% of all videogames released. PEGI (Pan-European Game Information) classify the other 90%.

• Are a non-governmental regulatory body
• Their age classifications are enforced by law.
• They classify videogames which contain video footage of, or depictions of the following:
• Human sexual activity
• Acts of gross violence towards humans and animals
• Criminal activity
• Drug use

Go to the website: http://www.pbbfc.co.uk/guides_Videogames.asp

• Are a self-regulatory body (set up voluntarily by the videogame industry to regulate their own products)
• Their classifications are guidelines for parents and retailers and are NOT enforced by law.
• If any game contains depictions of human sexual activity, acts of gross violence towards humans or animals, criminal activity or drug use, by law the game is exempt from PEGI classification and must be classified legally by the BBFC before sale.

Go to the website: http://www.pegi.info/en/index/id/28/

PEGI ratings:

Video Gaming Trends

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Video Gaming Trends

View more documents from Jerome Sudan.

Video Games Industry Overview

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Video Games Industry Overview

View more presentations from Media Studies.

Media Treatment of the Death of MJ

I think its quite useful to see how the media have treated the death of Michael Jackson. Will we have a realistic appraisal of his life? A deification similar to the treatment of Princess Di? Will they turn on him like a pack of hounds after all the slur and gossip? I think we know the answer already - but it will be interesting to see how it develops over time. Perhaps this is all a little unfeeling? But I don't think so. Jackson played the media game as well as anybody.

First up are the BBC. A typically unambiguous report.

The Mirror has a tabloid slant - Wham bam thank you mam!

Sky News have a range of reports but dwell on the technology.

My favourite is the Morning Star where you wont find anything. Hurrah!

Even IMDB get in on the act.

Those antipodeans at the Sydney Morning Herald concentrate on the his wealth or lack of it.

Meanwhile at CNN they are 'up-to-date' and are already talking about the autopsy.

Take a look through all of these reports and more and see what you think.

Video Game Addiction

Addiction Behavior: What causes "internet gaming addiction"?

How To Beat Your Children At Computer Games

How To Beat Your Children At Computer Games (Technology & Cars: Video Game Culture)

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BTEC Media Handbook

Please download the handbook to find out about the Level 3 Media Production course

Btec Media Handbook

View more PDF documents from heathparkmedia.

Digital Britain Report

Rather essential reading for any media and film students is the just published Digital Britain report. This sets out the Government vision for communication issues. Areas covered include:

• PSB
• Super-fast Broadband
• Media Literacy
• Piracy

Read the report to widen your knowledge of these areas.

Media Debates Exam Questions - Censorship

June 2008

How well does the current system of film classification and censorship serve the British public?

"Our violent, sex-obsessed society is a direct result of the violent and sex-obsessed films that we have allowed to dominate our cinemas and televisions." Discuss this view.

June 2007

Discuss the arguments for and against stricter censorship of film.

Consider the reasons why the criteria for film classification might change over time.

June 2006

"Censorship of film is to be avoided at all costs." Discuss this view.