Globalisation of the media

    AQA
    GCSE

    This study component examines the transformation of media from national institutions to global networks, driven by technological convergence and the expansion of Transnational Corporations (TNCs). Candidates must analyse the tension between cultural homogenisation (media imperialism) and cultural hybridisation (glocalisation). The scope includes the impact of digital media on democratic processes, the concentration of ownership, and the sociological debate between Marxist, Pluralist, and Postmodernist perspectives regarding the effects of a globalised media landscape on local cultures and identities.

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Credit explicit use of sociological concepts: 'Global Village', 'Cultural Imperialism', 'Disneyfication', or 'Hybridisation'.
    • Award marks for contrasting Pluralist arguments (media expands choice/democracy) against Conflict arguments (media imposes Western ideology).
    • Candidates must link globalisation to specific impacts: erosion of local cultures, simultaneous events, or the digital divide.
    • Higher-band responses must evaluate the extent to which the 'global' media is actually just 'Western' or 'American' media.

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Credit explicit use of sociological concepts: 'Global Village', 'Cultural Imperialism', 'Disneyfication', or 'Hybridisation'.
    • Award marks for contrasting Pluralist arguments (media expands choice/democracy) against Conflict arguments (media imposes Western ideology).
    • Candidates must link globalisation to specific impacts: erosion of local cultures, simultaneous events, or the digital divide.
    • Higher-band responses must evaluate the extent to which the 'global' media is actually just 'Western' or 'American' media.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡In 12-mark questions, ensure every paragraph follows the PEEL structure: Point, Explanation, Evidence (Theory/Study), Link back to the question.
    • 💡Use 'However' chains to demonstrate AO3 evaluation; contrast a Pluralist point immediately with a Marxist critique.
    • 💡Apply contemporary examples (e.g., Netflix algorithms, K-Pop's global reach) to validate or challenge older sociological theories.
    • 💡Distinguish clearly between 'mass culture' (standardised) and 'global culture' (interconnected).

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing 'globalisation' with 'concentration of ownership' (related but distinct concepts).
    • Providing anecdotal evidence of internet use rather than sociological theory regarding cultural transmission.
    • Failing to critique the 'Global Village' concept by ignoring the digital divide or censorship in authoritarian regimes.
    • Describing the process of globalisation without analysing its consequences for audiences.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss
    Evaluate
    To what extent

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