REVISION ESSENTIALS ; CAN YOU ANSWER THESE POINTS?

As the exam draws closer one of the key revision/preparation tasks is to consider what might be the key issues in SECTION B - what ideas do you have to have thought through

a reading of the specification and of the valuable examiner's report give lots of useful guidance that can be summed up in 4 points that you MUST be able to debate.

[1] Be certain that you are able to provide evidence of media institutions that have embraced digital media and institutions that have struggled to adapt to the digital age. The BBC is a good example of a media institution that has made the leap from traditional provider to the digital age [NEWS24; BBC website; I-Player] and to most extents have successfully adapted to the demands of the digital world. 

Even having done so, the BBC provides a good example of how such institutions have to continually adapt their practices of how to reach their audience.  Standing still is not an option - contrast with HMV case study that we looked at in class.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22042687
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22040237

Also, MYSPACE is a fine example of how quickly the digital world changes whilst companies like Apple [I-Tunes] and Adobe and SPOTIFY are examples of institutions that are constantly changing the digital approach of  their particular business model to suit the needs of the consumer and prosumers. The recent acquisition of BEATS by Apple is an excellent example of a company recognizing a change in its audience [the aging nature of the I-tunes audience who are prepared to download MP3] and the need to develop new audience [youth moving to streaming]. we might also consider Adobe's move to the Creative Cloud as a means of combating widespread piracy and also recognizing the changing needs of its core consumers.

[2] We have also discussed in class examples of how the digital world has challenged the dominant representations of the mainstream media. We focused on citizen Journalism, Arab Spring and even the Blackberry Riots.  You need to be very clear that this is a key media issue and a very important debate. A real need here is to find some less obvious examples [China; Crimea/Ukraine]

http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/04/economist-explains-how-china-censors-internet

[3] You must have the ability to provide examples of how the audience has been empowered by digital media. You could refer to examples in the music industry [SPOTIFY], the publishing industry [CITIZEN JOURNALISM] Film industry [NETFLIX]  

MUSIC INDUSTRY/HMV RESOURCES:

[1] The Digital Age creates need for change in music
[2] The rise and decline of  HMV
[3] An illustrated timeline

[1]  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25450130

[2]  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21028803

[3]  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21028024

HMV decline example of inability to read changes in audience needs/expectations in digital age

NETFLIX RESOURCES:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27102420
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27037504
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/opinion/2332897/an-online-bbc-three-could-be-the-next-netflix

[4] The one that many find difficult is to construct examples of media and democracy. The simple issue here is : Has digital media made our world a more democratic world? In what way? 

If not, then why has it 'failed' to live up to the aspirations held for it?

The key with all of these is concrete examples

Remember :  

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE PROPOSITION IN THE QUESTION 
YOU CAN USE YOUR MATERIAL AS A MEANS OF SAYING WHY THINGS DO NOT SUPPORT THE IDEA IN THE QUESTION