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Learning pathways
Students need to connect media studies to other learning areas and to life outside school. When they do, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged.
Programmes (within and across years) will collectively equate to more than the sum of their parts. Nothing will feel isolated or be a dead end.
In years 11–13, students may specialise within media studies or take courses that are broader.
At school
Whether students take media studies for one year or five, it can offer them opportunities to build the critical skills to become informed, discriminating citizens. They learn to ask questions, consider different perspectives, and evaluate their findings. Media studies offers opportunities to critique oral, visual, and written techniques in increasingly complex texts, as well as learning how to use technical equipment effectively.
Media studies helps students make connections to their total programme, in terms of media studies knowledge, media literacy skills, and the development of key competencies. Media studies allows students to apply skills in authentic contexts and it offers a range of worthwhile opportunities so students see that media studies offers them options that are of real relevance.
Beyond school
Beyond years 12 or 13, students might pursue media studies as a discipline by studying broadcast journalism in television, radio, or newspapers; film studies; marketing and advertising; public relations; computer generated image design; webpage design; software development for the video game industry or Internet companies; photography; and animation.
School-based qualifications in media studies link directly to degrees in broadcast journalism (television, radio, and print). Courses are offered at the New Zealand Broadcasting School at Ara Institute of Canterbury.
Production work, critical skills, media knowledge, and practical skills acquired at school can contribute directly to a portfolio of media work, which is an pre-entry requirement for the broadcasting degree courses.
Learning for life
The rationale for media studies can be found under Why study media studies?
Media studies can be the basis of careers as diverse as journalism, freelance writing for media outlets, teaching, government advisory positions in communications, censorship (for example, the Office of Film and Literature Classification), communications and PR, advertising, radio programming, researching media data, and academic research exploring aspects of the media.
Media studies is a rich area for personal interests and passions, from film production and distribution to advertising journalism or from social networking to the actions of regulatory agencies, such as the Broadcasting Standards Authority.
Even if students do not pursue media studies beyond secondary school, it will continue to inform the way they understand media around them.
Last updated September 21, 2020