Relevant comments from NEA guide

 Link to NEA guide

Comments:

This component (NEA) provides the opportunity for the learner to demonstrate that they can apply knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework to construct their media products by:

• applying knowledge and understanding of media language to express and
• communicate meaning to an intended audience applying knowledge and understanding to construct representations that portray events, issues, individuals and social groups as appropriate to the brief set by OCR
• applying knowledge and understanding of media industries requirements to create a product that is appropriate to the media industry context of their chosen brief
• use of media language to create meaning for the intended audience, in line with the intentions outlined in their Statement of Intent. 

*When deciding upon their choice of production briefs, centres are advised to consider the resources and equipment that they have available for learners to employ.

Curriculum content:

The brief will specify the products to be produced, distribution method and target audience. It may also outline a range of technical elements to be included in each of the two productions, such as the written text, images, settings, graphics, number of web pages, menu bar etc., as appropriate to the two tasks. It may indicate the appropriate media language to be employed.

There must be a clear sense of branding across the two elements of the cross-media production, and an understanding of digital convergence.

As noted above, this component provides the opportunity for the learner to demonstrate that they can apply knowledge and understanding of all four areas of the theoretical framework.

Thinking conceptually:

Work on the NEA brief should develop learners’ understanding of the theoretical framework – Industry, Language, Audience and Representation (which is also required in their Statement of Intent) - as well as broadening their knowledge of the contexts of any magazine and online texts they may be studying for Media Messages (H409/01). 

Thinking contextually:

• need to produce early rough drafts which they will then refine into the final magazine productions.
• Producing a pitch before production starts is an excellent way to ensure the work focuses on the demands of the NEA. Before the start of Year 2, learners may have recorded all evidence of their previous research and planning into their evidence trail (possibly in blog format) completed a summer homework to plan and organise their practical work ready to pitch in the first week of this term.