what you must know for your SAC/Exam

  • a)  A clear understanding of at least 3 communication theories.
  • b)  A definition for  ‘agency’ and ‘control’ of the media. And a definition for each: production, distribution, consumption and reception.
  • c)  Examples of the media influencing its audience (TAC adds, smoking PSAs, education, grim reaper AIDS campaign, War of the Worlds, Nazi propaganda)...
  • d)  The effects of globalisation of media industries (cultural imperialism, integrity and diversity of news media, erosion of government power, etc)
  • e)  Ethical and legal issues in the media (data harvesting, fake news, piracy, etc)
  • f)  The many rationales for the regulation for media content in Australia
  • g)  The many government and industry organisations that regulate Australia’s media and the PROBLEMS with media regulation in Australia. (do some research and have a clear understanding of what each organisation is responsible for)
  • h)  Examples of audiences having agency over the media. (social media activism, arab spring, user reviews, social influencers, etc)
  • i)  An understanding of how the relationship between the media and audiences has changed over time.
  • k)  Examples of governments using the media to control their citizens. 

Practice Questions


1a. Give an example of one way an audience has had influence over the media. (2 marks) 

1b. Give an example of one way the media has had influence over an audience. (2 marks) 

2. Government agencies will often use media products to attempt to enact control over specific audiences. Describe one way a government has used the media and how effective they were. (4 marks)

3. Using examples, describe how the relationship between audiences and the media has changed over time. Consider factors such as the production, distribution and/or consumption and reception of media. (6 marks) 

4. Describe one way that the relationship between audiences and the media is regulated in Australia, and explain the challenges with this type of regulation. (6 marks)

5. Newer technologies have given power to audiences to easily produce and distribute their own media products. Provide two examples of these technologies, and explore the ethical or legal issues that may arise from the new production or distribution opportunities they afford. (8 marks)

6. The aggregation and harvesting of data on social media is an increasing problem in today's media landscape. Discuss why this is considered a problem. (6 marks)

7. Discuss and compare two of the potential negative effects of media globalisation. in your answer, refer to the changing methods of production, distribution, consumption and reception. (6 marks)

8. Define the terms production, distribution, consumption and reception (4 marks)

9. Define the terms 'agency' and control' (2 marks)

10. Describe 4 rationals for regulating the media. Provide an example of one of those rationals in practice. (5 marks)

11. Describe one challenge for the Australian Government in regulating the use of media products by Australian audiences. (3 marks)

12. How have media institutions been affected by the agency that contemporary media users now exercise? (4 marks)

13. Analyse one example of how the use of media by globalised media institutions has had an impact on the dynamic and changing relationship between the media and its audience. (6 marks)

14. Discuss the capacity of the media to influence its audience(s) in the contemporary media landscape (7 marks)

15. Evaluate the extent to which one or more ethical or legal issues have an impact on the consumption of media products. (10 marks)

Task Words

Understanding the meaning of words, especially task words, helps you to know exactly what is being asked of you. It takes you halfway towards narrowing down your material and selecting your answer. Task words direct you and tell you how to go about answering a question. Here is a list of such words and others that you are most likely to come across frequently in your SACs and Exams

Analyse: Break an issue down into its component parts, discuss them and show how they interrelate.

Contrast: Point out the difference between two things (but probably point out their similarities as well).

Define: Make a statement as to the meaning or interpretation of something, giving sufficient detail as to allow it to be distinguished from similar things.

Describe: Spell out the main aspects of an idea or topic or the sequence in which a series of things happened.

Discuss: Investigate or examine by argument. Examine key points and possible interpretations, sift and debate, giving reasons for and against. Draw a conclusion.

Evaluate: Make an appraisal of the worth of something, in the light of its apparent truth; include your personal opinion. Like 'assess'.

Explain: Tell how things work or how they came to be the way they are, including perhaps some need to 'describe' and to 'analyse' (see above). 

Identify: Pick out what you regard as the key features of something, perhaps making clear the criteria you use. 

Illustrate: Similar to 'explain' (see above), but probably asking for the quoting of specific examples or statistics or possibly the drawing of maps, graphs, sketches etc. 

Justify: Express valid reasons for accepting a particular interpretation or conclusion, probably including the need to 'argue' (see above) a case.

Outline: Indicate the main features of a topic or sequence of events, possibly setting them within a clear structure or framework to show how they interrelate.