Stage 6 · Media · HSC English
The Complete Guide to Media
Reading the news with a critical eye — how media constructs reality, targets audiences and exercises power.
How to use this guide: Master the core concepts first, then apply them text by text. Use the
10-Lesson Program for practice.
Media Constructs Reality
Media texts select, shape and frame their subjects. The same event can be reported, and argued, in many ways. Key ideas:
- Gateway: who decides what is newsworthy
- Framing: the angle, emphasis and context given to a story
- Selection & omission: what is included or left out
- News values: what makes an event newsworthy — impact, proximity, conflict
| Form | Codes and conventions |
|---|
| Newspaper | Headlines, lead, inverted pyramid, captions, layout |
| Magazine | Cover appeal, feature article, pull-quotes, advertising |
| Podcast / radio | Voice, sound design, pacing, interview, branding |
| Television | Bulletin structure, narration, graphics, visual pacing |
Audience and Positioning
- How media targets a particular audience (ages, values, needs)
- How it positions the audience to accept a point of view
- The role of agenda setting — what we are told to care about
- The hegemonies and norms assumed by mainstream media
Representation and Ideology
Media both reflects and shapes social attitudes. Ask of any representation:
- Who is represented, how often, and in what roles?
- What stereotypes are relied upon or challenged?
- Whose voice centres and whose is marginalised?
- What ideology does the media assume as ‘the norm’?
Ownership, Bias and Gatekeeping
- Who owns the outlet and how does that shape content?
- How do advertisers, sources and pressure groups influence?
- How do editorials/opinion blend with reporting?
- What responsibilities does journalism carry in a democracy?
How to Analyse a Media Text
- Identify the form, target audience and purpose
- Describe the codes and conventions used
- Analyse how the text constructs or frames its subject
- Examine representation, ownership and ideology
- Make a sustained judgement about its effect and value
Examples to Study
- Compare how major Australian newspapers report the same event
- Analyse a podcast’s construction of authority and intimacy
- Deconstruct a magazine cover’s ideals and values
- Track a news story across print, TV and social media
Official resources: Consult the current NESA English syllabus at
nesa.nsw.edu.au whose media selections are offered by your school.