Learner Response:

The development of new/digital media means the audience is more powerful in terms of consumption and production. Discuss the arguments for and against this view.

WWW: This is frustrating – what you’ve written here has huge potential and there is a clear understanding of important issues and debates regarding new and digital media. Some of your examples are excellent and you’ve used some well-selected quotes to support your argument. This would all be the basis of a top-level essay except…

EBI: … You have not written or indeed answered the actual question and therefore cannot be shown to have focused on the question at all – crucial even for level 2 (up to a D grade). You have no introduction at all – not introducing the question, main arguments or your case study. These are such basic errors in academic writing and you MUST address them.

In addition, despite the content being very good, this is nowhere near a COMPLETE NDM essay that would be suitable for the exam. You don’t mention the decline in the newspaper industry, paywalls, Hyperreality or News Values. You’ve written four good paragraphs – I’d say you need three more PLUS a decent introduction and conclusion to get the grade you deserve here.

I think you could offer more in terms of Marxism, Hegemony and Pluralism – particularly Gramsci’s Hegemony.

Finally, you lack media theory – remember you can apply theory you have learned in Y12 as well as stuff we’ve covered this year. 

Introduction 

It is undeniable that developments in new and digital media empowers audiences in consumption as well as production but these so called 'empowerments' could be called into question. Audience empowerment is especially seen in the news industry; where digital media employs the rise of citizen journalism and user generated content, as well as news becoming more convenient to consume. This emphasises the internet being "the great leveller". The developments in digital media also has setbacks therefore audiences not being empowered is equally a viable argument. In terms of production, audiences are able to express issues, but only to a certain extent and if they go beyond expectation, their comments/posts are easily removed. This portrays how audiences are given the illusion that they are empowered in terms of production.