Media, Power & Politics is a core part of GCSE Sociology. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.
Key concepts
RepresentationHow the media portrays a group or idea.
StereotypeA fixed, simplified image of a group.
Male gazeMulvey: women shown from a heterosexual male view.
Symbolic annihilationGroups missing or trivialised in media.
Folk devilsCohen: groups blamed during moral panics.
Selective filteringChoosing news that fits owners' values.
Media ownershipWho controls the production of media content.
ConcentrationOwnership in fewer hands, e.g. Murdoch group.
PluralismView: many owners offer many viewpoints freely.
Glasgow Media GroupResearchers showing TV news has built-in bias.
Bobo doll studyBandura 1961: children copied filmed aggression.
DesensitisationBecoming numb to violence after heavy exposure.
Mass mediaChannels reaching huge audiences: TV, papers, radio.
New mediaInteractive digital media like apps and social sites.
Common mistakes to avoid
Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:
What does the Marxist perspective emphasise?✗ That society runs on shared consensus with no conflict. ✓ Conflict between social classes over power and resources.
Is modern society a complete meritocracy?✗ Yes, anyone can succeed regardless of background. ✓ No — structural inequalities of class, gender and ethnicity affect life chances.
Does social class still affect people's lives?✗ No, class has disappeared entirely. ✓ Yes — it influences health, education and opportunities.
Practise Media, Power & Politics — free games
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