Homeschool Guide: These lesson plans are a guide for parents. Content may contain errors — always cross-reference with official exam board specifications.
global media
FoundationHigherAll Boards
4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.
Lesson Overview
Total Lessons: 4 Tier: Foundation and Higher Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total) Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA
Key vocab to pre-teach: Media Studies Exam Tips — Global Media
Basic skills: reading the summary notes and answering the practice questions there
Materials & Equipment
Exercise book, coloured pens
Ruler
Printed revision notes (link below)
Internet for videos (see Resources)
Lesson 1: Introduction: global media
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Write down everything you already know about global media. Then check against the key terms: Media Studies Exam Tips — Global Media. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Parent/Teacher Guide: Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: Media Studies Exam Tips — Global Media. If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps. Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Teaching Script (35 mins): Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: global media. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Media Studies because the ideas here recur across the spec." Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words. Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance. Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
First Look
Start with the revision notes summary, then attempt: explain the key ideas of global media
Plenary (5 minutes)
Check Out
Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about global media.
Lesson 2: Core Concepts: global media
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Review Previous Lesson
Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on global media. Check them against the notes below.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Key Fact: Global media refers to media products and companies that operate across national boundaries, distributing content to worldwide audiences.
Key Fact: Cultural imperialism: the theory that Western (particularly American) media dominates global markets, overwhelming local cultures and imposing Western values. Hollywood films and American TV are distributed worldwide.
Key Fact: Glocalisation: global media products are adapted for local markets — e.g. McDonald's menus varying by country, or Netflix commissioning local-language content (Squid Game, Money Heist).
Key Fact: Transnational media companies: corporations that operate across multiple countries — e.g. Disney, Netflix, Sony. They produce and distribute content globally, but adapt strategies for local markets.
Key Fact: Media flows: media content flows in multiple directions, not just from West to East. Korean pop (K-pop), Bollywood films, and Latin American telenovelas are consumed globally.
Key Fact: The success of non-Western media challenges cultural imperialism theory. Parasite (South Korea) won Best Picture at the Oscars; Squid Game was Netflix's most-watched series.
Practice (10 minutes)
Q: explain the key ideas of global media
Answer:
Plenary (5 minutes)
Explain Back
Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.
Lesson 3: Application: global media
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Recall the key terms: Media Studies Exam Tips — Global Media. Define each in one sentence.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Parent/Teacher Guide: Let your student attempt each question alone first, then compare with the model answer. Award method marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.
Work through the practice questions on the revision notes page for this topic.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Error Review
Review any questions answered incorrectly. Identify whether the error was knowledge, method, or reading the question.
Lesson 4: Exam Practice: global media
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Command Words
Review what these command words require: state (one point), describe (say what happens), explain (say why), compare (both sides), evaluate (judgement).
Main Content (35 minutes)
Extended Answer
Extended question: Full-Mark Response Evaluate the impact of globalisation on media industries and audiences. [15 marks] <div class="
Globalisation has profoundly reshaped media industries and audiences, creating both opportunities and concerns. For industries, globalisation enables massive scale. Transnational corporations like Disney and Netflix produce and distribute content worldwide, achieving economies of scale that national industries cannot match. Streaming platforms commission local content for global distribution — Squid Game (South Korea) became Netflix's most-watched series, demonstrating that local content can achieve global reach. However, the dominance of Western conglomerates raises cultural imperialism concerns. Hollywood's global reach means American values, lifestyles, and perspectives are disproportionately represented worldwide. Local industries may struggle to compete, potentially reducing cultural diversity. For audiences, globalisation increases access to diverse content. Streaming services offer content from multiple countries, subtitled and available globally. Audiences can discover Korean dramas, Spanish thrillers, and Indian films that traditional distribution would never have reached them. This challenges the one-directional flow assumed by cultural imperialism. Yet the digital divide
Exam Tips: Use specific examples of global media flows — not just American exports | Apply both cultural imperialism AND glocalisation to get both sides | Discuss how streaming has changed global media distribution
Common Errors: ✗ Globalisation means everyone watches the same media. ✓ While global media products reach worldwide audiences, consumption varies by culture, language, and preference. Glocalisation means global products are adapted locally, and audiences choose differently. Media flows are multi-directional, not one-way. ✗ Cultural imperialism is no longer relevant. ✓ While glocalisation and reverse flows challenge the theory, Western media still dominates global markets. Hollywood, American tech platforms, and English-language content remain disproportionately influential. Cultural imperialism persists but is more contested than before. ✗ Bollywood and Nollywood are just imitations of Hollywood. ✓ Bollywo
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
Synoptic links: explain how global media connects to another Media Studies topic you have studied
Real-world: research one real-world use or example of global media
Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in global media?"
Plenary (5 minutes)
Assessment Criteria
Got it: Confident explanation + correct worked examples
Getting there: Main points OK, needs support with detail
Not yet: Confused on key concepts - re-run Lesson 2
Homework & Consolidation
Consolidation: Re-answer any Lesson 3 practice questions answered incorrectly (20 mins)
Retrieval: Write flashcards for the key terms: Media Studies Exam Tips — Global Media (10 mins)
Exam practice: One past-paper question on global media from the board websites (15 mins)
Extension: Explain global media to someone else in your own words (10 mins)