There is technically no need to get any book for A-level media studies. You could rely solely on this blog throughout the two years, and do very well for yourself. However, if you really want to push yourself, the best way to do so is get reading. This is especially true if you want to achieve an A*, or if you wish to continue studying media (or film, or sociology, or American studies, or lots of similar subjects) at university.
But why bother? Surely you're taught everything you need to know in lessons? The answer to this is no, you will not be taught absolutely everything in lessons. There are concepts and ideas that we will skim across and skip entirely that are actually very important to media and cultural studies. Two years is not enough to cover even a single aspect of the course, for example semiotics, the 'easy' theory of Roland Barthes that gets remarkably complex very quickly. Being able to wow the examiner with a specific piece of language or terminology or a particular fact WILL get you higher marks. At A-level, the focus is on you as a student. So please do not expect just to turn up to lessons and just be told all you need to know and then to parrot these facts in the exam. To do really really well, you're going to have to get reading
Note: I'm not putting up links to buy any of these, because I don't want to favour a particular shop
A-level media specific - these books are specifically for students studying A-level media studies, which makes them specific
Media theory for A-level - Mark Dixon (Routledge, 2020)
Dixon's book just focuses on theory, and it covers all nineteen in an accessible level of detail for A-level. If you're desperate to get just one book and it has to have A-level in the title, then this is my pick.
A-level media studies: the essential introduction - Pete Bennett, Sarah Casey Benyahia, Jerry Slater (Routledge, 2019)
Another fantastic textbook, that covers all specifications for A-level media studies. I would especially recommend this one if you want to do something media related at university. It covers absolutely everything you need, and loads more too, which means it's not the book to go for quick answers (there's no book that really does that!). It's a bit boring looking compared to some of it's predecessors though.
WJEC/EDUQAS media studies for A-level year one and AS AND WJEC/EDUQAS media studies for A-level two and A2 - Christine Bell and Lucas Johnson (Illuminate, 2017 & 2018)
On paper, these are the textbooks to get, as they are specifically for the version of media we teach. However, there are a number of issues with these textbooks. First of all, you absolutely need both of them. No negotiation there. That's £50. Second of all, because these two textbooks cover a course that can be taught in lots of ways, it means that information is repeated and at times difficult to find. It's tough to get your head around these books. Heaven knows why they didn't just make a big A2 (2 year) version and an AS (one year) version. Very confusing. However, if you are feeling rich, they have absolutely everything you need.
Media studies specific - these books are for students studying media in general, not necessarily at A-level. In some ways, these books have many advantages over the A-level specific ones
The Media Student's Book - Gill Branston, Roy Stafford (Routledge, 5th edition 2010)
This was such a great textbook, but the last edition came out almost a decade ago. So things have changed quite considerably. However, it's still really readable, has a ridiculous amount of excellent information in it, and, if you check out certain big online bookstores and are willing to go second hand, it costs less than a quid. Basically, get it
Media Studies: The Basics - Julian McDougall
This one is pretty good if you want to get your head around the basics. It is very much an introduction to the subject , and works best combined with other books. A refresher, if you like.
Beginning theory: An introduction to literary and cultural theory - Peter Barry
This is an established, comprehensive and frankly wonderful guide to critical theory. Not being A-level specific it goes way beyond the remit of Dixon's theory book (see above). I've only discovered it recently but in terms of offering a clear and definitive overview of theory, it's absolutely perfect. While it is way more straightforward that jumping headfirst in to Baudrillard or Derrida, be forewarned it is several notches more advanced than Dixon's summary, and is strongly recommended to students who intend to study media, film, English etc at university (or just looooove theory!)
Absolutely any book in a charity shop with 'media studies' in the title
There have been loads of previous specifications and the way the subject is taught has changed quite a lot. In short, we now look at very specific case studies, whereas before, teachers could decide to study whatever they wanted. However, the theory is more or less exactly the same. So if you see any book with 'media studies' in a chazza shop or a second hand bookstore or online, just buy it if it's cheap enough. You'll learn something good, for pennies!
Media adjacent - these books are about subjects and ideas that are closely related to media studies
Film Studies: The Basics - Amy Villarejo (Routledge, 2013)
Film studies is media studies. Yeah, they're the same thing. So anything film related will help you with your media knowledge. This book is great.
Semiotics: The Basics - Daniel Chandler (Routledge, 2022)
This book is also great. I got it to brush up on my semiotic theory knowledge, you know, for fun. If you're in to Barthes and want a nice accessible introduction to this ridiculously complicated idea, then totally get this book
Introducing series
This series of graphic guides has been going for years. I've sworn by them since I got 'introducing psychology' and used it to get an A at A-level. If you're a visual learner, these books are awesome. For media related concepts, I recommend the ones on:
- Cultural studies
- Feminism
- Postmodernism
- Media studies
- Sociology
- Capitalism
- Marx
- Marxism
- Gender
- Semiotics
- Barthes
- Baudillard
- Walter Benjamin
Ways of Seeing - John Berger (Penguin, 1972)
Perhaps the most important and the best book on media studies ever released, ways of seeing accompanies a BBC TV series, which, despite being 50 years old now, is still absolutely vital. This was the book where he coined the phrase 'men act, women appear'. I would argue he kick-started media education.
Readers
Readers a big collections of chapters and extracts from authors. Actually reading a book by a theorist can be extremely intimidating, but if you're serious about pushing your studies further, a reader is a great place to start. Two I would recommend off the top of my head are The Cultural Studies reader (which I used while reading cultural sociology at university), The media studies reader, and A critical and cultural theory reader, which are both very media related