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Ownership and control of the media

Past-paper questions pack

Name
Class
Date set
Date due
Score/ 150

Questions are numbered; the mark schemes (the answer key) follow on separate pages so the question pages can be handed out alone. www.alevelsociologytutor.com

AQA AQA AS and A-level Sociology past-paper questions since 2016 · 10 parts · mark schemes follow the questions · www.alevelsociologytutor.com · Questions and mark schemes © AQA

1. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q19 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
1 9 Outline and explain two ways that the ownership and control of the media may affect media representations of social class. [10 marks]
2. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q19 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
1 9 Outline and explain two ways in which the ownership and control of the media may have been affected by the growth of the new media. [10 marks]
3. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q19 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
1 9 Outline and explain two ways in which the ownership of the media can affect the content of the news. [10 marks]
4. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q21 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 1 Read Item N below and answer the question that follows. Item N The growth of new media in contemporary society has led some sociologists to reconsider some of the issues they study, such as the relationship between the media and their audiences and the importance of ownership and control of the media. They argue that new explanations are needed because new media are different from old media, such as television and newspapers. However, others argue that the early theories about old media, such as pluralism and Marxism, can also be applied to new media. Applying material from Item N and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of early media theories in explaining the role of the new media in contemporary society. [20 marks]
5. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q21 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 1 Read Item N below and answer the question that follows. Item N Marxist sociologists argue that the concentration of media ownership gives the owners considerable power including the ability to manipulate opinions. The growth of new media raises further concerns about the importance of ownership and control of the media. Other sociologists argue that to remain profitable, the media have to produce what their audiences want. They also argue that the media carry a wider range of opinions than Marxists recognise. Applying material from Item N and your knowledge, evaluate Marxist views of the relationship between ownership and control of the media. [20 marks]
6. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q20 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3
2 0 Read Item M below and answer the question that follows. Item M Media corporations have the power to produce images of lifestyles through which people form their identities. The wide reach of these corporations has led to local cultures becoming less important. Media corporations may contribute to a growth in global culture. Applying material from Item M, analyse two ways in which media corporations may contribute to a growth in global culture. [10 marks]
7. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q21 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 1 Read Item N below and answer the question that follows. Item N Some sociologists argue that audiences control media content through their choices as consumers. They claim that competition between media for audiences means that owners and companies have limited power over content. However, other sociologists argue that those who own and work in the media control the content. This means that the content can be biased and reflect dominant ideologies. Applying material from Item N and your knowledge, evaluate the view that the media reflect the views of their audiences. [20 marks]
8. June 2019 · Paper 2 · Q21 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 1 Read Item N below and answer the question that follows. Item N Sociological research has outlined various ways in which the news is socially constructed. Marxists argue that both the selection and the presentation of news are inevitably biased and reflect the interests of powerful groups. However, other sociologists argue that media personnel are professionals and that news-gathering is a fairly objective process. Applying material from Item N and your knowledge, evaluate the view that both the selection and the presentation of the news are ideologically biased. [20 marks]
9. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q21 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 1 Read Item N below and answer the question that follows. Item N From a pluralist perspective, the media are an important part of the democratic process, because they give different interest groups the opportunity to put forward their views. Pluralists also argue that the media respond to the needs of the audience. However, other sociologists argue that powerful groups are able to control the output of the media so that it reflects their own interests. Applying material from Item N and your knowledge, evaluate the pluralist view of the ownership and control of the media. [20 marks]
10. Specimen set 1 · Paper 2 · Q19 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
1 9 Outline and explain two ways in which ownership of the media may affect audiences. [10 marks]

Mark schemes

1. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q19
Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 2 Q19
2. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q19
Mark scheme June 2024 Paper 2 Q19
3. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q19
Mark scheme June 2022 Paper 2 Q19
4. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q21
Mark scheme June 2022 Paper 2 Q21
5. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q21
Mark scheme November 2021 Paper 2 Q21
6. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q20
Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 2 Q20
7. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q21
Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 2 Q21
8. June 2019 · Paper 2 · Q21
Mark scheme June 2019 Paper 2 Q21
9. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q21
Mark scheme June 2017 Paper 2 Q21
10. Specimen set 1 · Paper 2 · Q19
Mark scheme Specimen set 1 Paper 2 Q19