Media genres and conventions — Media, 11–13 years
Different kinds of media use familiar patterns to help us understand what we are seeing, hearing or reading. Knowing the genre helps us ask what a piece is trying to do.
What a media genre is
A genre is a familiar kind of media, such as a news report, review, vlog, advert or comedy sketch. Each kind has patterns: a review gives judgements, while a report usually presents information about an event. These patterns are clues, not guarantees that every piece is accurate or fair.
Why genres developed
People make and choose media quickly, so familiar forms help both sides know what to expect. A recipe needs different features from a live sports update, and a joke needs a different signal from a serious warning. Genre conventions grew from repeated use, but creators can mix or break them to produce a particular effect.
Worked example: two storm posts
Imagine two posts about the same storm. First, label post A as a news report because it gives a time, place and quoted source; label post B as a personal vlog because it shows one person’s experience. Next, use the genre as a clue: check A for evidence and B for what it cannot show. Finally, do not treat either label as proof that every claim is true.
The reasonable mistake
A common mistake is thinking that a news-style video must be true, or that a funny video cannot contain useful information. This is reasonable because genres train us to expect certain things, and their visual style can feel authoritative. The better habit is to use the genre to decide what questions to ask, then check the claims themselves.
Where genres help
When you open a podcast, video or website, recognising its genre helps you choose how to listen. You may expect a game review to include opinions, a tutorial to show steps, and a documentary to select and explain evidence. This is useful outside school when deciding whether a piece is for information, entertainment, advice or a mixture.
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