In December 2024, Tortoise Media announced it had bought The Observer from The Guardian Media Group and The Scott Trust (GMG/Scott Trust).

As a set media product for our GCSE Media Studies specification, teachers should continue to teach the Music and News component (J200/02) using the Observer materials available until further notice.

For the June 2025 and June 2026 exam series, we confirm the unseen extracts will be taken from The Observer before its sale. We therefore recommend students are familiar with the Observer’s media material whilst under its previous ownership.

Candidates will still be credited in these assessments for referring to the ownership of The Observer as ‘GMG/Scott Trust’.

We will provide further information later this term about any changes to our specification for teaching from September 2025.

If you have any queries about this update, please call our Customer Support Centre on 01223 553998 or email us at media@ocr.org.uk.

Qualification

• Media Studies (9-1) - J200 (from 2023)