Photography is just one of the things you can do in media. You can also choose to do film, animation, radio/audio, print (magazine etc.). I think there is another category you can choose to do.
With media at my school (in both year 11 and 12) you create a major piece (using the medium of your choice) for the year. On what and how you do your major piece is up to you. The first two terms are spent putting together a folio of planning documents (scripts, storyboards, brainstorming etc.) and then in third term you do the actual production. There's a fair bit of theory (essay writing etc.) and film analysis.
We've done a fair bit of film analysis, usually relating to the area of study (in Unit 1 it was representation; my teacher specifically chose representation of teenagers). We also produced our own representation of teenagers (I made a short 5 minute film). We've had a couple of essays to write as well. One of them was analysing a film poster of our choice.
My teacher has said it's structured exactly the same in Year 12. You have a major piece of your choice to do throughout the year and there are also segments of theory stuff and other activities dispersed through the year.
However, from what I've heard it varies heavily from teacher to teacher. Some teachers restrict you a lot while others give you a lot of freedom when it comes to production stuff. Others would approach the theory in a different manner etc.
Edit: To answer your question, you don't have to do photography at all if you don't want to.