Hi, I'm Mrs. Allchin and I'm going to be taking you through the Citizenship lesson today.

I'm going to give you all the information that you need to be able to take part in the lesson and I'll also pause and tell you when you need to complete an activity or complete a check for understanding.

Hope you enjoy the lesson.

This lesson is called, "What impact can the media have locally and nationally?" And it's taken from the Unit of lessons, How powerful is the media? By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to consider what impact the media has had both a local and a national level.

Our keywords are media, which is television, radio, printed and digital media, which can reach a large number of people.

Local, which refers to something that is relating to a specific area, town, or community.

And national, which is something that affects or covers the whole country.

Our lesson outline for the lesson, what impact can the media have locally and nationally is, first we're going to look at what impact can the media have locally? And we're then going to move on to look at what impact can the media have nationally? So Jacob's asking, "I don't think I even know what local media is? How is it different from national media?" So pause and have a think to yourselves.

So while national media reports on news that is useful, and appropriate, and interesting for the whole of the country, local media provides the same information but for citizens within a much smaller local area.

So your local town, city, or county will have their own newspapers.

They might have their own radio stations and local news websites.

There will likely also be local social media pages with community groups discussing local issues.

So let's have a check for understanding.

Which story is most likely to be covered in a local newspaper instead of a national newspaper? Is it A, a member of Parliament getting arrested.

B, the closure of a primary school due to low numbers.

C, the resignation of the Prime Minister.

Or D, a national public health concern.

And it's B, the closure of a primary school due to low numbers will likely feature in a local newspaper 'cause it's only going to be of interest to the people within that local area.

It's not going to be of interest of people nationally.

So whilst not everyone may be familiar with local media when compared to well-known national media assets, it does play a vital role in informing citizens about events and news that's happening within their communities.

It can also have an impact on public opinion regarding local issues and it can also increase community civic engagement, so it can play a really important role.

Local media can be powerful because it holds local authorities to account, it raises awareness of local issues, it encourages civic engagement, and it can strengthen community cohesion.

So lots of reasons why it can be powerful.

So Jacob's asking what are local authorities and why do they need to be held to account by local media? So this might be a term that you've come across in Citizenship before.

So pause and have a think.

What are local authorities? So local authorities are responsible for providing public services and making decisions at a local level.

So where I live, it's lead city council who provide public services and local services for local people.

There are many different types of local authorities and they are mainly funded by local taxation.

So that means that the people living locally pay for those services via taxation.

Elected counsellors represent local citizens and make decisions on their behalf, so it does link into our democracy.

So local authorities play an important role in democracy, they are funded through taxation and represent local citizens' best interest.

Therefore, it's really important that the local media holds them accountable because again, they are working on behalf of local people in that area.

So let's have a check for understanding.

What are the missing words? Let's read it together.

Local authorities play an important role in democracy, they are funded through something and represent local citizens best interests.

Therefore, it's important the local media holds their something.

So pause while you have a think what the missing words might be? And the missing words were, taxation and accountable.

So let's read it again.

Local authorities play an important role in democracy, they are funded through taxation, so they're publicly funded, and represent local citizens best interest.

Therefore, it's important the local media holds them accountable.

So let's have a look at some examples.

So between 2018 and 2020, the local newspaper, "The Sheffield Star," so this is in Sheffield, which is a northern place, investigated a plan by Sheffield City Council to cut down thousands of trees as a part of a regeneration project to allegedly improve the pathways in that local area.

When the local media exposed the plan, local residents were outraged and they campaigned against the council to protect the trees.

They accused the council of being dishonest, lacking transparency, so not being clear about what they were going to do, and not taking local residents opinions into account because a lot of local residents were saying that actually by cutting down all these trees, it was going to really impact the way the local area looked, it was going to impact the views they had from their houses, and it would really impact their sort of day-to-day lives and how they felt like living in the area.

And as a result of the campaign, Sheffield City Council were forced to issue an apology to local residents as an inquiry into the issue, found the council to have behaved dishonestly and that they destroyed the public trust.

And as a result, the trees were not cut down.

So that's an example of something that was going to take place that Sheffield City Council decided to do.

And it was actually a local newspaper that brought that to citizen's attention.

Local media can also raise awareness of local issues.

So before and after the devastating Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, local media played a crucial role in highlighting safety concerns, exposing government failings and advocating, so speaking on behalf of local citizens who were affected.

Members of a local Grenfell action group that were concerned with the cladding that was used on the Grenfell blogged that they had believed it would take a catastrophic event to make Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation, which was the landlord that ultimately owned the building to improve the dangerous living conditions.

So there was actually a local group that were already blogging on local websites about their concerns about the claddings, that's the outside of the building itself, that it was unsafe.

These blogs and other reports were published on local community websites.

So there were already local people trying to raise awareness of what they saw and which they were right to see as a concern and as a public safety issue.

So let's have a check for understanding.

Which was not a local media type used prior to the Grenfell disaster to warn about risks? Was it blogs, was it local websites, or was it "Sky News." It was "Sky News." Local media types were blogs and local websites.

Sadly, six months later, so six months after these blogs, local concerns were proven to be valid and the Grenfell fire resulted in the death of 72 people.

This was then picked up by the national media leading to a much wider investigation into unsafe housing across the UK.

So the BBC, The Guardian and ITV News expanded on the work of those initial local reporters uncovering government failures in fire safety policies.

This highlights how local people are often best able to understand and raise awareness of local issues.

Also, that their power can sometimes be limited due to the smaller audiences that local media receives.

In this case, it took the loss of life and national reporting for a much wider public inquiry to take place.

So Jacob's asking, "How does local media encourage civic engagement and strengthen community cohesion?" So we saw examples of both of these in the case studies that we've explored this lesson.

So local Sheffield residents coordinated civic action to successfully campaign against Sheffield City Council to stop the cutting down in the culling of trees.

And we also saw Local North Kensington residents who came together immediately after the Grenfell disaster to provide immediate aid such as food and clothing, sharing information and advocating on behalf of others.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Local media does not strengthen community cohesion.

Is that true? Is that false? And can you tell me why? It's false.

Why? Local media can strengthen community cohesion by making people aware of local issues and increasing the likelihood of coordinated aid and support.

On the one hand, local media is very powerful and impactful as by its nature, it focuses on local issues that matter to local people.

It can therefore really encourage civic engagement and hold local decision makers accountable.

But on the other hand, local media might struggle to be as powerful and impactful as national media as the audiences are smaller and there may be less citizens getting behind a key issue as it only impacts local people, not people from across the whole of the country.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Identify one reason why local media is powerful and impactful.

So you might have said, that it focuses on matters that impact local people, that it holds local decision makers accountable, that it encourages civic engagement, or that it encourages community cohesion.

For Task A, I'd like you to explain why local media plays an important role within local communities.

And Jacob saying that you may wish to refer to it holding local authorities to account, raising awareness of local issues, encouraging civic engagement, and strengthening community cohesion.

So pause while you have a go at this task.

So when explaining why local media plays an important role within local communities, your answer may have included, "Local media is really important because it helps people know what is going on in their area and make sure local councils do their jobs properly.

It can expose problems like bad housing or unfair decisions, so problems get resolved.

Local news also brings people together by covering community events which makes people feel more connected.

It encourages people to get involved, like joining campaigns to improve their time.

Without local media, a lot of issues might go unnoticed and people would not have a voice to stand up for their community." So we've had a look at the impact that the media can have locally.

So what we're going to do now is think about the impact that the media can have nationally.

So Alex is asking, "How does the national media differ from local media?" We've touched upon this a little bit already, so pause while you have a go at answering this question.

So national media such as BBC News and newspapers such as "The Guardian" and "The Times" have a much broader audience.

So a much larger, more diverse, more wider audience.

The news shared via a national media will align to what is happening nationally and can be used to influence public debate, policy decisions, and to ensure citizens are aware of what is happening at a national level.

So just like with local media, it's telling people about what's happening locally, national media is given that much broader national picture.

National news will often cover high profile crimes, politics and information that will impact all citizens.

So for example, information news about the economy.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which would likely not be covered by the national media? An increase in fuel prices, an act of terrorism, increase waiting times at a GP's surgery, or a transcript of a minister's speech.

And the answer was C.

Increased waiting times at a specific GP's surgery might be covered at a local level, but it's not in the interest of everyone nationally.

It could be a national story talking about waiting times across the whole of the country, but not for a specific surgery.

The national media can be very powerful and impactful because it can shape public opinion and encourage civic engagement, it can hold the government to account, it can set the national agenda, and it can also unify the nation.

So Alex is asking, "Can you think of any examples that would relate to any of these bullet points?" So pause while you have a think about that.

So let's have a look at shaping public opinion and encouraging civic engagement.

So the Windrush Scandal took place in 2018 and affected members of the Windrush Generation, who had legally moved to the UK between the 1940s and 1970s.

And they were actually encouraged to come to this country to help with huge gaps of unemployment that we had and employment gaps that that needed fill in.

However, due to mistakes in government records, some people were incorrectly told they did not have the right documents to stay in the country.

And as a result, some lost their jobs and access to welfare, while others were detained or even removed from the UK.

This highly emotive and controversial government action was covered in the national media and quickly gained the public's attention.

Many citizens were shocked and angry that elderly people who had lived here for many years and contributed to the UK were being treated unfairly and at risk of losing their homes.

Some national newspapers referred to the Government's immigration policy as being hostile.

And after much public backlash, the Government issued a public apology and promised compensation for those affected.

So let's have a check for understanding.

How did some national newspapers describe the Government's immigration policy? Is it A, honourable.

B, hospitable.

Or C, hostile.

And it was C hostile.

So Alex is asking, "How have the national media held the Government to account?" So just like we saw with the local media holding local authorities to account, can you think of any examples of how the national media have held the Government to account? So in a democracy, the media plays an important role in holding decision makers account.

We have a free press in the UK, which means the media is not controlled by the Government and this allows a checking function to take place.

An example of the national media holding Government to account was the partygate scandal happened during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

If you like, pause for a few seconds and think, can you remember this? Does this ring any bells? Does this give any memories about partygate and something that happened during COVID-19 that was looked at by the media? During the COVID-19 lockdowns, there were strict rules in place regarding what citizens could or could not do.

These restrictions were broadcast to the public via the then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and were in place to try and slow the spread of the virus.

Many of the restrictions were particularly challenging, such as not being able to visit sick relatives in hospital or even attend funerals for loved ones who had died.

Citizens that broke the restrictions put in place by the Government could face being fined.

In 2021, various national newspapers started to expose allegations that Members of Parliament, including the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, were breaking the very rules which they had set.

These news stories included reports of a Christmas gathering while the rest of the UK was under strict lockdown measures.

A video which appeared to show Downing Street staff joking about a Christmas party.

Reports that gatherings took place on the evening before Prince Philip's funeral, where we'd seen the Queen herself attending the funeral without her family close by because of restrictions.

And a photo which appeared to show the Prime Minister and other politicians sat together in a garden during lockdown.

So Alex is asking, "How did the public react to this and was anyone held accountable?" Well, there was a huge public outcry because lots of citizens had followed the restrictions, they were really angry that decision makers were not following the regulations that they themselves had made.

Keir Starmer, the then leader of the opposition, quoted Margaret Thatcher, who's a previous Conservative Prime Minister, during the years 1979 to 1990, in the House of Commons by stating, "The first duty of government is to uphold the law.

If it tries to bob and weave and duck around that duty when it's inconvenient, then so will the governed." So really, really holding to account people, decision makers that were making laws, and then potentially not following them themselves.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What are the missing words from this Margaret Thatcher quote, which was re-quoted by Kier Starmer in the House of Commons.

"The first duty of something is to uphold the something.

If it tries to bob and weave and duck around that duty when it's inconvenient, then so will the governed." And it was the first duty of government is to uphold the law.

In January 2022, there was a government investigation led by a senior civil servant called Sue Grey.

Her initial report criticises failures of leadership, but it's limited as a police launch and investigation.

In May 2022, Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, and many other politicians are fined by the Metropolitan Police for breaking lockdown regulations.

In June 2023, the Privileges Committee found that Boris Johnson had deliberately misled Parliament multiple times and undermined democracy and therefore breaching parliamentary rules.

It recommended a 90-day suspension, but before MPs could vote, Johnson resigned as an MP on June 9th 2023, calling the investigation a witch hunt.

The scandal damage public trust in politicians and reinforce calls for greater accountability in government.

This scandal shows how national media investigations can expose government wrongdoings, hold leaders accountable, and influence national politics.

The national media played a key role in covering the truth, forcing political accountability, and ensuring the scandal remained in the public's agenda.

So it remains something that the public were talking about and that's something the media can do to make it powerful.

So Alex is asking, "How has the national media united the UK?" So again, pause and try and think of some examples.

So the national media often plays a powerful role in bringing people together, raising awareness for important causes, and celebrating acts of kindness.

During the first lockdown, national media sources like the BBC and ITV encourage citizens to clap for NHS workers every Thursday at 8:00 PM.

Millions of people across the UK stepped outside their homes to applaud frontline workers, which created a sense of unity during a time of segregation and isolation.

And when the England Women's Football team won the UEFA for Women's Euros in 2022, national media broadcast the final to over 17 million viewers.

This united the nation in celebration and also inspired more girls to take up football, which is great for community cohesion.

National media provided lots of coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, leading to national street parties and events which brought citizens together to celebrate a shared history.

And likewise, following her death in September 2022, national media coverage of her funeral gathered the country again, this time in a moment of reflection and respect.

Let's have a check for understanding.

So identify something that was covered by the national media that brought together citizens of the UK.

So you might have said the clap for the NHS workers, UEFA for Women's Euros, Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, or Queen Elizabeth II death and funeral.

So for Task B, I'd like you to explain why national media plays an important role within the UK.

So just like you did with Task A, looking at local media, this time I want you to think about national media.

And Alex is saying that, "You may wish to refer to its shaping public opinion and encouraging civic engagement, holding the government to account, and setting the national agenda and unifying the nation." So pause while you have a go at this task.

So when explaining why the national media plays an important role within the UK, your answer may have included, "The national media is important because it helps people stay informed, encourages civic engagement, and holds a government to account.

For example, during partygate, national media exposed how politicians broke lockdown rules, which led to public outrage and official investigations.

The national media can also bring the country together, like during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, when millions of people watch celebrations on TV and took part in street parties.

by reporting on important issues and national events.

The media helps people engage with politics, stay informed and feel connected as a country." So in summary of the lesson, what impact can the media have locally and nationally? National media reports on news that is useful, appropriate, and interesting for the whole of the country, whereas local media provides the same information but for citizens within a smaller local area.

Local media can be powerful because it holds local authorities to account.

It raises awareness of local issues, and it encourages civic engagement, and strengthens community cohesion.

The national media can be very powerful and impactful 'cause it can shape public opinion and encourage civic engagement.

It can hold the government of account and also set the national agenda and unify the nation.

This brings us to the end of this lesson.

Well done for all your hard work and I hope you come back for some more Citizenship lessons in the future.