Should we believe everything we see in the media?
I can explain how to tell if a media source is trustworthy and how to find reliable information.
Should we believe everything we see in the media?
I can explain how to tell if a media source is trustworthy and how to find reliable information.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Some media outlets are trustworthy because they verify facts and do investigative journalism, but not all are reliable.
- Be aware of disinformation, misinformation and malinformation when interpreting media content.
- The REVIEW model helps spot misinformation: Reputation, Evidence, Verify, Intent, Emotions and Weigh it up.
- Always question the purpose, evidence and trustworthiness of the information you see.
- Evaluate all aspects of the media content before deciding if it’s accurate and reliable.
Keywords
Media - forms of communication like radio, television, newspapers, magazines and the internet, that reach or influence people
Trustworthy - something or someone who is able to be relied upon as honest and truthful
Reliable information - knowledge communicated about a particular fact or subject, often presented to us in the media, that can be trusted, believed and verified with external sources
Common misconception
We can't trust anything we see in the media.
We can make sure we know how to get access to reliable and accurate information which will be more trustworthy.
To help you plan your year 8 citizenship lesson on: Should we believe everything we see in the media?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 citizenship lesson on: Should we believe everything we see in the media?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 citizenship lessons from the How does the media affect us? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
grab the audience's attention
researches and works out big stories
question those in power
Exit quiz
6 Questions
information which is deliberately created to harm a person or group
information shared without knowing it is false; no intention of harm
truthful information which is shared to deliberately harm someone