What is the media?
I can explain the different sources of media, how we can tell what is newsworthy and why information neighbourhoods differ.
What is the media?
I can explain the different sources of media, how we can tell what is newsworthy and why information neighbourhoods differ.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Media has three main types: print media, such as newspapers; broadcast media like TV and new media, like social media.
- To be considered reliable news, information must follow the VIA model - Verification, Independence, Accountability.
- News values guide journalists in selecting stories which are interesting, for example timelessness, oddity and impact.
- It's important to know the information neighbourhood you are in. These include categories like news and propaganda.
- Understanding these different sources of media and information neighbourhoods helps you know the purpose of the media.
Keywords
Media - forms of communication like radio, television, newspapers, magazines and the internet, that reach or influence people
Information - knowledge communicated concerning a particular fact or subject, often presented to us in the media
News - information about current events
Common misconception
We all get our news and information from the same place.
People get their news and information from a range of different media sources which can result in people believing very different stories.
To help you plan your year 8 citizenship lesson on: What is 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: What is 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
Licence
Lesson video
Starter quiz
6 Questions
touch
see
read
hear
Exit quiz
6 Questions
information about recent events
unusual events that are surprising
stories that affect a lot of people