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Year 10

Deliberative discussion: Does the media hold those in power to account?

I can create a reasoned discussion about whether the media holds those in power to account.

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New
New
Year 10

Deliberative discussion: Does the media hold those in power to account?

I can create a reasoned discussion about whether the media holds those in power to account.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A deliberative discussion is well planned and respectful, it's not an argument.
  2. Holding someone or something to account means they are being scrutinised and are responsible for their actions.
  3. People in power must be held to account due to the responsibility trum e.g. politicians are trusted to represent us.
  4. Media holds those in power to account but there are limitations to this.

Keywords

  • Accountable - being responsible for one's actions and decisions, and being required to explain or justify them to others including those in positions of power or authority

  • Power - having control or authority over something or someone

  • Deliberative - involving careful thought, discussion, and consideration before making decisions or reaching conclusions

Common misconception

That to do well in a discussion or debate you must shout the loudest and interupt others.

A successful deliberative discussion involves consideration, weighing different viewpoints and respect.

Watching various debates with pupils and then pausing for them to identify key aspects such as the rationale, example(s), analysis and links is a great way to contextulise learning. Pupils could even evaluate the discussion.
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Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:censorship,the control of information or ideas within a society

the control of information or ideas within a society

Correct Answer:media,television, radio, printed and new media which can reach large numbers

television, radio, printed and new media which can reach large numbers

Correct Answer:inconvenient ,causing difficulty or trouble, often by making things less easy

causing difficulty or trouble, often by making things less easy

Q2.
What would count as offensive information?
Correct answer: Information that could anger people.
Information that could educate people.
Information that could pacify people.
Information that could scare people.
Q3.
Details relating to the death of Princess Diana in 1997 were censored because they were classed as which type of information?
False information
Misinformation
Correct answer: Sensitive information
Truthful information
Q4.
Which type of information could be censored due to it being harmful?
Celebrity content
Interiors content
Correct answer: Extremist content
Q5.
Citizens being able to take part in the Government of their own country, including voting in free and fair elections, is known as a what?
Correct Answer: Democracy, Democratic country, A democratic country, A democracy
Q6.
When a media has clear rules, checks and balances in place, this means that it is...
stimulated
Correct answer: regulated
mutated
ill fated

6 Questions

Q1.
What is the term used to describe having control or authority over something or someone?
Correct answer: power
cower
uncertain
frail
Q2.
Being responsible for your actions and decisions, and being required to justify them to others is known as being what?
Correct Answer: Accountable , Being held to account, Accountability, Being held accountable , Being accountable
Q3.
Which is not a ground rule during a deliberative discussion?
Respecting privacy
Not making judgements
Listening to others
Correct answer: Interrupting others
Q4.
Who holds the media to account?
Correct answer: Regulators
Politicians
The monarch
The House of Lords
Q5.
Which is a limitation of the media being able to hold those in power to account?
Correct answer: lack of access
investigative journalism
live debates
opinion pieces
Q6.
Which is not a preparation stage for a deliberative discussion?
a short rationale
a supporting argument
analysis to make your point clear
Correct answer: not allowing others to speak
linking back to your rationale