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New
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Year 10

How does the media support democracy?

I can explain a variety of ways in which the media can support democracy.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10

How does the media support democracy?

I can explain a variety of ways in which the media can support democracy.

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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Democratic values include transparency, participation, effectively functioning government, trust and liberties.
  2. The media supports democratic values by providing a free press so we can be kept up to date and make informed decisions.
  3. Media holds politicians to account via interviews, debates, viewer engagement, investigative journalism and reporting.

Keywords

  • Values - core beliefs or principles that guide how individuals or societies think and act

  • Democratic - describing a system of government in which citizens vote in regular, fair elections for representatives who then make laws and decisions on their behalf

  • Liberties - fundamental rights and freedoms that protect individuals from excessive government control

  • Scandal - a situation or event that is seen as shocking or disgraceful because of wrongdoing or improper behaviour

Common misconception

There are limits to what the media can print about the Government.

As long as the media is following regulations, they have the freedom to print what they like, even if this is negative towards the Government.

Watch an example of a televised election debate or politician interviews to emphasise the power of the media in a democracy.
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Equipment

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.
What does the following describe? Media that is not controlled by the Government.
new media
Correct answer: free press
broadcast media
print press
Q2.
Complete the sentence: Representative democracy is when citizens can ...
vote for who is going to sit in the House of Lords.
vote for people to be their union representative.
Correct answer: vote for people to make law and policy on their behalf.
vote for who is going to represent them as monarch.
Q3.
Which of these statements is true?
Correct answer: There are limits to how much media one corporation can own, ensuring balance.
Corporations can own unlimited media, as long as they are pro-government.
Corporations can own unlimited media, as long as they don't report on politics.
There are limits relating to new media ownership, but not broadcast media.
Q4.
Why is this statement false? 'Journalists can print whatever they want!'
They need the Government's approval for some national articles.
They can only print what they want when they are the editor.
Correct answer: They must follow the National Union of Journalists' Code of Conduct.
They must follow the Royal Charter.
Q5.
What scandal did the media uncover relating to MPs and the money they were spending: 'The MP Scandal'?
Correct Answer: Expenses, Expense
Q6.
Match the media source to the media type.
Correct Answer:magazine,print media

print media

Correct Answer:television,broadcast media

broadcast media

Correct Answer:social media,new media

new media

6 Questions

Q1.
Core beliefs or principles that guide how individuals or societies think and act are known as what?
variety
Correct answer: values
valors
verifications
Q2.
Fundamental rights and freedoms that protect individuals from excessive government control are known as what?
Correct answer: liberties
leadership
abilities
absurdities
Q3.
Which is an example of political participation?
low number of activists
high number of apathy
low number of protests
Correct answer: high voter turnout
Q4.
Complete the sentence, free press is when the media is free from government ...
Correct Answer: interference, control
Q5.
What is the name of the popular investigative TV series that uncovers social issues?
Correct Answer: Dispatches
Q6.
How much citizens value and trust a political system is referred to as what?
Correct answer: political culture
political consumerism
government culture
liberty culture