What is the evolving role of the media in democracy?
I can explain the difference between traditional and digital media ownership and the potential impact of this on democracy.
What is the evolving role of the media in democracy?
I can explain the difference between traditional and digital media ownership and the potential impact of this on democracy.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Media supports democracy by informing the public but also risks spreading misinformation and regulatory challenges.
- Traditional media was once small-owned, but it is now dominated by large corporations, with regulation limits.
- Digital media is dominated by global tech firms that largely self-regulate, increasing bias risks and misinformation.
Keywords
Traditonal media - forms of communication like print (newspapers and magazines), television and radio, which have been around for a long time and existed before the internet became widely used
Digital media - any form of media that uses electronic devices or technology to create, store and share content, e.g., websites, social media, apps, video streaming and online news
Corporation - large businesses that own and control multiple companies, including media outlets or other industries
Regulation - the control or governance of activities through rules, laws or standards
Common misconception
Digital media is more diverse than traditional media because anyone can create content.
Digital media is still often controlled by a few large corporations, limiting true diversity.
To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: What is the evolving role of the media in democracy?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: What is the evolving role of the media in democracy?, 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 4 citizenship lessons from the How powerful is the media? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
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Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
having control or authority over something or someone.
the power to affect/change someone's thoughts, actions, or decisions.
a key element of the British Constitution.
Exit quiz
6 Questions
forms of media like newspapers and radio; common before the internet
media that uses electronic devices or technology to share content
large businesses that control multiple companies
control or governance through laws or standards