Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 6

Exploring the structure of a journalistic report

I can identify the structure of a journalistic report and I can distinguish between statements of fact and different perspectives.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 6

Exploring the structure of a journalistic report

I can identify the structure of a journalistic report and I can distinguish between statements of fact and different perspectives.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
warning

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

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
View new resources
arrow-right

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A journalistic report is a non-fiction text that informs the reader about an event.
  2. Organised in paragraphs, a journalistic report opens with an introduction and ends with a closing.
  3. Generally, in a news report, the journalist does not include their own opinion.
  4. The report will contain a mixture of factual claims and reported perspectives.
  5. The perspectives may be shown using direct or reported speech.

Keywords

  • Journalistic report - a non-fiction text that informs the reader about an event

  • Perspective - someone's view of events

  • Fact - something that is true or proven

Common misconception

Pupils may struggle with the distinction between fact and opinion.

Encourage pupils to focus on the way information is presented: some things are adopted as fact by the journalist and others are presented as the perspectives of certain individuals.


To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Exploring the structure of a journalistic report, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

There are many types of article in newspapers and magazines. Here, we focus on a 'news' report; you may want to draw out the distinction between this and an 'opinion piece', which is focuses on the journalist's viewpoint.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
copyright

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

Skip lesson video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Which word best describes this job? 'someone who investigates events that have happened recently and reports on them to the public'
actor
detective
Correct answer: journalist
teacher
Q2.
Which is the best description of a 'fact'?
someone's opinion on a subject
Correct answer: something which is true or can be proven to be correct
something which is unclear
Q3.
Which of the following is a fact?
Vanilla is the best ice cream flavour.
We should all learn Spanish at school.
Autumn is the most beautiful season.
Correct answer: Autumn is generally colder than summer.
Q4.
Which of the following is a statement of fact?
All children should be taught to play the recorder.
Correct answer: A recorder is a woodwind instrument.
Mrs Begum is the best teacher in school.
I hate playing the recorder.
Q5.
Which of the following are statements of opinion?
There are no biscuits left in this tin.
Correct answer: All biscuits are delicious.
Correct answer: You're such a nice person.
The sun is shining today.
Q6.
When you watch a TV news report, do you expect to hear mostly facts, mostly the reporter's opinions or a mixture of the two?
Correct answer: mostly facts
mostly the reporter's opinions
a mixture of the two

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Tick the true statements.
A journalistic report cannot be read online.
Correct answer: A journalistic report is a non-fiction text.
Correct answer: A journalistic report usually focuses on recent events.
A journalistic report cannot be written in columns.
Q2.
Match the words to their meanings.
Correct Answer:vociferous,loud
tick

loud

Correct Answer:adamant,strongly decided
tick

strongly decided

Correct Answer:urban area,city
tick

city

Correct Answer:combatting,fighting against
tick

fighting against

Q3.
Match each section of a journalistic report to its content.
Correct Answer:introduction,the key details (about what, why, who, where, when)
tick

the key details (about what, why, who, where, when)

Correct Answer:main paragraphs,different perspectives on the event with some extra details
tick

different perspectives on the event with some extra details

Correct Answer:conclusion,the latest information, the official position & what will happen next
tick

the latest information, the official position & what will happen next

Q4.
Which of the following are appropriate sentences for a journalistic report?
The appalling destruction of these trees must end.
Correct answer: The destruction of the trees has been postponed.
Correct answer: The protest occurred on Saturday outside City Hall.
The protest was disgracefully loud and incredibly disruptive.
Q5.
Match the words to their meanings.
Correct Answer:perspective,someone's view on events
tick

someone's view on events

Correct Answer:fact,something which is true and proven
tick

something which is true and proven

Correct Answer:direct speech,using a quotation to show the exact words someone used
tick

using a quotation to show the exact words someone used

Correct Answer:reported speech,saying what someone had said without using their exact words
tick

saying what someone had said without using their exact words

Q6.
Which of the following are perspectives rather than facts?
Correct answer: Mr MacKenzie said that the council was showing empathy.
The meeting will be held tomorrow.
The police attended the protest, but they made no arrests.
Correct answer: Superintendent Mirza stated, "We are here to support free speech."

Additional material

Download additional material