New
New
What is the media?
I can explain the different sources of media, how we can tell what is newsworthy and why information neighbourhoods differ.
Lesson 1 of 6
New
New
- Year 8
What is the media?
I can explain the different sources of media, how we can tell what is newsworthy and why information neighbourhoods differ.
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.
It would be useful to get a range of different newspapers to show the students the different sort of news that is presented in a variety of ways.
Teacher tip
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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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who is the head of the Government in the UK?
Who is the head of the Government in the UK?
Q2.What information does the news contain?
What information does the news contain?
fashion trends
personal opinions
Q3.What does the acronym, TV, stand for?
What does the acronym, TV, stand for?
traveller
trivial
tavern
Q4.A government has ideas which they want to put in place to improve life for people in society. There are not just rules or laws but there are official documents called...
A government has ideas which they want to put in place to improve life for people in society. There are not just rules or laws but there are official documents called...
Q5.Match up the type of media with the sense you need to access it.
Match up the type of media with the sense you need to access it.
Q6.What is the UK's system of government called?
What is the UK's system of government called?
dictatorship
republic
senate
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these are examples of print media?
Which of these are examples of print media?
television
social media
Q2.All forms of the media are about giving people ...
All forms of the media are about giving people ...
Q3.What is the model to test whether information is newsworthy known as?
What is the model to test whether information is newsworthy known as?
VIT model
VAT model
VIN model
Q4.News __________ guide journalists into selecting interesting and important stories.
News __________ guide journalists into selecting interesting and important stories.
visions
morals
minutes
Q5.Match up the word with its definition.
Match up the word with its definition.
Q6.What is an information neighbourhood based on?
What is an information neighbourhood based on?
its popularity and reach
on style and presentation
on audience and location
