New
New
Who is more powerful the media or the Government?
I can evaluate the power of the Government and media.
Lesson 6 of 6
New
New
- Year 10
Who is more powerful the media or the Government?
I can evaluate the power of the Government and media.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Government has power through elections, gaining a mandate to make decisions for all.
- Parliamentary sovereignty lets the Government change laws, shaping society and key policies.
- The media shapes public opinion, reaching millions daily and influencing elections.
- Media holds the Government accountable but can also spread misinformation online.
Keywords
Power - having control or authority over something or someone
Mandate - the authority given to government to make decisions after winning an election
Parliamentary sovereignty - the principle that Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK; Parliament can create, amend or end any UK law
Misinformation - false or misleading information that is spread accidentally
Common misconception
The Government has absolute power and the media is just a neutral source of information.
The Government is powerful but must follow laws and face elections. The media influences opinion but can also mislead people.
Use real-world examples of government policies and media influence to help pupils see their impact on daily life. Pupils could also brainstorm how media has impacted their life in 24 hours compared to how the Government has impacted their life.
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.Match the sentence starter to its end.
Match the sentence starter to its end.
Q2.Who is this describing? A person who checks and revises news content before it is published or broadcast.
Who is this describing? A person who checks and revises news content before it is published or broadcast.
Q3.Which of the following is true about editorial checks?
Which of the following is true about editorial checks?
Final editorial checks guarantee the news is always factual and true.
Final editorial checks always eliminate any possibility of mistakes.
Final editorial checks are unnecessary, as the news is always accurate.
Q4.Journalists must be to report accurately within a democracy.
Journalists must be to report accurately within a democracy.
Q5.There are international organisations that work to journalists and campaign for global press freedom.
There are international organisations that work to journalists and campaign for global press freedom.
Q6.Which of the following is true about local and national media?
Which of the following is true about local and national media?
Local media is less important than national media.
National media is more important than local media.
Local media only focuses on global events.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word to its definition.
Match the word to its definition.
Q2.The shapes public opinion, reaching millions daily and influencing elections.
The shapes public opinion, reaching millions daily and influencing elections.
Q3.Misinformation is ...
Misinformation is ...
true and accurate details shared by news sources
information that helps people make informed decisions
facts that are widely accepted and verified by experts
Q4.Which of the following is true about the media's role in government?
Which of the following is true about the media's role in government?
The media always supports the Government without criticism.
The media only reports good news about the Government.
Q5.Which of the following is true about the Government and the media?
Which of the following is true about the Government and the media?
The Government has absolute power and the media is always neutral.
The Government controls the media and all its messages.
The media only shares facts without influencing views.
Q6.Which of the following best describes devolution?
Which of the following best describes devolution?
national government controls everything in all regions
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have no governments
national government has no control over Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
