What is responsible journalism?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how and why media is regulated.
Key learning points
- That media has regulations that it must follow to ensure accuracy, fairness and accountability.
- Journalists agree to a code of conduct when they join the national journalist union, this includes moral values.
- The Editors' Code of Practice is enforced by IPSO, an external independent organisation.
- The Royal Charter sets the BBC's responsibilities which are based on being educational, informative and impartial.
Keywords
Regulation - rules that control how things are done to keep them fair and safe
Union - a group of workers in the same trade or profession who have joined together to protect their rights
Conduct - the way a person or organisation behaves, especially following rules or standards
Scandal - a situation or event that is seen as shocking or disgraceful because of wrongdoing or improper behaviour
Impartial - not taking sides; being fair and balanced
Common misconception
The media can print or publish what they like due to free press.
They must still follow regulations so that the public can trust what is being published.
Teacher tip
Use real-life examples of news stories that impacted people or society to show why press regulation matters. Discuss how rules on accuracy and fairness protect both the public and journalists, and have pupils think about what could go wrong if these rules didn’t exist.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following are forms of broadcast media?
Q2.The media being able to print things without government interference is referred to as what?
Q3.Ofcom is the regulator for what?
Q4.What is happening to the number of people accessing information via newspapers?
Q5.The media must make their terms and conditions clear, including who they are owned by and how they are run - this is known as what?
Q6.If the media make a mistake, they must own up to this with the public, what is the word to describe this?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following sets out the regulations to be followed by the BBC?
Q2.What scandal was the Leveson Inquiry set up to investigate?
Q3.Complete the sentence, 'Journalists agree to the NUJ Code of Conduct when they join the National of Journalists'.
Q4.What do the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) do?
Q5.Printing facts that the public need to know is referred to as what?
Q6.The National Executive Council (NEC) can make decisions about what?
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: What is responsible journalism?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: What is responsible journalism?, 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 does the media hold those in power to account? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.