What is a free press and why is it important for democracy?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what a free press is and its importance in a democracy.
Key learning points
- A free press is the right for the media to publish and share information and opinions without interference.
- A free press allows for freedom, transparency and accountability.
- A free press can support and hinder democracy in the UK.
Keywords
Free press - the right of media to report news and express opinions without government censorship or interference
Democracy - a system of government in which citizens vote in regular, fair elections for representatives who then make laws and decisions on their behalf
Common misconception
Media outlets are always factual and not bias.
Media outlets strive to report factual information. However, they can still exhbit media bias that can be linked to political affiliations and concentration of media ownership.
Teacher tip
Use a current case study and present at least three contrasting media sources to help pupils identify how language, tone and focus can vary in the reporting of the same event. This helps pupils to build critical thinking and media literacy skills.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A is a system of government in which citizens vote in regular, fair elections for representatives who then make laws and decisions on their behalf.
Q2.What is the best definition of accountability?
Q3.Which of these are ways leaders are held accountable?
Q4.Which of these are ways citizens can hold leaders to account?
Q5.In the UK, power is divided among three branches to prevent any one person or group from holding all the power. This is known as a of powers.
Q6.Which of these does the separation of powers allow for?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A press is important in democracy because it allows the media to publish stories without being controlled by the Government.
Q2.Which of the following is a reason why a free press is important for a democratic society?
Q3.Which statement is most accurate about the media?
Q4.Which of these are benefits of being aware of media bias?
Q5.The media supports democracy by helping people make decisions in elections.
Q6.Match the example to whether the media supports or hinders democracy in the UK.
supports
hinders
could be both
To help you plan your 11 citizenship lesson on: What is a free press and why is it important for democracy?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 citizenship lesson on: What is a free press and why is it important for 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 Should the UK be called a democracy? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.