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Year 11

What happens to the media during elections?

I can analyse the role of the media during elections and assess how influential it is on election outcomes.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 11

What happens to the media during elections?

I can analyse the role of the media during elections and assess how influential it is on election outcomes.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

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.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Media informs, scrutinises, and helps raise party profiles during elections, with strict rules on spending and fairness.
  2. Media sources vary in reliability and bias; critical checking of sources is essential for informed voting decisions.
  3. Media can influence elections in ways such as shaping perception, setting the agenda, and amplifying campaign messages.
  4. Voters' views, media trust issues, and fact-checking reduce the media's influence on election outcomes.

Keywords

  • Media - the different ways we share and receive information on a large scale; this includes things like television, radio, newspapers, and the internet

  • Election - the voting process to select a person for a public position

  • Bias - having a one-sided view of a person or group; often influenced by personal opinions, beliefs, or experiences

Common misconception

The media always tells the truth, so we can trust everything we see during elections.

The media is not always completely unbiased or accurate. Different media outlets may have their own political leanings or agendas. Stories can be exaggerated or focus on sensational aspects, rather than providing balanced, factual information.


To help you plan your year 11 citizenship lesson on: What happens to the media during elections?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Encourage pupils to critically analyse different types of media and their potential biases. Use real-life examples, like recent UK elections or social media campaigns, to help them understand how media can shape public opinion.
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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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is democracy?
a system where one leader holds all the power
Correct answer: a system where the people have the power to make decisions
a system where laws are made by a monarch
a system where military leaders control the country
Q2.
Match the political system to its description.
Correct Answer:dictatorship,a system where one leader holds absolute power.

a system where one leader holds absolute power.

Correct Answer:theocracy,a system where religious leaders hold political power

a system where religious leaders hold political power

Correct Answer:one-party state,one political party controls the Government; no other parties allowed

one political party controls the Government; no other parties allowed

Q3.
Why does voting matter?
It allows the Government to choose the leaders without any public input.
It is a legal requirement for everyone.
Correct answer: It helps the Government understand the needs and wishes of the people.
It only matters during general elections.
Q4.
In the First-Past-The-Post voting system, the candidate who gets the most votes, even if they do not have more than half, wins the election. This system is commonly used in UK elections.
Correct Answer: general
Q5.
The main political parties in the UK represent different ideas and policies. The Labour Party focuses on policies, while the Conservative Party tends to favour more right-wing policies.
Correct Answer: left-wing, socialist, left wing, left
Q6.
Why are smaller political parties important in the UK?
They have no impact on the political landscape.
They only influence local elections.
They always win the majority of seats in Parliament.
Correct answer: They challenge the larger parties and bring forward alternative policies.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
How does the media inform voters during elections?
by only broadcasting entertainment programmes
Correct answer: by providing information on candidates, policies, and election news
by focusing solely on celebrity gossip
by making voting decisions for citizens
Q2.
Under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, political parties must adhere to limits during election campaigns.
Correct Answer: spending
Q3.
Match the type of media to its correct example.
Correct Answer:print media,The Guardian

The Guardian

Correct Answer:broadcast media,The BBC

The BBC

Correct Answer:film and video,party broadcast on streaming platform

party broadcast on streaming platform

Correct Answer:outdoor media,party political poster

party political poster

Q4.
Why is it important to be critical of the media during elections?
because all media sources are always truthful and unbiased
because media outlets don’t report on elections at all
because media coverage has no impact on public opinion
Correct answer: because some media outlets may present biased or misleading information
Q5.
It is important to question what we see and hear in the media, as sometimes stories can be exaggerated or focused on aspects, rather than providing balanced information.
Correct Answer: sensational, fake news
Q6.
Which of the following is a common misconception about the media during elections?
Correct answer: The media always tells the truth, so we can trust everything we see.
The media plays a crucial role in providing voters with information.
Media outlets may have biases that influence their coverage.
It’s important to check multiple sources for accurate election information.