New
New
Lesson 1 of 4
  • Year 10

The changing landscape of the media

I can explain how traditional and non-traditional media hold society to account and how this affects the role of journalists.

Lesson 1 of 4
New
New
  • Year 10

The changing landscape of the media

I can explain how traditional and non-traditional media hold society to account and how this affects the role of journalists.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Historically the media was seen as the fourth estate with a role to hold Parliament the Church and the people to account
  2. The rise of non-mainstream media such as blogs, new channels and online news has been termed the fifth estate
  3. Young people are now more likely to get information on current affairs from the fifth estate
  4. The role of the journalist as a seeker of truth is increasingly under threat’

Keywords

  • Media - channels of communication, like newspapers, TV, radio and online platforms, that deliver information to the public

  • Fifth estate - independent individuals who use the internet to share information, influence society and hold governments, businesses and the media to account

  • Journalist - a person who investigates, writes, or reports news for the public

Common misconception

The fifth estate replaces traditional media entirely.

The fifth estate doesn’t replace traditional media; it works alongside it, giving more people a voice online.


To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: The changing landscape of the media, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use current examples from blogs, social media, or independent news outlets to show the fifth estate in action.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), 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

5 Questions

Q1.
Which is an example of printed media?

Email
Correct answer: Newspaper
Instagram

Q2.
Many people now use media.

Correct Answer: social, Social

Q3.
What creates a digital footprint?

Thinking
Correct answer: Posting online
Silence

Q4.
How would you describe access to information today compared to the past?

More restricted
Correct answer: Easier
Slower

Q5.
Algorithms prioritise content that is:

Correct answer: Engaging
Difficult to read
Boring

Assessment exit quiz

5 Questions

Q1.
Match each keyword to its meaning:

Correct Answer:Media,communication like newspapers, TV, radio and online platforms

communication like newspapers, TV, radio and online platforms

Correct Answer:Fifth estate,independent individuals who use the internet to share information

independent individuals who use the internet to share information

Correct Answer:Journalist,a person who investigates, writes, or reports news for the public

a person who investigates, writes, or reports news for the public

Q2.
Journalists are described as the fourth ...

Correct Answer: estate, Estate

Q3.
Which is a core value of professional journalism?

Secrecy
Correct answer: Accuracy
Bias

Q4.
One risk of getting news from social media is:

Too few opinions
Too much regulation
Correct answer: Exposure to misinformation

Q5.
One advantage of the fifth estate is:

Slower reporting
Correct answer: Greater speed and variety
Strict regulation