Starter task: Homework review
> What did you find out when you compared the same story in two different newspapers? > Was there a difference in the way the stories were told? > Do you think there was evidence of bias? Stretch & Challenge: Why do different newspapers report the same story differently? |
lesson 6 - Legal, decent, honest & truthful? |
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Class read and discussion
> Please read the article about harassment of celebrities by the media as a class (click image to left for link to article). > What do you believe should be done in situations like this? Stretch & Challenge: How does this effect people human rights? |
Sometimes its a question of invading people privacy, as discussed in the previous article. However at other times the media gets its facts wrong! When this happens, a paper or television channel can find its self in court facing a charge of libel or slander.
Laws prevent anyone from making a public statement about people that are not true. Just like anyone else the media has to obey the law. There is a press code to guide media companies, however often with sensational stories the temptation is too great and they find themselves in front of the press complainants commission. |
Key terms
Libel, writing incorrect things about people Slander, saying incorrect things about people Press Code, guidelines for the media and journalists about the information they gather and how they obtain and use it |
Popular or quality?
People buy four times more popular papers (often referred to as tabloid papers) than quality papers(often referred to as broad sheet papers). Quality press tends to take a serious view of the world and its headlines reflect this, although that is not to say there is no bias in its reporting. Popular papers focus more on gossip, often have a clear bias and are famous for their sensational headlines focusing on football, sex and money. Class questions for discussion: Can you identify which of the following papers are quality and which are popular? Answers at bottom of webpage. Stretch & Challenge: What do you think is the result of four times more people reading popular rather than quality news papers? |
Information & persuasion
Do you switch off when someone is saying something you don't agree with? Would you change the channel if you were hearing a message that contradicted your own views? People often buy newspapers and watch TV channels that agree with their point of view. They don't even listen to the other side of the story. Whenever people have to come to a decision, they need to listen to the points of view of a variety of people what are involved. These people are known as the stakeholders. |
Individual question
Can you name three stakeholders for the following organisation: A - Your school B - The local Council C - The Local newspaper Stretch & Challenge: Do you think these organisations take account for the views of all stakeholders? |
Key term: Stakeholder, someone who has an interest in a decision that is being made.
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Homework - Due lesson 7
Please complete examination questions. Click button for sheet. |
Answers to newspaper question:
Quality = Independent, financial times
Popular = Sun, Mirror, Daily Mail (a non-red top tabloid), News of the World (Former sister paper of the Sun, closed down due to poor behaviour of owners and journalists)
Quality = Independent, financial times
Popular = Sun, Mirror, Daily Mail (a non-red top tabloid), News of the World (Former sister paper of the Sun, closed down due to poor behaviour of owners and journalists)