What is 'the media'?
When people talk about the mediaThe tools for presenting, sharing and finding out information or data., they are referring to different ways of communicating information to a large number of people.
Watch - Explore the media and fake news
There are many different media types, such as newspapers and television that share information.
The information we receive can be misleading though. It's sometimes known as fake news.
When we read something, it can be up to us to use our detective skills to find out what's fake and what isn't.
How does the media present information?
The media communicates information to people all around the world. This is known as mass mediaDifferent types of media technologies that are used to reach a large audience..
We can find out information through three main types of media:
- Print media - information which has been printed, such as newspapers and magazines
- Broadcast media - content distributed through television or radio
- Online media - information presented on websites, social media and apps.
Did you know?
The 成人快手 launched its first television news programme in 1954.
This meant that people could see pictures of events happening around the world in their own homes for the first time.
How can we use the media?
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What is fake news?
Fake news is false or misleading information presented as real news.
Fake news could be in the form of fake headlines or misleading stories and information.
This can be a problem as it can lead to misinformation Misleading information that can trick people into believing something that is not true..
Sharing fake news can lead to problems such as poor communication, people trusting the news less or believing things that are not true.
How can we spot fake news?
How do we know that the information we pass on to other people is trustworthy?
In order to spot fake news, there are a few things you can check:
- Who wrote it? Perhaps it's an organisation you've not heard of before.
- When was it written?
- What is the article saying? Does some of the language seem strange?
- Are words spelt correctly?
- Are there any 'facts' that can't be found or proven somewhere else?
- Where did you find the article? Does website looks trustworthy?
- Why was it written? Could the writer want you to think in a particular way?
It is always a good idea to check anything before you share it with others.
What is free press?
In the UK, we have the right to a free pressThe media can express ideas or opinions without the government punishing the author..
This means that people who report the news are allowed to do their jobs without the government interfering or punishing them for what they report.
Free press is important because:
- it circulates information to everyone and allows discussion of important issues, including government decisions.
- by providing information on what the government is doing, people can be better informed when they vote for who they want to run the country.
Activities
Create a 'how-to' poster
Create a poster that gives them a guide on how to find information that's reliable.
Try to include the following in your poster:
- What some of the different media types are that can provide information
- What fake news is
- Why fake news is a problem
- Some top tips on spotting fake news
Quiz
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Play fun and educational primary games in science, maths, English, history, geography, art, computing and modern languages.
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