The Media

Question 1

What types of media are there

Answer 1

Newspapers, television, radio, Internet, adverts and magazines

Question 2

How has the media changed

Answer 2

It has become big business. Hundred years ago people only had newspapers to tell them what was going on and many people couldn’t read.

Question 3

What media is the most popular

Answer 3

The newer changes. When radio was introduced whole families gathered around it to get information. When televisions were invented fewer people listened to the radio. Now the Internet is more common in homes television is declining

Question 4

What is censorship

Answer 4

Limiting the information given to the general public

Question 5

What is the press

Answer 5

Newspapers

Question 6

Is the press always fair

Answer 6

No. Sometimes the press pester people to get a story e.g. The royal family and celebrities

Question 7

Who can people complain to about the press

Answer 7

The Press Complaints Commission

Question 8

What is a journalist

Answer 8

A person who gathers news and produces reports for the media

Question 9

What is the press code

Answer 9

Newspapers…
Must respect peoples private and family life
Mustn’t published inaccurate, misleading or distorted information or pictures
Must avoid prejudice
Must not identify victims of sexual assault
Must not intrude on grief and shock

Question 10

What happens if the media tells incorrect stories or breaks rules

Answer 10

The newspaper/TV station can find itself in court charged with libel or slander. Sometimes the newspaper/TV station has got to pay compensation and/or apologise

Question 11

What is libel

Answer 11

Writing incorrect things about people

Question 12

What is slander

Answer 12

Saying incorrect things about people

Question 13

What types of newspaper are there

Answer 13

Broadsheets and tabloids

Question 14

What’s the difference between broadsheets and tabloids

Answer 14

Tabloids:
Have a lot of pictures
Use sensational language
Focus on gossip about famous people’s lives
Have a big headlines
Don’t always report news regarding world events e.g. The sun

Broadsheets:
Focus on more serious stories and world events 
Don't use big headlines
Use more facts in stories
Are large in size e.g. The Guardian

Question 15

What are the best selling newspapers

Answer 15

People buy four times as many tabloid papers as broadsheets

Question 16

What is media

Answer 16

Ways of communicating with a large group of people

Question 17

Where does power lie in the media

Answer 17

Newspapers and television channels are owned by companies. These companies want to make a profit

Question 18

Are newspapers and TV companies neutral

Answer 18

No, they are biased

Question 19

What does bias mean

Answer 19

It means to favour one point of view over another unfairly

Question 20

How do newspapers and television programmes show bias

Answer 20

They choose which stories they want to report on
They appoint editors who agree with their views
They put their own point of view across when describing the story
They tried to make the readers/listeners hear and see what they want them to
They criticise their opponents

Question 21

Are newspapers political

Answer 21

Yes. Newspapers are linked to the views of a political party and often presents stories to make the party they support look good

Question 22

Which newspapers support which party

Answer 22

The Guardian and the Mirror support labour

The Daily Mail and the daily Telegraph supports Conservative

Question 23

What can the media do

Answer 23

Influence opinions
Get peoples voices heard
Entertain people
Teach people
Spread news
Help raise money for charity
Persuade people
Give people information about who to vote for
Lets people have their say

Question 24

Can the Internet be controlled

Answer 24

It’s very hard to prevent people from putting things up in the web, as it’s hard to track down where the information comes from

Question 25

Can people download anything they like

Answer 25

No. You will be in trouble if you download any information that breaks the law of the country where you live. All laws about what can and can’t be published in other media apply to the Internet

Question 26

How can the Internet help citizens

Answer 26

Citizens need to be informed in order for them to participate.
The Internet allows a wide range of information that’s easily and quickly accessible
Political parties have websites
Newspapers have websites
Information can be found from a wide range of sources
The Internet is updated all the time
There are lots of opportunities to discuss issues
In countries where information isn’t free, the Internet can help people to know what is going on in the rest of the world

Question 27

What’s the Internet like in countries with information isn’t free

Answer 27

In China the government works hard to control access to the Internet to stop all the websites must register with the government, and are issued with a license if the material is acceptable. The government controls access to the Internet and they are strict rules about religious and political information. There are harsh rules for anyone who break the rules

Question 28

Are websites bias

Answer 28

Yes, some are. Websites are like any other form of media. The person giving the information wants you to agree with their views

Question 29

How does the media influence people

Answer 29

Through persuasion.

Question 30

What would happen if local newspapers did anything the council wanted them to

Answer 30

This would be unfair and democratic. As citizens we have got a right to complain to the council, as they are representing us. If the media only printed one side people would make decisions without knowing the full facts. People should have the right to use the media as a way of challenging the local councils decisions. The media has got a duty to publish accurate stories

Question 31

What are opinion polls

Answer 31

They are when a sample of the population is asked a question to build a picture of the views of the public on an issue.

Question 32

What are the problems with opinion polls

Answer 32

They might be biased. You have to be aware of who has been asked the question, it’s important that a wide range of the public is asked