Question 1: Explain in your own words what is meant by 'news selection' in the context of media.

Answer: News selection refers to the process by which media outlets choose which events or stories to report on, often influenced by factors like audience interest, importance, or bias.

Question 2: List three factors that might influence which news stories are reported by a newspaper or TV channel.

Answer: 1. Audience interest, 2. Political bias, 3. Availability of information or access to sources.

Question 3: Describe how a media outlet’s ownership could affect the news stories they choose to cover.

Answer: Ownership can influence news selection because owners may have specific political or economic interests, leading them to promote certain stories that align with their views or profits.

Question 4: Imagine a news story about a protest. List two reasons why a media outlet might choose to cover or ignore this story.

Answer: Cover: The protest is large and newsworthy, or aligns with the outlet’s values. Ignore: The protest is small or inconvenient to cover, or conflicting with the outlet’s bias.

Question 5: Discuss one way in which the choice of language used in news reports can influence public perception of an event.

Answer: Language can shape perception by emphasizing certain aspects or using emotional words, making an event seem more positive or negative than it actually is.

Question 6: Draw a simple sketch of a newspaper front page layout, including where headlines, images, and text might be placed. Use the space below.

Answer: [Teacher notes: A proper sketch would show a large headline at the top, a prominent image below or beside the headline, and columns of text beneath or around the image. The layout should be clear and organized.]

Question 7: Identify and explain one potential bias that can occur in news reporting.

Answer: One potential bias is political bias, where news reports favor one political viewpoint over others, influencing how events are portrayed.

Question 8: Give an example of how social media can influence which news stories become popular or viral.

Answer: Social media allows users to share stories quickly, and algorithms may promote stories that get more engagement, making them more widely seen and influencing their popularity.

Question 9: Explain why some news stories might be deliberately left out or underreported by certain media outlets.

Answer: Stories might be left out to avoid upsetting certain audiences, to protect political or economic interests, or because they do not align with the outlet’s agenda.

Question 10: Reflect on how the process of news selection can impact public understanding of important social issues.

Answer: Selective reporting can lead the public to have a biased or incomplete view of social issues, possibly ignoring important aspects or perspectives and influencing opinions unfairly.