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

Answer: News selection refers to the process by which media outlets decide which events or stories to report and how to present them to the public.

Question 2: Name two factors that might influence a news organization's decision to report a particular story.

Answer: Factors could include the interests of the target audience and the ownership or political bias of the media outlet.

Question 3: Describe how the ownership of a media company might affect the news stories they choose to publish.

Answer: Ownership can influence news selection by promoting stories that align with the owners' political views or business interests, leading to biased reporting or censorship of certain topics.

Question 4: Think of a recent news story you have heard. List three factors that might have affected whether it was reported or not.

Answer: Possible factors include the story's relevance to the audience, the potential impact on the media company's reputation, and whether it aligns with the company's political stance.

Question 5: Discuss why some stories might be ignored or downplayed by the media.

Answer: Stories might be ignored if they do not fit the media outlet's agenda, could cause controversy, or if they are not deemed to be of interest to the target audience.

Question 6: Draw a simple diagram to show the process of news selection, including the initial event, editorial decisions, and final news report.

Answer: A flowchart starting with 'Event occurs', leading to 'Media organization decides to report', then 'Editorial decision-making', and finally 'News report published'.

Question 7: Sketch a diagram of a news organization’s decision-making process when choosing stories to publish. Label the key steps.

Answer: A large blank space where students sketch stages such as 'Event identification', 'Editorial review', 'Audience consideration', and 'Publication decision'. Each step should be connected with arrows.

Question 8: Explain how media bias can influence which stories are selected for reporting.

Answer: Media bias can lead to favoring certain perspectives, which influences story selection by highlighting stories that support that bias and ignoring those that don't.

Question 9: Why might two different media outlets report the same event in very different ways?

Answer: Different outlets may have different audiences, ownership biases, or political stances, leading them to select different aspects of the story and present it in varying ways.

Question 10: Reflect on how social media has changed the process of news selection compared to traditional media.

Answer: Social media allows individuals to share news directly, leading to a more diverse range of stories. It also speeds up the reporting process and can influence mainstream media to cover stories trending online.