Active learning ideas
Online News and Social Media examines the radical shift from traditional 'top-down' news to a participatory culture. Students explore how social media platforms have become the primary news source for many, leading to the rise of 'citizen journalism' where ordinary people record and share events. They evaluate the benefits of this (speed, diverse voices) against the risks (lack of verification, 'fake news').
Activity 01
Groups are given three 'breaking' news stories from social media. They must use digital tools (reverse image search, checking sources) to determine which is real, which is 'misinformation', and which is 'satire', then present their evidence.
How has social media changed the way audiences consume news?
Activity 02
Students spend two minutes scrolling their preferred news feed. They pair up to compare what stories they were shown and discuss why the algorithm chose those specific topics for them, identifying their own 'filter bubble'.
What is citizen journalism and why is it important?
Activity 03
Conduct a debate on the motion: 'Citizen journalism is more valuable than professional journalism in the 21st century.' Students must consider issues of ethics, speed, bias, and the 'democratization' of news.
How can audiences identify fake news and misinformation?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
If a story has thousands of likes/shares, it must be true.
Virality is not the same as veracity. Through 'fact-checking' activities, students learn that emotional or controversial content is designed to spread quickly, regardless of its truthfulness.
Social media is 'free'.
Audiences 'pay' with their data and their attention. By investigating how platforms monetize 'engagement', students realize that they are the product being sold to advertisers.
Methods used in this brief
The Press and Newspaper Front Pages
Students compare tabloid and broadsheet newspapers, analysing news values and political bias. They will deconstruct front pages to see how stories are framed.
8 methodologies
Vloggers and Influencer Culture
Pupils study the phenomenon of vloggers and influencers, looking at how they monetise content and build parasocial relationships with audiences.
8 methodologies