NATIVEUK.COM LESSONS
May 3rd • Media & Ethics
World Press Freedom Day
A global day to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. In an era of fake news and digital censorship, the role of a free and independent press has never been more critical.
Speaking Discussion
- What does "freedom of the press" mean to you personally?
- Can a news organisation ever be truly objective, or is some level of bias inevitable?
- How has social media changed the way we consume news? Is it for the better or the worse?
- "Fake news is more dangerous than no news at all." To what extent do you agree?
- Should governments have the power to shut down news websites that they consider "harmful"?
- Why are journalists often targets in conflict zones? What can be done to protect them?
Activity 1: The Editor's Dilemma
The Task: You are the editor of a major newspaper. You have a story that could expose a high-level government scandal, but publishing it could put your reporters at risk.
Debate with your partner: Should you publish the story immediately, or wait and gather more evidence? Consider the "public's right to know" vs. "safety."
Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences
Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.
- "The first thing I check when I read a news headline is..."
- "If I were a journalist, the story I would most want to cover is..."
- "A world without independent news would look like..."