Minds On
News reports
Let's explore a type of media used to report current events. Another word for this is the news. We can find news reports on television, radio/podcasts, websites, and newspapers.
Explore the following TVOK News segment. This news program is hosted by Daniel, who interviews different people to help explain a current event. As you explore the video, try to identify the current event that this episode describes.
Action
What’s in the news?
Can you guess how the news gets its name? Review the following explanation of how the news got its name. Determine which is the correct reason and which two are false:
- letters stand for North, East, West, and South
- letters stand for notable events, weather, and sports
- comes from the adjective new
Please press ‘News name’ to access how the news got its name.
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
If possible, work with a partner to brainstorm the different kinds of information and topics you might find in the news. For each topic, identify a target audience that might be interested in that type of news.
Complete the The News in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. You can also record your thoughts as an audio clip, or using a method of your choice:
| News topics | Target audience |
|---|---|
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the The News.
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
5Ws and 1H
The purpose of news reports is to inform people about a topic or event. To achieve this purpose, news reports often include specific types of information. An easy way to describe this information is the 5Ws and 1H. In other words, news reports often answer the questions:
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- When?
- Why?
- How?
Let’s explore another episode of the TVOK News show.
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
If possible, work with a partner to identify the 5Ws and 1H for Daniel’s news report. Then, discuss the following questions:
- Can you identify whose perspective is expressed in this new report?
- Does Daniel express his own opinions while giving the report?
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Perspectives in the news
Sometimes news reports contain a specific perspective. This might be the perspective of the reporter, or the perspective of the people that the report is about. We can also form opinions about the information presented in a news report. We can use our background knowledge and the information from the report to form our opinions.
Let’s explore another episode of TVOK News. In this episode, Daniel interviews employees at Hillcrest Mall and discusses their honeybee hives.
What do you think?
Consider the following questions:
- What is the topic (or purpose) of this news segment?
- What opinions and perspectives are expressed? Whose opinions were expressed?
- What is your opinion on this topic? Do you agree or disagree with the ideas in the report?
- Did your opinion change after exploring the report? How and why did it change?
Consolidation
My news report
Test Your Skills!
Test your skills
It's your turn to create a news report! Select a current event or topic that interests you. A current event is an event that is happening in the world right now. Perhaps you are interested in sports and you will develop a report on a sporting event.
To help develop your news report, consider the 5Ws and 1H. For example, if you are covering a current event:
- Why is the event happening?
- Who will go or participate?
- When will it take place?
- Where will it happen?
- What kind of event is it?
- What will happen during the event?
Next, consider the following questions. These will help you develop your news report.
- Who is the target audience for your news report? Who would be most interested in this event?
- What form of news report will you create? Will you create a video, a written article, or a radio/podcast?
- Will your news report include interviews, pictures, or video?
To help organize your news report, complete the News Report Plan in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. You can also use a method of your choice.
| Topic: | Form: | Target audience: |
|---|---|---|
|
5Ws Why: Who: What: When: Where: |
Content (interviews, pictures, video): |
|
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the News Report Plan.
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
If possible, share your news report plan with a partner. What have you learned about news reports? How did using the news report format help you to understand the event or topic?
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Reflection
As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel...
Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.