Burnet News Club 2020-2021 | Issue 4

1. The media can shape a story
because people make
decisions based on the news
they see, read or hear.
Has the news ever
made you do
something
differently?
Why is it important
for the media to
use this power
carefully?
For example, if a
newspaper reports
that a certain product
is healthy then lots
of people might go
out and buy it.
Or if a news channel
reports that a popstar
has done something
bad then people might
stop going to their
concerts.

2. How might these headlines shape the story? For example, would it
make people think or behave differently? In a good way or a bad way?
SHAPING THE STORY
Is it ever possible for the media to not shape a news story?
LOCKDOWN
CONTINUES
DESPITE VACCINES
ALL ADULTS TO BE
VACCINATED
BY AUTUMN

3. BIGGEST IMPACT
SMALLEST IMPACT
Which of the story
shaper examples
might have the
biggest impact on
the covid-19 story?
Order them from “smallest
impact” to “biggest impact”.
Can you convince someone else to
agree with your decision?

4. “Has the media made the covid-19
situation better or worse?”
What do these numbers show? What might people’s reasons be for each answer?
Made better
Made worse
Neither made
better nor worse
Don’t know 12%
35%
46%
7%

5. In a survey, 31% of people said that by December 2020,
they were trying to avoid news about covid-19.
THERE’S TOO MUCH TO
CATCH UP ON
I’M CONFUSED
IT’S ALL BAD NEWS
I KNOW ENOUGH
I DON’T TRUST THE NEWS
ANYMORE
PARTNER A
Pretend to be
someone who is
avoiding the news.
Choose one of these
reasons and explain
your situation.
PARTNER B
Give advice about how
Partner A could get
better at navigating the
news. Try to tailor your
advice to their situation.
Then…SWAP ROLES