The Reading / Listening - TV News - Level 6

Young people in Great Britain are watching less and less news on television. This is according to Ofcom, a regulatory body that oversees broadcasting practices in the UK. This comes as no surprise as young people become increasingly addicted to their smartphones. Youth are opting for online distractions like YouTube videos, social media and games rather than switch on a TV and watch a news programme. Britain's Guardian newspaper reported that: "The youth of the nation are more likely to get their day's news about the world from social media or by reading graffiti in bus stations than seeing it on the telly, with the average 16-24-year-old watching just two minutes' worth of live TV news per day."

Ofcom commissioned research into the news-viewing habits of people around the country. The report is called "News Consumption in the UK: 2019". The research suggests that young people are increasingly using social media as their primary news source. Researchers wrote: "There is evidence that UK adults are consuming news more actively via social media." They reported an increase in posts and comments on Facebook and Twitter about the news compared to last year. Ofcom suggested presenting news stories in a less complicated, more accessible way to attract young people's attention. Some people suggested this would be "dumbing down content for young audiences".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    TV News - Level 4  or  TV News - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jul/24/young-people-uk-abandon-tv-news-almost-entirely-ofcom
  • https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/157914/uk-news-consumption-2019-report.pdf
  • https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2019/07/young-people-have-given-up-on-the-tv-news/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. TV NEWS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about TV news. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       young people / news / broadcasting / smartphones / youth / nation / graffiti / average
       research / habits / social media / news source / evidence / complicated / attention
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. TV: Students A strongly believe TV is a better source for news than social media; Students B strongly believe social media is the best source for news.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. NEWS SOURCES: What are the pros and cons of these news sources? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Pros

Cons

TV

 

 

Radio

 

 

Newspapers

 

 

Social media

 

 

Internet

 

 

Word of mouth

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. SMARTPHONE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "smartphone". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. NEWS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best news at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • celebrity
  • world
  • environment
  • fake
  • political
  • business
  • sports
  • local

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. according to a. Physically and mentally in great need of a particular substance or activity, and unable to stop taking it without having bad effects.
      2. regulatory b. A group of people with a common purpose or function acting as an organized unit.
      3. body c. Serving to control or check the workings of.
      4. oversees d. Writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illegally on a wall or other surface in a public place.
      5. addicted e. As stated by or in.
      6. youth f. Supervises a person or work, especially in an official capacity.
      7. graffiti g. Young people considered as a group.

    Paragraph 2

      8. commissioned h. Regular ways of doing things or behaving, especially ones that are hard to give up.
      9. habits i. Easily understood.
      10. consumption j. All of the spectators or listeners at a public event, such as a play, movie, concert, or meeting.
      11. primary k. The use of information or entertainment by many, many people.
      12. accessible l. Making something so simple it is no longer thought of as being intelligent.
      13. dumbing down m. Of chief importance; principal.
      14. audiences n. Gave an order for the production of something such as a building, piece of equipment, or work of art.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. A regulatory body said young people are watching less TV news.     T / F
  2. The article said it was a surprise that young people watch little TV news. T / F
  3. A newspaper said people get news by reading graffiti in bus stations.     T / F
  4. The article says young people watch 2 minutes of live news per day.     T / F
  5. The article said young people use the radio as a primary news source. T / F
  6. The article said young people are not using social media to get news.     T / F
  7. People are posting more about news on social media.     T / F
  8. Some people suggested making news stories more complicated.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. according to
  2. oversees
  3. increasingly
  4. distractions
  5. live
  6. commissioned
  7. primary
  8. evidence
  9. attract
  10. content
  1. main
  2. amusements
  3. subject matter
  4. inspects
  5. ordered
  6. proof
  7. as stated by
  8. win over
  9. not recorded
  10. ever more

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. This is according
  2. young people become increasingly
  3. online distractions
  4. reading graffiti
  5. two minutes' worth of
  6. research into the news-viewing
  7. young people are increasingly
  8. their primary news
  9. in a less complicated, more
  10. dumbing down content
  1. accessible way
  2. in bus stations
  3. using social media
  4. addicted
  5. source
  6. like YouTube
  7. to Ofcom
  8. for young audiences
  9. live TV news per day
  10. habits of people

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
less
addicted
graffiti
switch
worth
body
youth
opting

Young people in Great Britain are watching less and (1) ____________ news on television. This is according to Ofcom, a regulatory (2) ____________ that oversees broadcasting practices in the UK. This comes as no surprise as young people become increasingly (3) ____________ to their smartphones. Youth are (4) ____________ for online distractions like YouTube videos, social media and games rather than (5) ____________ on a TV and watch a news programme. Britain's Guardian newspaper reported that: "The (6) ____________ of the nation are more likely to get their day's news about the world from social media or by reading (7) ____________ in bus stations than seeing it on the telly, with the average 16-24-year-old watching just two minutes' (8) ____________ of live TV news per day."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
evidence
accessible
habits
dumbing
primary
attention
suggests
compared

Ofcom commissioned research into the news-viewing (9) ____________ of people around the country. The report is called "News Consumption in the UK: 2019". The research (10) ____________ that young people are increasingly using social media as their (11) ____________ news source. Researchers wrote: "There is (12) ____________ that UK adults are consuming news more actively via social media." They reported an increase in posts and comments on Facebook and Twitter about the news (13) ____________ to last year. Ofcom suggested presenting news stories in a less complicated, more (14) ____________ way to attract young people's (15) ____________. Some people suggested this would be "(16) ____________ down content for young audiences".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Young people in Great Britain are watching less ______
     a.  and less news
     b.  endless news
     c.  unless news
     d.  any less news
2)  This is according to Ofcom, a regulatory body that oversees ______
     a.  broad cast in practices
     b.  broad casting practices
     c.  broad cast tin practices
     d.  broadcasting practices
3)  This comes as no surprise as young people become ______
     a.  increasingly addictive
     b.  increasingly addict it
     c.  increasingly addicted to
     d.  increasingly addicted
4)  get their day's news about the world from social media or by ______
     a.  read in graffiti
     b.  reading graffiti
     c.  reed din graffiti
     d.  read ding graffiti
5)  with the average 16-24-year-old watching just two ______
     a.  minutes' worthy
     b.  minutes' worth
     c.  minutes' worthless
     d.  minutes' worthwhile

6)  young people are increasingly using social media as their ______ source
     a.  primarily news
     b.  prime airy news
     c.  prime marry news
     d.  primary news
7)  There is evidence that UK adults are consuming news ______
     a.  more act lively
     b.  more active
     c.  more actively
     d.  more activity
8) increase in posts and comments on Facebook and Twitter about the news ______ year
     a.  compared too last
     b.  compared to last
     c.  compared two last
     d.  compared tool last
9)  Ofcom suggested presenting news stories in a less complicated, ______
     a.  more accessibly way
     b.  more access able way
     c.  more ax access ball way
     d.  more accessible way
10)  Some people suggested this would be ______
     a.  dumbing down
     b.  dumping down
     c.  dumb in down
     d.  dumber down

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Young people in Great Britain are watching (1) ___________________ news on television. This is according to Ofcom, a regulatory body that oversees broadcasting practices in the UK. This comes (2) ___________________ as young people become increasingly addicted to their smartphones. Youth are opting (3) ___________________ like YouTube videos, social media and games rather than switch on a TV and watch a news programme. Britain's Guardian newspaper reported that: "The (4) ___________________ nation are more likely to get their day's news about the world from social media or (5) ___________________ in bus stations than seeing it on the telly, with the average 16-24-year-old watching just two minutes' (6) ___________________ TV news per day."

Ofcom commissioned research into the news-viewing (7) ___________________ around the country. The report is called "News Consumption in the UK: 2019". The research suggests that young people are increasingly using social media (8) ___________________ news source. Researchers wrote: "There is evidence that UK adults (9) ___________________ more actively via social media." They reported an increase in posts and comments on Facebook and Twitter about the news (10) ___________________ year. Ofcom suggested presenting news stories in a less complicated, more accessible (11) ___________________ young people's attention. Some people suggested this would be "(12) ___________________ for young audiences".

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the regulatory body Ofcom oversee?
  2. What are young people becoming ever more addicted to?
  3. What did the article call things like YouTube and videos?
  4. What might people read in bus stations to get news?
  5. On average, how much live TV news do young British people watch daily?
  6. What did Ofcom commission research into?
  7. What did Ofcom find was the primary source of news for young people?
  8. What are people posting more comments about on Facebook?
  9. Why did Ofcom suggest making news less complicated?
  10. What did some people call making news less complicated was?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What does the regulatory body Ofcom oversee?
a) TV news presenters
b) broadcasting practices in the UK
c) media bias
d) complaints about news stations
2)  What are young people becoming ever more addicted to?
a) the 20th century
b) news
c) alcohol
d) their smartphones
3) What did the article call things like YouTube and videos?
a) online distractions
b) rubbish
c) eye candy
d) harmful
4) What might people read in bus stations to get news?
a) TVs
b) newspapers
c) graffiti
d) computer terminals
5) On average, how much live TV news do young British people watch?
a) 30 minutes a day
b) 2 minutes a day
c) three hours a week
d) an hour a day

6) What did Ofcom commission research into?
a) news-viewing habits
b) media bias
c) news content
d) smartphone use
7) What did Ofcom find was the primary source of news for young people?
a) radio
b) TV
c) social media
d) newspapers
8) What are people posting more comments about on Facebook?
a) news
b) cats
c) food
d) the weather
9) Why did Ofcom suggest making news less complicated?
a) to attract young people
b) to make it happier
c) for advertising
d) people's brains are shrinking
10) What did some people call making news less complicated was?
a) media bias
b) a great idea
c) fake news
d) dumbing down content

Role play

Role  A – Celebrity News
You think celebrity news is the best news category. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their category isn't as interesting. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): business news, local news or political news.

Role  B – Business News
You think business news is the best news category. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their category isn't as interesting. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): celebrity news, local news or political news.

Role  C – Local News
You think local news is the best news category. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their category isn't as interesting. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): business news, celebrity news or political news.

Role  D – Political News
You think political news is the best news category. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their category isn't as interesting. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): business news, local news or celebrity news.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'TV'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'news'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • research
    • social media
    • evidence
    • source
    • last year
    • dumbing down
    • young people
    • news
    • television
    • addicted
    • nation
    • graffiti

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Young people are not watching TV news

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'television'?
    3. How important is the news to you?
    4. What is the best source of news?
    5. Why are young people watching less TV news?
    6. Which is better for news - the radio or newspapers?
    7. Why are people so addicted to their smartphones?
    8. How good is YouTube at providing news?
    9. What do you think of getting news from bus station graffiti?
    10. How much news should we watch each day?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'news'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Where do you get your news from?
    5. Is TV the best place to get news?
    6. What do you think of the news recently?
    7. Is social media changing the way we consume news?
    8. Would it bother you never to watch any news?
    9. Should TV 'dumb down' the news to attract younger people?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Young people in Great Britain are watching less and (1) ____ news on television. This is according to Ofcom, a regulatory (2) ____ that oversees broadcasting practices in the UK. This comes as no surprise as young people become increasingly addicted to their smartphones. Youth are (3) ____ for online distractions like YouTube videos, social media and games rather than switch on a TV and watch a news programme. Britain's Guardian newspaper reported that: "The youth of the nation are more (4) ____ to get their day's news about the world from social media or by reading graffiti in bus stations than seeing it on the telly, (5) ____ the average 16-24-year-old watching just two minutes' (6) ____ of live TV news per day."

    Ofcom commissioned research into the news-viewing (7) ____ of people around the country. The report is called "News Consumption in the UK: 2019". The research suggests that young people are increasingly using social media (8) ____ their primary news source. Researchers wrote: "There is evidence that UK adults are (9) ____ news more actively via social media." They reported an increase in posts and comments on Facebook and Twitter about the news compared to (10) ____ year. Ofcom suggested presenting news stories in a less complicated, more accessible way to (11) ____ young people's attention. Some people suggested this would be "(12) ____ down content for young audiences".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     lessen     (b)     lesser     (c)     less     (d)     lessee    
    2. (a)     body     (b)     chest     (c)     leg     (d)     head    
    3. (a)     opting     (b)     arching     (c)     airing     (d)     ailing    
    4. (a)     likely     (b)     likelihood     (c)     liked     (d)     liking    
    5. (a)     by     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     with    
    6. (a)     worsen     (b)     worse     (c)     worthy     (d)     worth    
    7. (a)     habits     (b)     chores     (c)     robes     (d)     dates    
    8. (a)     to     (b)     up     (c)     at     (d)     as    
    9. (a)     consuming     (b)     resuming     (c)     subsuming     (d)     assuming    
    10. (a)     before     (b)     last     (c)     previous     (d)     next    
    11. (a)     magnet     (b)     attract     (c)     repel     (d)     pull    
    12. (a)     dumbing     (b)     dumping     (c)     damping     (d)     damning

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. This is dcconriag to Ofcom
    2. a urloryaegt body
    3. increasingly ceddtdia to their smartphones
    4. opting for online ioatsirtsdnc
    5. reading rftafigi in bus stations
    6. the vgearea 16-24-year-old

    Paragraph 2

    1. Ofcom omeomcsdinsi research
    2. their mipyrra news source
    3. nognmcius news more actively
    4. less camlictedop
    5. this would be udmnbig down content
    6. for young seenduaci

    Put the text back together

    (...)  actively via social media."  They reported an increase in posts and comments on Facebook and Twitter about the news
    (...)  body that oversees broadcasting practices in the UK. This comes as no surprise as young
    (...)  their primary news source. Researchers wrote: "There is evidence that UK adults are consuming news more
    (...)  complicated, more accessible way to attract young people's attention. Some people
    (...)  compared to last year. Ofcom suggested presenting news stories in a less
    (...)  Ofcom commissioned research into the news-viewing habits of people around the country. The report is
    (...)  people become increasingly addicted to their smartphones. Youth are opting for online
    (...)  suggested this would be "dumbing down content for young audiences".
    (...)  distractions like YouTube videos, social media and games rather than switch on a TV and watch a
    (...)  it on the telly, with the average 16-24-year-old watching just two minutes' worth of live TV news per day."
    (..1 .) Young people in Great Britain are watching less and less news on television. This is according to Ofcom, a regulatory
    (...)  to get their day's news about the world from social media or by reading graffiti in bus stations than seeing
    (...)  news programme. Britain's Guardian newspaper reported that: "The youth of the nation are more likely
    (...)  called "News Consumption in the UK: 2019". The research suggests that young people are increasingly using social media as

    Put the words in the right order

    1. oversees   that   body   broadcasting   A   practices   .   regulatory
    2. people   .   This   no   young   surprise   as   comes   as
    3. news   .   watch   the   TV   a   Switch   on   and
    4. their   world   .   the   about   news   day's   Get
    5. live   just   of   news   .   Watching   minutes'   two   worth
    6. of   the   country   .   The   news-viewing   people   habits   around
    7. news   source   .   primary   as   their   social   Using   media
    8. are   adults   actively   .   consuming   UK   more   news
    9. to   more   way   attract   people's   accessible   young   A   attention   .
    10. audiences   content   young   for   is   down   This   dumbing   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Young people in Great Britain are watching less and less / lesser news on television. This is according to Ofcom, a regulatory bodily / body that oversees broadcasting practices in the UK. This comes as not / no surprise as young people become increasingly addicted / addiction to their smartphones. Youth are opting / option for online distractions like YouTube videos, social media and games lather / rather than switch on a TV and watched / watch a news programme. Britain's Guardian newspaper reported that: "The youth of the nation are more likely / liked to get their day's news about the world from social media or by reading graffiti in bus stations than seeing it on the belly / telly, with the average 16-24-year-old watching just two minutes' worth / worthy of live TV news per day."

    Ofcom commissioned research onto / into the news-viewing habits of people around the country. The report is called "News Consumption in the UK: 2019". The research suggestive / suggests that young people are increasingly useful / using social media as their primarily / primary news source. Researchers wrote: "There is evidence that / what UK adults are consuming news more actively via social media."  They reported an increase in pastes / posts and comments on Facebook and Twitter about the news compared to last / next year. Ofcom suggested presenting news stories in a less complicated, more access / accessible way to attract young people's attention. Some people suggested this would be "dumbing / dumping down content for young audience / audiences".

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Y__ n g p__ p l_ _n G r__ t B r_t__ n _r_ w_t c h_n g l_s s _n d l_s s n_w s _n t_l_v_s__ n . T h_s _s _c c_r d_n g t_ O f c_m , _ r_g_l_t_r y b_d y t h_t _v_r s__ s b r__ d c_s t_n g p r_c t_c_s _n t h_ U K . T h_s c_m_s _s n_ s_r p r_s_ _s y__ n g p__ p l_ b_c_m_ _n c r__ s_n g l y _d d_c t_d t_ t h__ r s m_r t p h_n_s . Y__ t h _r_ _p t_n g f_r _n l_n_ d_s t r_c t__ n s l_k_ Y__ T_b_ v_d__ s , s_c__ l m_d__ _n d g_m_s r_t h_r t h_n s w_t c h _n _ T V _n d w_t c h _ n_w s p r_g r_m m_. B r_t__ n ' s G__ r d__ n n_w s p_p_r r_p_r t_d t h_t : " T h_ y__ t h _f t h_ n_t__ n _r_ m_r_ l_k_l y t_ g_t t h__ r d_y ' s n_w s _b__ t t h_ w_r l d f r_m s_c__ l m_d__ _r b y r__ d_n g g r_f f_t_ _n b_s s t_t__ n s t h_n s___n g _t _n t h_ t_l l y , w_t h t h_ _v_r_g_ 1 6 - 2 4 - y__ r -_l d w_t c h_n g j_s t t w_ m_n_t_s ' w_r t h _f l_v_ T V n_w s p_r d_y . "

    O f c_m c_m m_s s__ n_d r_s__ r c h _n t_ t h_ n_w s - v__ w_n g h_b_t s _f p__ p l_ _r__ n d t h_ c__ n t r y . T h_ r_p_r t _s c_l l_d " N_w s C_n s_m p t__ n _n t h_ U K : 2 0 1 9 " . T h_ r_s__ r c h s_g g_s t s t h_t y__ n g p__ p l_ _r_ _n c r__ s_n g l y _s_n g s_c__ l m_d__ _s t h__ r p r_m_r y n_w s s__ r c_. R_s__ r c h_r s w r_t_: " T h_r_ _s _v_d_n c_ t h_t U K _d_l t s _r_ c_n s_m_n g n_w s m_r_ _c t_v_l y v__ s_c__ l m_d__ . " T h_y r_p_r t_d _n _n c r__ s_ _n p_s t s _n d c_m m_n t s _n F_c_b__ k _n d T w_t t_r _b__ t t h_ n_w s c_m p_r_d t_ l_s t y__ r . O f c_m s_g g_s t_d p r_s_n t_n g n_w s s t_r__ s _n _ l_s s c_m p l_c_t_d , m_r_ _c c_s s_b l_ w_y t_ _t t r_c t y__ n g p__ p l_' s _t t_n t__ n . S_m_ p__ p l_ s_g g_s t_d t h_s w__ l d b_ " d_m b_n g d_w n c_n t_n t f_r y__ n g __ d__ n c_s " .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    young people in great britain are watching less and less news on television this is according to ofcom a regulatory body that oversees broadcasting practices in the uk this comes as no surprise as young people become increasingly addicted to their smartphones youth are opting for online distractions like youtube videos social media and games rather than switch on a tv and watch a news programme britains guardian newspaper reported that the youth of the nation are more likely to get their days news about the world from social media or by reading graffiti in bus stations than seeing it on the telly with the average 1624yearold watching just two minutes worth of live tv news per day

    ofcom commissioned research into the newsviewing habits of people around the country the report is called news consumption in the uk 2019 the research suggests that young people are increasingly using social media as their primary news source researchers wrote there is evidence that uk adults are consuming news more actively via social media  they reported an increase in posts and comments on facebook and twitter about the news compared to last year ofcom suggested presenting news stories in a less complicated more accessible way to attract young peoples attention some people suggested this would be dumbing down content for young audiences.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    YoungpeopleinGreatBritainarewatchinglessandlessnewsontelevisio
    n.ThisisaccordingtoOfcom,aregulatorybodythatoverseesbroadcasti
    ngpracticesintheUK.Thiscomesasnosurpriseasyoungpeoplebecomei
    ncreasinglyaddictedtotheirsmartphones.Youthareoptingforonlinedi
    stractionslikeYouTubevideos,socialmediaandgamesratherthanswitc
    honaTVandwatchanewsprogramme.Britain'sGuardiannewspaperre
    portedthat:"Theyouthofthenationaremorelikelytogettheirday'snew
    sabouttheworldfromsocialmediaorbyreadinggraffitiinbusstationsth
    anseeingitonthetelly,withtheaverage16-24-year-oldwatchingjust
    twominutes'worthofliveTVnewsperday."Ofcomcommissionedresear
    chintothenews-viewinghabitsofpeoplearoundthecountry.Therepo
    rtiscalled"NewsConsumptionintheUK:2019".Theresearchsuggestst
    hatyoungpeopleareincreasinglyusingsocialmediaastheirprimaryne
    wssource.Researcherswrote:"ThereisevidencethatUKadultsarecons
    umingnewsmoreactivelyviasocialmedia."Theyreportedanincreasein
    postsandcommentsonFacebookandTwitteraboutthenewscompared
    tolastyear.Ofcomsuggestedpresentingnewsstoriesinalesscomplicat
    ed,moreaccessiblewaytoattractyoungpeople'sattention.Somepeopl
    esuggestedthiswouldbe"dumbingdowncontentforyoungaudiences".

    Free writing

    Write about TV news for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Watching news in the TV is better than watching news on smartphones. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. TV NEWS: Make a poster about TV news. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SCHOOL NEWS: Write a magazine article about TV news being part of the school curriculum. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on TV news. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can get more young people interested in TV news. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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