Breaking News English Lesson: Press Freedom

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Press freedom at lowest level in 25 years (4th May 2026)

The Reading / Listening - Press Freedom - Level 6

Press freedom is at its lowest level in 25 years. This is according to a report from the organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF). It has released its annual World Press Freedom Index, which assesses the degree to which the media in 180 countries is free to operate. RSF said press freedom was "problematic" or worse in three quarters of the nations assessed. In over half of the world, conditions were "difficult" to "very serious". In 2013, fewer than a third of countries were given this classification. Press freedom was considered "problematic" in over 70 per cent of countries. The RSF said conditions were "good" in only seven countries. These were all in northern and western Europe.

The RSF report highlights growing authoritarian pressure on journalists. It wrote: "Political pressure on the press is intensifying, authoritarian tendencies are growing, and the media market is heavily weakened.…The Index's analysis highlights an alarming deterioration in the conditions for journalism in many parts of the world." The Index describes a worrying trend across the globe. It says there was a "systematic policy" of attacks on journalists in the USA. It said that in Russia, "laws designed to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism" were used to "restrict press freedom". RSF said "67 media professionals killed in the past year were victims of war or criminal networks".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Press Freedom - Level 4 or Press Freedom - Level 5

Sources

https://www.dw.com/en/world-press-freedom-hits-new-low-as-authoritarianism-rises/a-76948348
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/apr/30/press-freedom-world-index-lowest-level-25-years
https://rsf.org/en/2025-deadly-year-journalists-where-hate-and-impunity-lead

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. PRESS FREEDOM: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about press freedom. 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?
press freedom / organization / reporters / borders / media / countries / Europe /
authoritarian / pressure / journalism / the globe / terrorism / extremism / war
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BOYCOTT: Students A strongly believe we should boycott countries that have poor press freedoms; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. MEDIA SOURCES: What do you know about these media outlets? What do you think of them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Know	What I Think
BBC
Aljazeera
CNN
Reuters
TIME
Google News

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. JOURNALIST: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "journalist". 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 most interesting news at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

World politics
National politics
Sport
Business
Technology
Motoring
Entertainment
Local news

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	released	a.	Happening once every year.
2.	annual	b.	The level or amount of something.
3.	index	c.	Looks at something carefully to decide or judge it.
4.	assesses	d.	A list or number that shows information in an organized way.
5.	degree	e.	Made available for people to see or use.
6.	classification	f.	Believed to be.
7.	considered	g.	The act of putting things into groups.

Paragraph 2

8.	authoritarian	h.	The idea of wanting to break away from a larger group or country.
9.	intensifying	i.	Having strict control and expecting people to obey.
10.	tendencies	j.	To fight against something.
11.	deterioration	k.	Very strong beliefs that are far from normal and can be dangerous.
12.	combat	l.	Ways someone or something usually behaves.
13.	separatism	m.	The process of becoming worse.
14.	extremism	n.	Becoming stronger or more serious.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says press freedom has never been lower. T / F
Reporters Without Borders looked at press freedom in 180 countries. T / F
Conditions for journalists were very serious in 75% of countries. T / F
There were only seven countries in which conditions were "good". T / F
There is increasing authoritarian pressure on reporters. T / F
Reporters Without Borders said the press is pressuring politicians. T / F
Reporters Without Borders said Russia has new laws to protect reporters. T / F
A report said 167 reporters were killed in wars in 2025. T / F

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

according to
annual
assesses
serious
problematic
authoritarian
deterioration
combat
restrict
victims

troublesome
grave
casualties
yearly
worsening
limit
as stated by
dictatorial
fight
evaluates

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

It has released its annual
the degree to which the media
in three quarters of
a third of countries were given
These were all in northern
growing authoritarian
authoritarian tendencies
an alarming deterioration in
a worrying trend across
combat terrorism,

are growing
the nations assessed
and western Europe
pressure on journalists
the globe
in 180 countries is free
separatism and extremism
this classification
the conditions
World Press Freedom Index

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

worse
according
operate
classification
media
conditions
annual
fewer

Press freedom is at its lowest level in 25 years. This is (1) _________________________________ to a report from the organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF). It has released its (2) _________________________________ World Press Freedom Index, which assesses the degree to which the (3) _________________________________ in 180 countries is free to (4) _________________________________. RSF said press freedom was "problematic" or (5) _________________________________ in three quarters of the nations assessed. In over half of the world, conditions were "difficult" to "very serious". In 2013, (6) _________________________________ than a third of countries were given this (7) _________________________________. Press freedom was considered "problematic" in over 70 per cent of countries. The RSF said (8) _________________________________ were "good" in only seven countries. These were all in northern and western Europe.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

victims
weakened
globe
growing
restrict
pressure
laws
journalism

The RSF report highlights (9) _________________________________ authoritarian pressure on journalists. It wrote: "Political (10) _________________________________ on the press is intensifying, authoritarian tendencies are growing, and the media market is heavily (11) _________________________________....The Index's analysis highlights an alarming deterioration in the conditions for (12) _________________________________ in many parts of the world." The Index describes a worrying trend across the (13) _________________________________. It says there was a "systematic policy" of attacks on journalists in the USA. It said that in Russia, "(14) _________________________________ designed to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism" were used to "(15) _________________________________ press freedom". RSF said "67 media professionals killed in the past year were (16) _________________________________ of war or criminal networks".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) assesses the degree to which the media in 180 countries is ______
     a. frees to operate
     b. free to operate
     c. freeze to operate
     d. freed to operate
2) press freedom was "problematic" or worse in three quarters of ______
     a. the nations assessed
     b. the nations obsessed
     c. the nations recessed
     d. the nations accessed
3) In 2013, fewer than a third of countries were ______
     a. given this clarification
     b. given this classification
     c. given this classy fiction
     d. given this class fiction
4) The RSF said conditions were "good" in ______
     a. only sevens countries
     b. on seven countries
     c. only seven country's
     d. only seven countries
5) These were all in northern ______
     a. and western European
     b. end western Europe
     c. and western Europe
     d. and west and Europe

6) The RSF report highlights growing authoritarian ______
     a. presser in journalists
     b. presser on journalists
     c. pressure in journalists
     d. pressure on journalists
7) authoritarian tendencies are growing and the media market ______
     a. is heavily weekend
     b. is heavily weak end
     c. is heavily week end
     d. is heavily weakened
8) The Index's analysis highlights an alarming deterioration ______
     a. in the conditions
     b. in a conditions
     c. inner conditions
     d. in the conditionals
9) laws designed to combat terrorism, ______
     a. separatist and extremism
     b. separatism and extremism
     c. separatism and extremist
     d. separatist and extremist
10) professionals killed in the past year were victims of war ______
     a. for criminal networks
     b. of criminal networks
     c. or criminal networks
     d. or criminal network

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Press freedom is at (1) _______________________________________________ in 25 years. This is according to a report from the organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF). It has (2) _______________________________________________ World Press Freedom Index, which assesses the degree to which the media in 180 countries is (3) _______________________________________________. RSF said press freedom was "problematic" or worse in three quarters of the nations assessed. In over half of the world, conditions were "difficult" (4) _______________________________________________. In 2013, fewer than a third of countries were given this classification. Press freedom was (5) _______________________________________________ over 70 per cent of countries. The RSF said conditions were "good" in only seven countries. These were (6) _______________________________________________ and western Europe.

The RSF report highlights growing (7) _______________________________________________ journalists. It wrote: "Political pressure on the press is intensifying, authoritarian tendencies are growing, and the media market (8) _______________________________________________....The Index's analysis highlights an alarming deterioration in the (9) _______________________________________________ in many parts of the world." The Index describes a (10) _______________________________________________ the globe. It says there was a "systematic policy" of attacks on journalists in the USA. It said that in Russia, "laws designed to combat terrorism, (11) _______________________________________________ " were used to "restrict press freedom". RSF said "67 media professionals killed in the past year were (12) _______________________________________________ or criminal networks".

Comprehension questions

What is the name of the organization that compiled a report?
What is the name of the report?
How many countries did the organization look at?
In 2013, how many countries were classed as "difficult" to "very serious"?
What was press freedom considered as in more than 70% of countries?
What kinds of pressure did the report say were on journalists?
What did the report say was being weakened?
Where is there a worrying trend?
Where did the report say there was a policy of attacks on journalists?
What were 67 journalists victims of in the past year?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the organization that compiled a report?
a) World Reporters Freedom
b) Borders Without Reporters
c) World Freedom Reporters
d) Reporters Without Borders
2) What is the name of the report?
a) the World Press Borders Index
b) the World Press Freedom Index
c) the Reporters Press Freedom Index
d) the World Reporters Freedom Index
3) How many countries did the organization look at?
a) 190
b) 188
c) 180
d) 130
4) In 2013, how many countries were classed as "difficult" to "very serious"?
a) a third
b) two fifths
c) three quarters
d) seven eighths
5) What was press freedom considered as in more than 70% of countries?
a) not so good
b) worrying
c) problematic
d) severe

6) What kinds of pressure did the report say were on journalists?
a) economic pressure
b) authoritarian and political pressure
c) pressure from CEOs
d) time and deadline pressures
7) What did the report say was being weakened?
a) trust in the system
b) democracy
c) faith in leaders
d) the media market
8) Where is there a worrying trend?
a) across the globe
b) in the Global South
c) Asia
d) online
9) Where did the report say there was a policy of attacks on journalists?
a) Finland
b) the UK
c) the USA
d) Russia
10) What were 67 journalists victims of in the past year?
a) cybercrime
b) war and criminal networks
c) identity theft
d) fake news

Role play

Role A – World Politics
You think news about world politics is the most interesting news category. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their category. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): national politics, business or entertainment.

Role B – National Politics
You think news about national politics is the most interesting news category. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their category. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): world politics, business or entertainment.

Role C – Business
You think news about business is the most interesting news category. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their category. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): national politics, world politics or entertainment.

Role D – Entertainment
You think news about entertainment is the most interesting news category. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their category. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): national politics, business or world politics.

After reading / listening

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

'press'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'freedom'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

lowest

annual

180

half

third

seven

political

market

alarming

policy

combat

past

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 - Press Freedom

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the term 'the press'?
What do you think about press freedom?
How free do you think the press in your country is?
Do you believe everything reported by the press?
What do you think of the job of a journalist?
What do you think of war correspondents?
How has social media affected news reporting?
What difficulties do journalists face?
What advice do you have for journalists?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'freedom'?
What do you think about what you read?
Why is press freedom important?
What are the most trusted news sources?
What impact are authoritarian governments having on the news?
What can we do to protect journalists?
What examples do you know of fake news?
What will journalism be like in the future?
What questions would you like to ask journalists?

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)

Press freedom is at its (1) ____ level in 25 years. This is according to a report from the organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF). It has released its (2) ____ World Press Freedom Index, which assesses the degree to (3) ____ the media in 180 countries is free to operate. RSF said press freedom was "problematic" or worse in three quarters of the nations (4) ____. In over half of the world, conditions were "difficult" to "very serious". In 2013, fewer than a third of countries were given (5) ____ classification. Press freedom was considered "problematic" in over 70 per cent of countries. The RSF said conditions were "good" in only seven countries. These were (6) ____ in northern and western Europe.

The RSF report highlights growing authoritarian pressure (7) ____ journalists. It wrote: "Political pressure on the press is intensifying, authoritarian tendencies are (8) ____, and the media market is heavily weakened....The Index's analysis highlights an alarming deterioration (9) ____ the conditions for journalism in many parts of the world." The Index describes a worrying trend across the (10) ____. It says there was a "systematic policy" of attacks on journalists in the USA. It said that in Russia, "laws designed to combat terrorism, separatism and (11) ____" were used to "restrict press freedom". RSF said "67 media professionals killed in the past year were victims (12) ____ war or criminal networks".

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) lowest (b) lowly (c) lowered (d) lows
(a) annually (b) annals (c) annual (d) annul
(a) what (b) that (c) which (d) whatever
(a) processed (b) obsessed (c) recessed (d) assessed
(a) their (b) them (c) this (d) what
(a) every (b) all (c) whole (d) that
(a) at (b) on (c) by (d) to
(a) grown (b) growing (c) growth (d) grows
(a) on (b) at (c) in (d) by
(a) globally (b) globular (c) globule (d) globe
(a) extremist (b) extreme (c) extremity (d) extremism
(a) as (b) by (c) for (d) of

Spelling

Paragraph 1

rdccanogi ot a report
released its laannu World Press Freedom Index
the eedger to which the media in 180 countries is free
three quarters of the nations edsssase
countries were given this islasacotifcni
hnetnrro and western Europe

Paragraph 2

iuanraotrhait pressure
an alarming rineoeodirtat
a ityasscmte policy of attacks
combat terrorism, separatism and mxrmeesit
rtstiecr press freedom
media faesspionsorl

Put the text back together

(    )   deterioration in the conditions for journalism in many parts of the world." The Index describes a worrying trend across
(    )   market is heavily weakened....The Index's analysis highlights an alarming
(    )   organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF). It has released its annual World Press Freedom Index, which assesses the degree
(    )   over 70 per cent of countries. The RSF said conditions were "good" in only
( 1 )   Press freedom is at its lowest level in 25 years. This is according to a report from the
(    )   press freedom". RSF said "67 media professionals killed in the past year were victims of war or criminal networks".
(    )   pressure on the press is intensifying, authoritarian tendencies are growing, and the media
(    )   Russia, "laws designed to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism" were used to "restrict
(    )   serious". In 2013, fewer than a third of countries were given this classification. Press freedom was considered "problematic" in
(    )   seven countries. These were all in northern and western Europe.
(    )   the globe. It says there was a "systematic policy" of attacks on journalists in the USA. It wrote in
(    )   The RSF report highlights growing authoritarian pressure on journalists. It wrote: "Political
(    )   to which the media in 180 countries is free to operate. RSF said press freedom was "problematic" or
(    )   worse in three quarters of the nations assessed. In over half of the world, conditions were "difficult" to "very

Put the words in the right order

annual Freedom Index its Press released World It .
in nations of or Problematic quarters three worse .
A classification countries given of third this were .
70% considered freedom in over Press problematic was .
Conditions countries good in only seven were .
authoritarian growing highlights journalists on pressure report The .
intensifying is on Political press pressure the .
a across describes globe It the trend worrying .
a attacks journalists of on policy systematic There's .
in killed past Professionals victims were year the .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Press freedom is at its lowest / lowly level in 25 years. This is according to a report from the organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF). It has released their / its annual World Press Freedom Index, which recesses / assesses the degree to which / what the media in 180 countries is free / freedom to operate. RSF said press freedom was "problematic" or worse / worst in three quarters of the nations assessed. In over half of the world, conditions were "difficult" to "very seriously / serious". In 2013, fewer than a third of countries were given these / this classification. Press freedom was considering / considered "problematic" in over 70 per cent of countries. The RSF said conditions were "good" in only seven countries. These were all / whole in northern and western Europe.

The RSF report highlights grown / growing authoritarian pressure on journalists. It wrote: "Political pressure on / to the press is intensifying, authoritarian attendances / tendencies are growing, and the media market is heaving / heavily weakened....The Index's analysis highlights an alarming deterioration / deteriorates in the conditions for journalism in many parts of the world." The Index describes a worrying / worried trend across the globe. It says there was a "systematic policy" of attacks on / in journalists in the USA. It said that in Russia, "laws designed to / for combat terrorism, separatism and extremism" were used to "resist / restrict press freedom". RSF said "67 media professionals killed in the past / passed year were victims of war or criminal networks".

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

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

Pr_ss fr__d_m _s _t _ts l_w_st l_v_l _n 25 y__rs. Th_s _s _cc_rd_ng t_ _ r_p_rt fr_m th_ _rg_n_z_t__n R_p_rt_rs W_th__t B_rd_rs (RSF). _t h_s r_l__s_d _ts _nn__l W_rld Pr_ss Fr__d_m _nd_x, wh_ch _ss_ss_s th_ d_gr__ t_ wh_ch th_ m_d__ _n 180 c__ntr__s _s fr__ t_ _p_r_t_. RSF s__d pr_ss fr__d_m w_s "pr_bl_m_t_c" _r w_rs_ _n thr__ q__rt_rs _f th_ n_t__ns _ss_ss_d. _n _v_r h_lf _f th_ w_rld, c_nd_t__ns w_r_ "d_ff_c_lt" t_ "v_ry s_r___s". _n 2013, f_w_r th_n _ th_rd _f c__ntr__s w_r_ g_v_n th_s cl_ss_f_c_t__n. Pr_ss fr__d_m w_s c_ns_d_r_d "pr_bl_m_t_c" _n _v_r 70 p_r c_nt _f c__ntr__s. Th_ RSF s__d c_nd_t__ns w_r_ "g__d" _n _nly s_v_n c__ntr__s. Th_s_ w_r_ _ll _n n_rth_rn _nd w_st_rn __r_p_.

Th_ RSF r_p_rt h_ghl_ghts gr_w_ng __th_r_t_r__n pr_ss_r_ _n j__rn_l_sts. _t wr_t_: "P_l_t_c_l pr_ss_r_ _n th_ pr_ss _s _nt_ns_fy_ng, __th_r_t_r__n t_nd_nc__s _r_ gr_w_ng, _nd th_ m_d__ m_rk_t _s h__v_ly w__k_n_d....Th_ _nd_x's _n_lys_s h_ghl_ghts _n _l_rm_ng d_t_r__r_t__n _n th_ c_nd_t__ns f_r j__rn_l_sm _n m_ny p_rts _f th_ w_rld." Th_ _nd_x d_scr_b_s _ w_rry_ng tr_nd _cr_ss th_ gl_b_. _t s_ys th_r_ w_s _ "syst_m_t_c p_l_cy" _f _tt_cks _n j__rn_l_sts _n th_ _S_. _t s__ th_t _n R_ss__, "l_ws d_s_gn_d t_ c_mb_t t_rr_r_sm, s_p_r_t_sm _nd _xtr_m_sm" w_r_ _s_d t_ "r_str_ct pr_ss fr__d_m". RSF s__d "67 m_d__ pr_f_ss__n_ls k_ll_d _n th_ p_st y__r w_r_ v_ct_ms _f w_r _r cr_m_n_l n_tw_rks".

Punctuate the text and add capitals

press freedom is at its lowest level in 25 years this is according to a report from the organization reporters without borders rsf it has released its annual world press freedom index which assesses the degree to which the media in 180 countries is free to operate rsf said press freedom was problematic or worse in three quarters of the nations assessed in over half of the world conditions were difficult to very serious in 2013 fewer than a third of countries were given this classification press freedom was considered problematic in over 70 per cent of countries the rsf said conditions were good in only seven countries these were all in northern and western europe

the rsf report highlights growing authoritarian pressure on journalists it wrote political pressure on the press is intensifying authoritarian tendencies are growing and the media market is heavily weakened the indexs analysis highlights an alarming deterioration in the conditions for journalism in many parts of the world the index describes a worrying trend across the globe it says there was a systematic policy of attacks on journalists in the usa it said that in russia laws designed to combat terrorism separatism and extremism were used to restrict press freedom rsf said 67 media professionals killed in the past year were victims of war or criminal networks

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Pressfreedomisatitslowestlevelin25years.Thisisaccordingtoareportfr
omtheorganizationReportersWithoutBorders(RSF).Ithasreleaseditsa
nnualWorldPressFreedomIndex,whichassessesthedegreetowhichthe
mediain180countriesisfreetooperate.RSFsaidpressfreedomwas"pro
blematic"orworseinthreequartersofthenationsassessed.Inoverhalfof
theworld,conditionswere"difficult"to"veryserious".In2013,fewertha
nathirdofcountriesweregiventhisclassification.Pressfreedomwascons
idered"problematic"inover70percentofcountries.TheRSFsaidconditio
nswere"good"inonlysevencountries.Thesewereallinnorthernandwest
ernEurope.TheRSFreporthighlightsgrowingauthoritarianpressureonj
ournalists.Itwrote:"Politicalpressureonthepressisintensifying,author
itariantendenciesaregrowing,andthemediamarketisheavilyweakene
d....TheIndex'sanalysishighlightsanalarmingdeteriorationinthecondi
tionsforjournalisminmanypartsoftheworld."TheIndexdescribesaworr
yingtrendacrosstheglobe.Itsaystherewasa"systematicpolicy"ofattac
ksonjournalistsintheUSA.ItsaidthatinRussia,"lawsdesignedtocombat
terrorism,separatismandextremism"wereusedto"restrictpressfreedo
m".RSFsaid"67mediaprofessionalskilledinthepastyearwerevictimsof
warorcriminalnetworks".

Free writing

Write about press freedom for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Journalists should be free to write and publish whatever they like. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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. PRESS FREEDOM: Make a poster about press freedom. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. BOYCOTT: Write a magazine article about boycotting countries press freedom. 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 press freedom. Ask him/her three questions about press freedom. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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...

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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

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Answers

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

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