What You Should Know About News

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What You Should Know About News

• Prewriting presentation for CAHSEE Prompt

2
What is News?

• The term news actually comes from the word new
• News is information that you did not know
  previous to someone telling you
• Typically news is current information that has
  some impact on your life
• It may be personal information (news from your
  family)
• It may be public information (political news)

3
What are sources of news?

• The word sources means who distributes the news
  to you
• Other people (word of mouth)
• Newspapers
• Radio
• Television
• Internet
• Magazines

4
What does Bias mean?

• The word bias means that who ever is telling you
  the news has a viewpoint that might be influenced
  by something else
• For example
• reporters who are politically liberal may tell a
  slightly different version of an event than
  reporters who are politically conservative
• Both reporters might be telling the truth but
  they focus on facts and issues that line up with
  their own political philosophies

5
Are some news sources biased?

• YES!!!
• In fact, MOST news sources are biased in some way
• The company that owns the news sources may color
  (or shape) what information they release to the
  public
• For example
• ABC is owned by Disney
• If Disney is involved in a lawsuit, ABC may only
  publish news that shows Disney in a positive
  manner

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How do I know who is writing or publishing the
news?

• Usually you can find out by looking on that
  companys website
• The next slide is a list of some major media
  companies and just a few news sources (also
  called news outlets) that they own

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Media Companies and What They Own
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Are some news sources more reliable than others?

• YES!
• You probably could have figured this out for
  yourself The National Inquirer at the grocery
  check out doesnt seem as reliable as the LA
  Times
• Some news sources check their facts carefully,
  others dont

9
How do you know if the news is accurate?

• Generally, if you can verify the information in
  more than one place, it is probably more accurate
  than if you cant.
• Who is telling you the information may tell you
  whether it is true or not
• Each news viewer/reader needs to decide how
  accurate the news ishow much do you trust the
  source?

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Do people make money off of the news?

• That is the primary reason there is so much news
  media
• Every commercial generates revenue for the
  company that owns that channel/station
• Magazines and newspapers do not make very much
  money off their subscription fees, they make most
  of their money by selling ads

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What is the difference between local news and
national news?

• Local news is news that is significant to your
  community
• The Orange County Register is a local newspaper
  and just distributed in Orange County

• National news is news that is significant to the
  entire country, or maybe the entire world
• CNN gives national and international news to
  people all over

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Can the media publish untrue information?

• Yes and No
• If the media knowingly publishes untrue (or
  false) information, that company can be sued and
  prosecuted for libel and slander
• If the media unknowingly publishes false
  information, the penalty is less
• If there is false information about a person who
  is considered a public figure, that person must
  prove malice (intentional harm) before the
  media can get in trouble
• Misleading information is often published and
  news sources will run it if they know they cannot
  be sued
• The internet is a COMPLETELY different story and
  much information there is inaccurate because it
  comes from individuals, not companiesit is still
  subject to the rules for libel

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Why does it matter if I pay attention to the
news, or not?
Several Reasons but here are a few biggies!

• Thomas Jefferson believed that a free press is a
  central component to maintaining a democracy, if
  you give up your right to a free press, you are
  giving up a freedom guaranteed under the
  constitution
• If you spend money, it is important to know whose
  pockets you are liningbeing aware of the news
  helps you make educated decisions
• If you eat food, drive, or travel, the news is
  important for you to make safe and informed
  choices