Finding the news
Learning objective:
to understand what is news
and where to find it
Starter: What is news?
In groups/pairs,
think about what news is.
Watch: What is news?
BBC video - what is news?
Key points: What is news?
News needs to be something new.
It must mean something to your audience –
something they need to know or want to know.
On BBC News there is a mixture of different sorts of stories
depending on the audience.
Almost everything that interests you or your friends, could
be a news story. A good journalist keeps their eyes and ears
open everywhere they go.
Activity: News judgement
News judgement
• Why did you choose the stories
you did?
• What do you think the key
ingredients of a good story are?
• What are the most important
elements of a good story?
Discuss - where might you
find news stories?
Watch
BBC News - School Report:
Finding news masterclass
How does BBC Radio 5 live journalist Karlene
Pinnock find stories and guests for her
programmes every day ?
Finding news: Key points
Remember:
• Don't assume everything you're told or read is true.
• Use sources you trust and check at least two different
sources. Why?
If two people tell you the same story, it's more likely to
be true.
• Truth and accuracy are two of the BBC's news values,
as a School Reporter it's your job to make sure
everything you say is correct.
News quiz
1. What do journalists do?
a. They find and report newsworthy
stories.
b. They just watch the news.
c. They promote politicians and
businesses.
News quiz
2. Which of these headlines is NOT news?
a. US President to visit UK.
b. Pupil drops pen during lesson.
c. Usain Bolt breaks 100m record.
News quiz
3. Contacts are...
a. People journalists talk to when they are
researching stories.
b. Notebooks which contain a journalist's
research.
c. The big TV screens in the newsroom.
News quiz
4. What are "wires"?
a. A nickname for camera operators.
b. Another name for headlines.
c. Reports from journalists all over the world
that news organisations pay to access.
News quiz
5. The head teacher of a local primary school
tells you that she's upset about a proposal to
close her school. What headline would you
choose for this story?
a. Head teacher announces school closure
b. Head teacher upset over school closure plan
c. Head teacher attacks council over school
closure
News quiz
6. Which of these audiences is Newsround
aimed at?
a. 18 to 25-year-olds
b. 13 to 17-year-olds
c. 6 to 12-year-olds
News quiz
last question!
7. Which of these is NOT a news platform?
a. TV
b. Radio
c. A desk
Answers
1. What do journalists do?
a. They find newsworthy stories, creates
reports and share them with the public.
2. Which one is not a headline?
b. Pupil drops pen during lesson
3. Contacts are ….
a. People journalists talk to when they are
researching stories
Answers
4. What are "wires"?
c. Reports from journalists all over the world
that news organisations pay to access.
5. The head teacher of a local primary school
tells you that she's upset about a proposal to
close her school. What headline would you
choose for this story?
b. Head teacher upset over school closure plan
Answers
6. Which of these audiences is Newsround
aimed at?
c. Newsround is aimed at 6 to 12-year-olds.
Answers
7. Which of these is NOT a news platform?
c. A desk is NOT a news platform
The BBC uses lots of different platforms to
broadcast news: TV, radio, websites,
mobile phone apps, iPlayer, the Red Button
service and social media sites.