[CURRENT AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL ISSUES] SYN MEDIA LEARNING
Learning Focus
- Current Affairs and Social Issues reporting
In this students learn about how journalists research and report on current affairs and social
issues. Students develop their research skills and learn about the importance of using
reliable sources and fact checking information for accuracy. This lesson is a great
opportunity to explore social issues such as bullying, human rights, multiculturalism and
sustainability in the classroom, and for students to connect with their local community.
Level
- 9/10
Related Curriculum Standards
- Civics and Citizenship
Students draw on a range of resources, including the mass media to articulate and defend
their own opinions about political, social and environmental issues in national and global
contexts.
Students explore Australia’s multicultural society. They learn about the past and present
policies of government in relation to ATSI people and immigration, and the values and beliefs
which support a harmonious multicultural society. They link their understanding of
multiculturalism to contemporary issues, such as the global refugee problem and population
growth.
Students apply their knowledge about representative democracy and systems of government
by researching an issue relevant to them at the local, state or national level. They explore the
potential impact of the issue on different groups within the community, and the
effectiveness of the democratic process in balancing individual and community rights in
resolving the issue.
Students evaluate the role of the Australian Government in the global community including
Australia’s role in the United Nations, through contexts such as government responses to
environmental concerns such as global warming or other issues of environmental
sustainability, natural disasters, peacekeeping operations, world poverty and national and
global security issues.
- Communication
Students demonstrate their understanding of the relationship between form, content and
mode, and select suitable resources and technologies to effectively communicate. They use
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[CURRENT AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL ISSUES] SYN MEDIA LEARNING
subject-specific language and conventions in accordance with the purpose of their
presentation to communicate complex information.
- English (AC)
Understand how paragraphs and images can be arranged for different purposes, audiences,
perspectives and stylistic effects (ACELA1567)
Understand conventions for citing others, and how to reference these in different ways
(ACELA1568)
-The Arts
Students vary the content, structure and form of their work to suit a range of purposes,
contexts, audiences and/or the conventions of a specific style. They effectively use a range of
traditional and contemporary media, materials, equipment and technologies
Resources
SYN Current affairs and social issues Student Worksheet
SYN Reporting on current affairs video (can be watched as a class or
individually) accessible from here
Internet access for research
Lesson Plan
 Students watch SYN’s video “Current Affairs reporting” and complete
worksheet.
 Current Affairs scriptwriting activity
- Students break up into pairs or small groups to research and
write a script for a current affairs story on a subject of their
choice.
- Students use the worksheet provided to develop their ideas
and create a research plan.
- Using their research and John Allen’s ‘Pyramid Journalism’
factsheet students write a script for their current affairs story.
*For more information visit the SYN Current Affairs Reporting
Guide and Media Helping Media’s Journalism Basics Guide
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