Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit students explore the roles and responsibilities of the media and the important role it plays within society.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain why the media is important in a democracy and how the media informs and educates us.

Key Notes

• Democracy allows the people to rule and vote in free and fair elections.
• The media has three main roles: setting the agenda, informing and educating, and holding people accountable.
• The media encourages public debate, gives everyone a voice and reveals the truth, especially during elections.
• By sharing key events and running campaigns, the media raises awareness of important issues.
• The media encourages active participation in democracy and keeps us informed about what is happening around the world.

Vocabulary To Learn

• media: forms of communication like radio, television, newspapers, magazines and the internet, that reach or influence people
• democracy: a system of government in which citizens vote in regular, fair elections for representatives who then make laws and decisions on their behalf

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• The media doesn't play a role in democracy and simply reports what the Government tells it.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Does the media create more harm than good? Study Guide
• How does the media hold those in power to account? Study Guide
• Should we believe everything we see in the media? Study Guide
• What is the media? Study Guide
• What responsibilities does the media have? Study Guide