Understanding the Media and Government
What is the Media?
The media includes newspapers, television, radio, and the internet. It is how people get information about what is happening in politics and the world. In the UK, media is very important because it helps people stay informed about issues that matter to them.
How Does the Media Work with the Government?
- Broadcasting Parliament:
- Meetings and discussions in Parliament can be watched on television.
- These are also published in official reports called Hansard. You can find these written reports in big libraries or online at www.parliament.uk.
- Getting Information:
- Most people learn about politics from newspapers (often called ‘the press’), TV, radio, and the internet.
- For example, if there is a new law being discussed, newspapers may write articles about it, and news channels may show reports.
- Free Press:
- In the UK, we have a free press. This means that newspapers can write what they want without the government telling them what to say.
- Sometimes, newspaper owners and editors have strong opinions and try to change government policies or influence what the public thinks.
- Balanced Coverage:
- The law requires that radio and television must provide balanced coverage of political parties. This means that all parties must get equal time to share their views.
- For example, if one party talks for 10 minutes, another party must also get 10 minutes to speak.
Questions for Practice
Easy Level Questions
- What is the media?
- A) A type of food
- B) Newspapers, TV, radio, and the internet
- C) A place to shop
- D) A type of car
- Where can you find official reports of Parliament?
- A) Only on television
- B) In large libraries and online
- C) In your mailbox
- D) At the supermarket
- What does ‘free press’ mean?
- A) Newspapers can write what they want
- B) Newspapers must follow government orders
- C) Newspapers only report good news
- D) Newspapers are free to buy
- What is Hansard?
- A) A type of newspaper
- B) An official report of Parliament
- C) A popular TV show
- D) A government website
- How do most people get political information?
- A) From friends
- B) From newspapers and television
- C) From movies
- D) From books only
- What must radio and TV provide regarding political parties?
- A) Only good news
- B) Balanced coverage
- C) Unbalanced coverage
- D) No coverage at all
- What is often called “the press”?
- A) The political parties
- B) The media
- C) The government
- D) The public
- Which of these is a way to access Hansard?
- A) www.parliament.uk
- B) www.hansard.com
- C) www.newspaper.uk
- D) www.radio.uk
- Why do some newspaper owners influence public opinion?
- A) They want to entertain people
- B) They have strong political opinions
- C) They want to sell more newspapers
- D) They don’t care about politics
- What happens if one political party gets 10 minutes on TV?
- A) They get to talk forever
- B) Other parties must also get 10 minutes
- C) No other party can speak
- D) It is not required
Medium Level Questions
- What is the purpose of broadcasting Parliament on TV?
- A) To entertain people
- B) To inform the public about government actions
- C) To sell more newspapers
- D) To promote specific political parties
- Why do newspapers often have strong opinions?
- A) To confuse readers
- B) To influence government policies
- C) To follow government rules
- D) To avoid losing readers
- Where can you find written reports of Parliament discussions?
- A) Only on social media
- B) In large libraries and on the official Parliament website
- C) Only in newspapers
- D) Only on television
- What does it mean for the press to be free from government control?
- A) Newspapers can write anything, even lies
- B) Newspapers can express opinions without fear
- C) Newspapers must only write good things
- D) Newspapers cannot criticize the government
- How does the media influence public opinion?
- A) By providing balanced information
- B) By only showing one side of the story
- C) By making up stories
- D) By ignoring political issues
- Which of the following is true about the coverage of political parties on TV?
- A) Only the ruling party gets more time
- B) All parties must be given equal time
- C) Coverage is based on popularity
- D) There are no rules for coverage
- What are some common sources of political information for people?
- A) Newspapers, television, radio, and the internet
- B) Only the internet
- C) Only newspapers
- D) Only TV shows
- Why do some media outlets run campaigns?
- A) To entertain their audience
- B) To promote their own business
- C) To influence government policy and public opinion
- D) To avoid discussing politics
- What might happen if a newspaper has strong political opinions?
- A) It will remain neutral
- B) It may influence how people vote
- C) It will stop publishing
- D) It will be controlled by the government
- What is one reason for the law requiring balanced coverage of political parties?
- A) To make it easier for journalists
- B) To ensure fairness in political reporting
- C) To entertain the public
- D) To promote specific parties
Hard Level Questions
- What is the role of Hansard in UK politics?
- A) To provide entertainment
- B) To publish official reports of Parliament
- C) To promote political parties
- D) To influence public opinion
- How can the media affect government policies?
- A) By ignoring important issues
- B) By providing biased information
- C) By informing the public and shaping opinions
- D) By only reporting good news
- What does it mean for a newspaper to run a campaign?
- A) It has a sale on newspapers
- B) It tries to change opinions or policies
- C) It stops reporting news
- D) It only shows sports news
- In what ways can a free press benefit democracy?
- A) By allowing only some voices to be heard
- B) By enabling open discussion and criticism of the government
- C) By controlling what people think
- D) By limiting information available to the public
- How are public political opinions shaped by the media?
- A) Through entertainment and distraction
- B) By providing information and different viewpoints
- C) By only showing one side of the story
- D) By avoiding political topics altogether
- What is one impact of having strong political opinions in the media?
- A) It creates confusion among readers
- B) It can lead to biased reporting that affects public opinion
- C) It makes reporting easier
- D) It ensures all viewpoints are represented
- Why must TV coverage of political parties give equal time to all sides?
- A) To make it more interesting
- B) To comply with legal requirements for fairness
- C) To follow trends in media
- D) To avoid conflicts between parties
- What is the significance of the internet in accessing political information?
- A) It is less reliable than newspapers
- B) It allows for quick and diverse access to information
- C) It is only used by young people
- D) It doesn’t provide any news
- How do campaigns by newspaper owners affect public perception?
- A) They do not have much impact
- B) They can sway opinions and influence elections
- C) They only entertain the readers
- D) They confuse the public
- How does a balanced media contribute to democracy?
- A) It creates more conflict among parties
- B) It helps ensure all voices are heard and considered
- C) It makes it easier for the government to control information
- D) It encourages only popular opinions to be shared
Answers and Explanations
Easy Level Answers
- B – Newspapers, TV, radio, and the internet
- B – In large libraries and online
- A – Newspapers can write what they want
- B – An official report of Parliament
- B – From newspapers and television
- B – Balanced coverage
- B – The media
- A – www.parliament.uk
- B – They have strong political opinions
- B – Other parties must also get 10 minutes
Medium Level Answers
- B – To inform the public about government actions
- B – To influence government policies
- B – In large libraries and on the official Parliament website
- B – Newspapers can express opinions without fear
- A – By providing balanced information
- B – All parties must be given equal time
- A – Newspapers, television, radio, and the internet
- C – To influence government policy and public opinion
- B – It may influence how people vote
- B – To ensure fairness in political reporting
Hard Level Answers
- B – To publish official reports of Parliament
- C – By informing the public and shaping opinions
- B – It tries to change opinions or policies
- B – By enabling open discussion and criticism of the government
- B – By providing information and different viewpoints
- B – It can lead to biased reporting that affects public opinion
- B – To comply with legal requirements for fairness
- B – It allows for quick and diverse access to information
- B – They can sway opinions and influence elections
- B – It helps ensure all voices are heard and considered
