News media

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/news-media

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the core functions?Inform, scrutinize power (watchdog), facilitate public discourse, and foster social cohesion
2. What is the historical technological drivers?Printing press, telegraph, radio, television, internet, mobile devices
3. How do news stories travel from the world to us?Journalists gather information by talking to people, researching, and watching events. They then check facts, write the story, and send it to newspapers, TV stations, or online sites so people can read or listen.
4. Why is news media called the "fourth estate"?It is called the "fourth estate" because it watches over the government and businesses, helping keep them honest and fair.

Fourth Estate: A term for the press or journalism as a vital institution in a democracy, separate from government.
Algorithmic Curation: The process by which automated systems select and present content to users based on their behavior.
Media Convergence: The merging of different media forms, such as print, audio, and video, into a single digital platform.