February Week Two

February Week Two:
Considering our current global situation, this week we dedicated our time to discussing media, journalism, news, and yes, even... FAKE NEWS!

Listening:
Learners should check out any of the many stories available to listen to over at VOA English, BBC Learning English Lingohack, or BBC News Review.

For original version listening, you can check out any of the big news sites: CNN, NYTimes Video, NPR. For some interesting analysis about journalism and media, I recommend the podcast On The Media.

Reading:
Learners can try many different websites where you can read international news in English: Breaking News English, El Pais in English and News in Levels.

For original version, check out Vox Explains the News, The New Yorker or Time Magazine.

Writing:
This week, choose one of the following prompts to respond to:1. What is the most impactful media event in your lifetime? Some who were alive when Kennedy was assassinated would list that, for example. What affected you in a big way and tell the story of how you received and reacted to that information.
2. Have you ever personally been in the media? Whether it was school-related, work-related, or just random, talk about a time that you were portrayed by the media. How did you and your friends react to this appearance?
3. You are a powerful media executive. Your company gets an exclusive story that will violate the privacy of some innocent-bystander types but it will potentially garner viewers. If you don't report it, someone else will anyway. What do you do and what do any families involved in the story have to say to you afterward?
4. World peace is upon us! In an unforeseen series of events, all war has ended and the crime rate has gone down 99%. What happens to the media after all of this? Does it go under? Does all reporting become positive? Describe a day of media coverage in this alternate world.
5. Talk about one event that you feel was overcooked by the media. Then compare it to an event that may have been undercovered. Write a hypothetical tale in which their amount of coverage is reversed. What happens?

Best,
Kelly
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