Some journalist have a natural news sense; they just know a good news story when they see it, but for others they have to develop the skill.
This lesson plan is based on the article ‘Developing and applying a news sense‘ which is published on Media Helping Media and which we recommend you read before developing this story plan for your own purposes.
Learning objective
Students will identify and evaluate newsworthy elements in various scenarios, applying critical questions to determine their potential as news stories. They will also articulate the rationale behind their choices, demonstrating an understanding of audience relevance and interest.
- Student-facing objective: By the end of this lesson, I’ll be able to spot what makes a story newsworthy and explain why it matters to the audience.
- Standards: Journalists need to have a news sense in order to pick up on what makes news and will be interesting and informative for the audience.
Learning activities
Warm-up
Present students with a list of recent headlines from various news sources. Ask them to scan the headlines and choose one they find most newsworthy. Have them share their choice with a partner, explaining why they think it stands out. Encourage them to consider factors such as relevance, impact, and interest. After a few minutes, invite a few students to share their selections and reasoning with the class. This activity primes students to think critically about what makes a story newsworthy, setting the stage for deeper exploration in the lesson.
Direct instruction
Guided practice
Think, pair, share: Present students with a brief scenario or event description. Ask them to individually think about whether it is newsworthy and why.
- Pair students to discuss their thoughts, encouraging them to use critical questions like “Is it new?”, “Is it important?”, and “Who is affected?”.
- After discussion, have pairs share their conclusions with the class, highlighting different perspectives and rationales.
- Facilitate a class discussion to compare and contrast the pairs’ evaluations, emphasising the diversity of news sense.
- Conclude by summarising key points and reinforcing the importance of audience relevance and interest in determining newsworthiness.
Independent practice
- Provide students with a set of brief news scenarios. Ask them to independently evaluate each scenario’s newsworthiness using critical questions discussed earlier.
- Instruct students to write a short paragraph for each scenario, justifying their evaluation and considering audience relevance and interest.
- Encourage students to reflect on how their personal experiences and instincts influence their news sense.
Circulate to offer guidance and support, ensuring students apply the concepts effectively.
Assignment
Ask students to answer these questions:
- What is one factor you used to determine if a story was newsworthy today?
- How does audience relevance influence your decision on a story’s newsworthiness?
- What’s one question you still have from today’s lesson?
Here are some suggested answers:
- Suggested answer to Question 1: I considered whether the story was new and had a significant impact.
- Suggested answer to Question 2: Audience relevance helps me decide if the story will be interesting or important to the readers.
Teacher resources
Differentiation guide
- Advanced learners: Encourage them to explore complex news scenarios, analysing multiple perspectives and potential biases. Challenge them to identify subtle newsworthy elements and predict audience reactions. Suggest they create a news story from a scenario, incorporating advanced storytelling techniques.
- Striving learners: Provide additional support by breaking down the critical questions into simpler terms. Use visual aids or graphic organisers to help them organise their thoughts. Offer examples of news stories and guide them in identifying key elements. Pair them with peers for collaborative learning and scaffolded discussions.
Notable definitions
- News sense: The ability to identify and evaluate what makes a story newsworthy, considering factors such as relevance, impact, and audience interest.
- Newsworthy: A characteristic of a story that makes it interesting or important enough to be reported in the news, often determined by its novelty, significance, and human interest.
- Audience relevance: The degree to which a news story is pertinent or significant to the intended audience, influencing their interest and engagement with the content.
Required materials
- Recent headlines from various news sources
- Printed or digital copies of brief news scenarios
- Writing materials (paper and pens) or digital devices for writing
- Access to a whiteboard or digital display for class discussions
Lesson summary
- Warm-up
- Direct instruction
- Guided practice
- Independent practice
- Assignment
The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.
