Current Events: Analyzing News Media Worksheet

Question 1

A news article says, "The city council voted 5 to 2 on Tuesday to approve a new bike lane plan." Is this statement a fact or an opinion? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

This statement is a fact because it gives specific information that can be checked, including the vote count, the day, and the decision made by the city council.

Question 2

A headline says, "Terrible New School Lunch Rules Upset Everyone." Identify two words or phrases that show bias or strong opinion.

Accepted Answer

The words "terrible" and "upset everyone" show bias or strong opinion. They make the reader feel negatively before giving evidence.

Question 3

You are reading about a local election. Source A is the county election office website. Source B is an anonymous social media post. Which source is likely more reliable for vote totals, and why?

Accepted Answer

Source A is likely more reliable because the county election office is an official source responsible for reporting vote totals. An anonymous social media post may not be checked or accurate.

Question 4

A news story includes a quote from a scientist, a chart from a government report, and a link to the original study. How do these details affect the credibility of the story?

Accepted Answer

These details increase the credibility of the story because they provide evidence from expert and official sources. The link to the original study also lets readers check the information for themselves.

Question 5

Read the claim: "Most students in the district want a later school start time." What type of evidence would best support this claim?

Accepted Answer

The best evidence would be results from a fair survey of many students in the district. The survey should explain how many students responded and how the questions were asked.

Question 6

A reporter writes an article about a new law but only interviews people who support the law. What is one weakness in the reporting?

Accepted Answer

One weakness is that the article gives only one side of the issue. A stronger report would include different viewpoints, such as people who support the law and people who oppose it.

Question 7

Two news websites report on the same protest. One says, "Hundreds marched downtown." The other says, "Angry crowd causes chaos downtown." How is the tone different?

Accepted Answer

The first report has a more neutral tone because it simply describes what happened. The second report has a more negative tone because words like "angry" and "chaos" suggest disorder and judgment.

Question 8

A viral video shows a short clip of a mayor speaking. Before sharing it, list two things you should do to check whether it is accurate and fair.

Accepted Answer

You should look for the full video or transcript to understand the context. You should also check reliable news sources or the mayor's official page to confirm what was said.

Question 9

An article was published five years ago about a developing storm. Why is the date of publication important when reading current events?

Accepted Answer

The date is important because current events can change quickly. An article from five years ago may no longer describe the present situation accurately.

Question 10

A website has many pop-up ads, no author listed, no sources, and a headline written in all capital letters. What concerns should a reader have about this website?

Accepted Answer

A reader should be concerned that the website may not be reliable. The lack of an author and sources makes the information hard to check, and the headline style may be trying to get attention instead of informing readers.

Question 11

Explain the difference between news reporting and an editorial or opinion article.

Accepted Answer

News reporting is meant to inform readers using facts, evidence, and multiple sources. An editorial or opinion article is meant to share a point of view and may try to persuade readers.

Question 12

You read three different news stories about the same event. They agree on the basic facts but emphasize different details. What can comparing the stories help you understand?

Accepted Answer

Comparing the stories can help you understand the event more fully. It can show which facts are consistent, which details each source emphasizes, and whether any source may have a particular bias or purpose.

Current Events: Analyzing News Media

Related Cheat Sheets

More Social Studies Worksheets

More Grade 6-8 Worksheets