INTRO

TO MEDIA LITERACY

News, Social
Media and You
Understanding
Real
News Stories

Real news? Fake news? Can you tell the difference?

© Lit LAB 2017

Name _______________________ Date ______

MEDIA LITERACY

INTRO TO NEWS & JOURNALISM

What is news?
When the media refers to news, they mean professionally reported
information about noteworthy events that would interest the public.

News Media vs. Social Media

Professional news media traditionally consists of newspapers,
television and radio, magazines, along with official online sources. However,
many people now also think of blogs, social media and other forms of
personal journalism as ‘news.’
At any moment, anyone can become a ‘journalist on-the-
spot,’ reporting, recording or sharing live as news happens. This
access gives us an immediate unedited look at events as they
happen, but it doesn’t always tell the whole story.
Pictures Don’t Lie (or do they?)
It’s possible that even professional journalists have a bias, or favor
one side of an issue or another, but they are expected to verify events and
seek out background information and comments from witnesses and experts
on both sides of an issue. Citizens ‘reporting’ on an event are often sharing a
snapshot—exactly what their eye or camera see in a particular moment. They
may or may not have witnessed or shared the whole event. Bias or a strong
emotional connection may make it tough to see things objectively. As
information consumers, we should always think and ask questions about what
we see, hear and read.

What do you think?

It can be riveting to see exactly what a witness sees as he sees it. What are
some advantages and disadvantages of social media reporting?

Intro to News Free Resource ©LitLAB 2017 1

 Reading & Writing a News Story

A news story gives important information about an event or person of interest to a

large number of people. The lead story is the biggest, most important story in the
paper that day.

Elements of a news story

News reporting tries to uncover the most important basic details about any story.
These are commonly referred to as the 5Ws & an H: who, what, where, when, why
and how. Since reporters are supposed to focus on the facts, these details are
always the best place to start.

How are news stories structured?

One can often identify a news story by the unique structure. Unlike a fiction tale,
which slowly builds up to the most important part, a news story is written with the
most important facts first, and less important information follows in descending
order of importance.

This is called the Inverted (upside-down) Pyramid:

Lead sentence / paragraph

Lead Sentence – Most important
facts of 5Ws & H for this story.

Body paragraph(s) Important facts and quotes come next.

This section may be more than one
paragraph. Still adding 5Ws & H.

Least important info goes last.

Closing This paragraph is easily
cut if necessary.

This structure began with printed newspapers to make it easy for editors to quickly
cut bottom sentences or paragraphs to make an article fit into limited page space.
And a late arriving big story meant making room quickly!

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 You Are the Editor
Editors decide what is most important. They can even rewrite or change the order
of details in stories by their reporters if they feel the information is misplaced.

The following news story sentences are out of order. In the space beside each
sentence, decide where they should go in a news story. Label each sentence as “L”
(lead), “B” (Body) or “C” (Closing paragraph).

*Remember, your lead contains the most important details from the 5Ws&H.
The next important details follow in the body, and the least important details are
left for the closing, just in case the paragraph has to be cut.

HEADLINE: Hero Hamster Saves Family from Fire

• The hamster, named Harry, is six months old and was purchased from
Gleason’s Pet Shop on Main Street.
• Ten year-old Brian Johnson heard the hamster’s squeals and raised the
alarm.
• A Westbrook family was saved early last night when their pet hamster
alerted them to a fire on the second floor of their home.
• Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.
• The home did not have working smoke detectors.
• Ann Johnson, 42, was transported to Westbrook Hospital with minor
injuries. She is expected to make a full recovery.
• The hamster’s cage was in a second floor bedroom occupied by the Johnson’s
sleeping twin sons.
• “I heard rustling and squeals coming from the cage,” said Brian. “I smelled
smoke and ran and woke my mom.”
• “We’re very lucky. I will be fixing those smoke detectors today,” said Mrs.
Johnson.

Look at the lead sentence you have chosen. A well-written lead can include lots
of information. Which of the 5Ws and H can you find in your lead sentence?

Who? ________________________________________________

What? _______________________________________________

Where? __________________When? ______________________

How? ________________________________________________

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 ANSWER KEY

SENTENCE LABELS

• The hamster, named Harry, is six months old and was purchased from
Gleason’s Pet Shop on Main Street. (Closing)
• Ten year-old Brian Johnson heard the hamster’s squeals and raised the
alarm. (Body)
• A Westbrook family was saved early last night when their pet hamster
alerted them to a fire on the second floor of their home. (LEAD)
• Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze. (Body)
• The home did not have working smoke detectors. (Body)
• Ann Johnson, 42, was transported to Westbrook Hospital with minor
injuries. She is expected to make a full recovery. (Body)
• The hamster’s cage was in a second floor bedroom occupied by the Johnson’s
sleeping twin sons. (Body)
• “I heard rustling and squeals coming from the cage,” said Brian. “I smelled
smoke and ran and woke my mom.” (Body)
• “We’re very lucky Harry saved us. I will be fixing those smoke detectors
today,” said Mrs. Johnson. (Closing)

LEAD SENTENCE DETAILS

WHO: a family

WHAT: was saved

WHERE: Westbrook

WHEN: early last night

WHY: their house was on fire

HOW: their hamster alerted them

From the author:

Welcome! I am an experienced journalist, playwright and middle school teacher. I’m

dedicated to helping our students navigate the muddy waters of real news, fake

news and social media. Look for my other resources to supplement your classroom

instruction. Enjoy!

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