Life skills
Analysing news stories
  Before watching
1 Match the words and expressions (a–h) with the
definitions (1–8).
a biased  b citizen journalism  c footage  d  go viral  
e live feed  f news station  g reliable  h scoop
1  : a media connection that allows you to watch
content in real time
2  : the reporting of news events by the public
using mobile technology
3  : film of a particular event
4  : become popular very quickly on the Internet
5  : a company that broadcasts television or
radio news
6  : that can be trusted to be accurate
7  : a big news story that one news organisation
broadcasts before others
8  : preferring one idea to another in an unfair way
  While watching
2a You are going to watch four people debating
citizen journalism. Before you watch, do you think
these arguments will refer to citizen journalism (CJ),
mainstream journalism (MJ) or both?
1 It’s fast and immediate. CJ / MJ
2 It’s personal. CJ / MJ
3 It’s reliable. CJ / MJ
4 It tells the whole story. CJ / MJ
50  VIDEO SKILLS  Now read the video skills box.
Watch the video and circle the way the speakers
use the arguments.
VIDEO SKILLS: Following a debate
Giving an opinion Responding to an argument
I think …, For me, … Yes, but …
I (always) find that … It might/may be …, but …
If it was me I’d … But don’t you think that …?
…, but you can’t deny that …
Contrasting arguments Introducing an explanation
but actually, whereas, I mean, …
while
Adding to an argument
On top of that, …, … as well
To expand/Expanding on that, …
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B2 Unit
2b 40 Are these extracts used to defend or criticise
CJ or MJ? Write, for example, for/against CJ.
Then watch again and check your answers.
1 ‘You feel like you’re there.’ 
2 They ‘wait until they’ve got all of their sources’.
3 ‘The thing is going to be fact-checked … more
afterwards.’
4 ‘You have to have everything set up.’
5 ‘There’s more control.’
6 ‘Just a thirty-second snippet.’
3a 50 Watch again and answer the questions.
1 What example does Girl A give of the advantage of
speed in CJ?
2 What examples are given which argue that both CJ
and MJ have a ‘competitive mindset’?
3 What does Girl B say about the negative effect of
social media on CJ?
4 How is the Holborn fire used to defend both MJ
and CJ?
5 What danger of CJ does Girl B mention at the end?
3b Which side of the debate made the best case? Why?
  After watching
4a Where would you go to find out about a story in
the news? Is it a reliable source of news?
4b SKILLS 4 LIFE  Write a visitor’s guide to the press
in your country. Follow these steps.
1 Make a list of some popular newspapers, TV channels
and radio stations in your country. Make notes on
each one in these areas.
News: local, national, international?
Tone: serious, sensationalist, humorous …?
Style: objective, biased, political …?
Audience: young, older, workers, executives …?
2 Do some research in your own language to find out
more about the way the media on your list present
news. Make your notes in English.
3 Write your guide. It should be divided into
appropriate sections and allow a visitor to choose
the best option for them to get news in your country.
REFLECT ON IT
Some people claim that we live in a post-factual
world. What do you think this means? What are
the consequences if this is true?
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