Persuasive Writing
What is emotional language?
Emotional language is the use of words and phrases that create strong feelings in the reader, such as excitement, fear, anger, or sympathy.
What is bias?
Bias is a preference or prejudice that influences how information is presented. News can be biased by favoring one side of an issue over another, either intentionally or unintentionally.
Are news sources reliable places to get information? Why?
Not alone. Every news source has different levels of reliability and bias, and it's important to get news from a reliable source and multiple sources.
What are deepfake videos, and why are they a growing concern in news media?
Deepfake videos use artificial intelligence to create realistic but fake videos of people saying or doing things they never did, which can spread false information.
What is an echo chamber and how does social media amplify this?
Echo chambers are where people only see opinions they agree with. Algorithms show users content similar to what they already interact with, further radicalising each side.
How does tone impact how a story is perceived?
Tone refers to the attitude or feeling conveyed in writing. A sarcastic tone can make a serious issue seem unimportant, while a neutral or formal tone can make a report seem more credible.
What is lateral reading?
You exit the tab to fact-check information. You ask: who is behind this information? You look at reliable sources to check key points and sources, as opposed to looking for signs of reliability on the website itself.
What are some examples of times when TikTok has spread misinformation?
Examples include false election claims, false information about the Ukraine including footage from video games, COVID-19 vaccine myths, and hoaxes about celebrity deaths or fake challenges that have led to harm.
How did the New Zealand Herald report on the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti?
The New Zealand Herald reported on the march, but some critics argued that coverage focused too much on disruptions rather than the movement’s purpose and message.
This popular social media app, known for its short videos, has raised concerns about data privacy and national security.
TikTok
What is propaganda?
The spreading of information—facts, arguments, rumours, half-truths, or lies—to influence public opinion
Define “story selection” and explain why it matters in news reporting.
Story selection refers to the decision of which stories get reported and which do not. This matters because it can shape public perception by highlighting certain issues while ignoring others.
Why did Stuff apologise to the Māori community?
Stuff apologised for past racist reporting that misrepresented Māori, reinforced stereotypes, and failed to provide fair coverage of Māori perspectives. For example, there was overreporting of Māori domestic abuse cases, and under-reporting of Pakeha domestic abuse.
What is polarization?
Dividing two groups harshly.
In 2018, this social media company faced backlash for the Cambridge Analytica scandal, involving data misuse.
Facebook or Meta
What is framing, and how does it affect news reporting?
Framing is the way information is presented in a story, which influences how people interpret it. For example, a protest can be framed as “passionate advocacy” or “dangerous disruption,” leading audiences to different conclusions.
What impact do framing, story selection, sourcing, and tone have on news?
These factors shape how a story is told and understood. Framing can influence interpretation, story selection can highlight or ignore certain events, sourcing affects credibility, and tone can sway readers' emotions.
List at least five reliable sources of information.
What is sourcing, and why is it important in news articles?
Sourcing refers to where information comes from. Reliable sourcing is important to ensure accuracy and credibility. Poor sourcing can lead to misinformation.
How does the design of social media platforms contribute to the spread of misinformation?
Algorithms prioritize content that gets engagement, meaning sensational or misleading posts can spread faster than accurate ones.
Occurs when someone falsely frames an issue as having only two options even though more possibilities exist. This oversimplification can lead people to overlook valid alternatives, believing they must choose between the two extreme options.
What is reading upstream?
Follow a link within a news story or social media post directly to the original source of information or the primary sources
What is an example of a time when news was not properly reported and negatively affected a marginalised community?
Reporting on the Central Park 5, underreporting of missing and murdered Indigenous women in many countries, FINISH THIS ONE
Give an example of a biased news report and explain how it could have been more balanced.
A biased report might portray a protest as violent while ignoring peaceful aspects. A balanced report would include perspectives from protesters and officials, along with unbiased observations.
How do social media companies make money?
They make money through targeted advertising, data collection, and promoted content based on user behavior and engagement. They create a data-driven image of you, and attempt to predict your behavior (buying, voting and attention.) You are the product: your attention.