1 - Introduction
How Media Works - The Basics
News surrounds us every day—from your phone notifications to TV screens and newspaper headlines. But how does a real-world event become a news story that reaches you? This lesson breaks down the process behind the news you consume.
In This Lesson, You'll Learn
- How news stories are created, from event to publication.
- Who decides what stories get coverage and why.
- How money influences what you see in the media.
- Common techniques used to shape stories, like framing and sensationalism.
2 - How Does News Actually Get Made?
How Does News Actually Get Made?
Ever wonder how a story gets from real life into your TV, phone, or newspaper?
In This Lesson, You'll Learn
✓ How news stories are created
✓ Who decides what you see
✓ Why some stories get coverage
✓ How money shapes the news
Key Idea: When you understand HOW media works, you spot problems better and ask smarter questions.
💭 Think About This: How many news stories do you see or hear about in a typical day? Where do they come from?
3 - From Event to Story
How A Story Gets From Real Life To You
Let's follow one story through 7 stages:
Stage 1: Something Happens
A new community center opens in your neighborhood
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Stage 2: A Reporter Hears About It
From social media, press release, or word of mouth
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Stage 3: Reporter Investigates
Interviews, visits, checks facts, gets quotes
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Stage 4: Reporter Writes Story
Decides what's important, which quotes to use, what headline to write
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Stage 5: Editor Reviews
Checks facts, suggests changes, decides if it's important enough
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Stage 6: Story Gets Published
In newspaper, website, or TV broadcast
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Stage 7: Story Spreads
Shared on social media, discussed, or forgotten
Key Idea: At EVERY stage, decisions are made about what to include and leave out. The story you see is a selected, shaped version—not the whole picture.
💭 Reflect: If you were reporting this story, what would YOU decide to emphasize? What might you leave out?
4 - Who Controls the Media?
Who Decides What You See?
Different people make decisions at different levels:
The Decision-Makers (Click to Learn More)
📰 Editors
+📺 TV News Directors
+🎤 Journalists/Reporters
+💼 Owners
+💰 Advertisers
+Key Question: "Who made the decision to show me this story, and what might their motivation be?"
💭 Real Example: A newspaper doesn't report on environmental problems at its biggest advertiser's factory. Why? They don't want to lose the advertising money.
5 - Where Does Media Get Its Money?
How Does Media Make Money?
Understanding this is KEY to understanding what you see.
The Business Models
📰 Newspapers & Magazines
- Subscriptions/copies sold
- Advertising space (often more important than sales)
📺 TV & Radio
- Almost entirely advertising funded
- You don't pay—advertisers do
🌐 Websites & Apps
- Advertising
- Subscriptions
- Selling YOUR data
📱 Social Media
- Almost entirely advertising
- You're the product being sold
What This Means
Media organizations are BUSINESSES. They need money to survive, which means:
- They want as many viewers/readers as possible
- They want to keep advertisers happy
- They prioritize stories that attract attention (even if sensational)
- They sometimes avoid stories that upset advertisers
💭 Think About It: When you watch free content on TV or online, you're not the customer. Advertisers are. Your attention is being sold to companies that want to reach you.
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