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SCHOOL PROGRAM

FACT OR FAKE: YOUR GUIDE TO NEWS LITERACY

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Friday 28 March, 2025

9.30am-2.30pm

 

It’s increasingly important that young people understand how ‘news’ is presented to them in the 21st century so that they can form their opinions and ideas about our ever-changing world.

 

Students of English, History, MultiMedia and other subject areas may all benefit from this incredible day where we dig deep into how the news is told and its impact on us as readers and writers.  

 

With persuasive and discursive writing as major components of the curriculum, understanding how ‘Op-Ed pieces’, PR, and media influencers impact our understanding of ‘news’ is also vital. 

 

Our program, led by those at the forefront of news telling, will enlighten students in Years 9 and above about what the news means in contemporary Australia. 

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Join Gavin Fang and Tracey Kirkland from the ABC, Kim Smee from Manly Observer, and Jill Valentine, communications and PR executive for a dynamic one-day session to sharpen your skills in working out fact from fiction. 

Schools who wish to participate in this program should contact the Manly Writers' Festival directly for bookings at hello@manlywritersfestival.org.au or call us on 02 7229 4889.

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The School Program is free thanks to the support of Aide de MD.

1 

Introduction to the News

  • Topics:

    • What is news?

    • Types of news (hard news, soft news, opinions, editorials).

    • The role of news in democracy and society.

  • Interactive Activity:

    • Group discussion: "What is the most important news story you've heard or read this week? Why?"

2

Real vs Fake News

  • Topics:

    • What is fake news, and why does it exist?

    • How to spot fake news: analysing sources, verifying facts, identifying bias.

  • Interactive Activity:

    • Students will be shown several short articles or headlines and work in small groups to decide which are real and which are fake, explaining their reasoning.

3

Writing News

Topics:

  • The structure of a news article (headline, lead, body, conclusion).

  • Writing clearly and concisely.

  • The importance of accuracy and neutrality.

4

News vs PR

  • Topics:

    • What is PR (Public Relations), and how is it different from journalism?

    • How PR influences the news (e.g., press releases, corporate communications).

    • Identifying when news is PR-driven versus independently reported.

  • Interactive Activity:

    • Students are shown examples of news stories and PR materials (e.g., a press release) and discuss the differences.

5

Fact-Checking and Journalist Responsibilites

Topics:

  • Tools and methods for fact-checking.

  • Ethical responsibilities of journalists.

  • Interactive Activity:

  • Students use online tools to fact-check a given statement or piece of news.

6

Practical News Writing Challenge

Activity:

  • Students choose from scenarios (e.g., a sports event, a school fundraiser, a natural disaster, a concert tour) and work in pairs to create a headline, an introductory paragraph and a concluding paragraph.

7

Wrap-Up and Reflection

  • Summary of key takeaways and how students can use their newfound skills to engage with the news critically.

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