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Where do we get our news?
B160 minsNew. New: checked automatically for level, grammar, facts and originality; a teacher's review is still to come. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.newssocial-mediatechnologymedia
Video: Social media more popular news source than TV and news websites | BBC Learning English from the News
About this lesson
A B1 lesson on news and social media, built on a BBC Learning English report about falling trust in the news. Students learn everyday phrases for talking about news habits, predict what a big new report found, and discuss where they get their news and who they trust.
- Learn six phrases for talking about news and where it comes from.
- Predict what a new report found, then check and correct your answers.
- Watch and find out why people still use social media for news.
- Discuss your own news habits and how much you trust what you see.
- Sum up the lesson using the key phrases.
Target vocabulary
hit a new lowa source of newskeep up with the newsfake newson the riseturn to something
Lesson activities
Let's get started with a warm-up
1
Your news habits
Discuss the questions.
- How often do you read, watch or listen to the news?
- What is your favourite way to get the news — TV, websites, apps or social media?
- Do you prefer to read the news or watch it? Why?
- Do you talk about the news with your friends or family?
Let's learn some vocabulary!
2
Talking about the news
Read the sentences and match the phrases in bold with the correct meanings below.
a)After the scandal, trust in the government hit a new low.
b)For many young people, social media has become a source of news they check every day.
c)I use one app to keep up with the news on my way to work.
d)It can be hard to spot fake news when a story spreads quickly online.
e)The number of people getting their news from video is on the rise.
f)When something big happens, most people turn to their phones first.
MEANINGS:
- increasing
- false stories made to look like real news
- fall to the lowest level ever recorded
- go to a particular source for news or help
- a place or service where people get their news
- stay informed about what is happening
3
News questions
Complete the gaps with the phrases from ex. 2. Then, ask a partner three of the questions.
You may need to change the form of the verb.
a)When was the last time your energy or mood ?
b)Do you have that you check first thing in the morning?
c)How do you during a really busy week?
d)Have you ever shared a story online and later found out it was ?
e)Which way of getting news do you think is among your friends?
f)When big news breaks, do you , TV, or a news app first?
Now, we'll put it into practice!
4
Where's it from?
Look at the four photos. Then, discuss the questions, using the phrases in the box.
A
B
C
Dhit a new lowa source of newskeep up with the newsfake newson the riseturn to something
- Which of these is your main source of news? Put the four in order for you.
- Which one do you trust the most, and which the least? Why?
- Which do you think is most likely to show fake news?
- When big news breaks, which one do you turn to first?
5
Compare your answers
Look at the questions in ex. 3 again and discuss the points below with a new partner.
- Whose news habits are most like yours?
- Which of the six phrases is most useful for you?
- Did anyone give you a good idea for how to keep up with the news?
6
What did the report find?
Watch to 02:42
Read the statements about the report and decide if they are true or false. Then, watch the first part of a video [https://youtu.be/qRsLwL9lJQg] (to 02:42) and check your answers. Correct the false ones.
a)Trust in the news around the world is now the highest it has ever been.
b)The 2026 Digital News Report was published by the Reuters Institute.
c)Around the world, public trust in the news is now about 27%.
d)In the UK, trust in the news is higher than it was ten years ago.
e)For the first time, social media and video are more popular than TV as a source of news.
7
Why social media?
Watch 02:42–05:14
Watch the second part of the video (from 02:42 to 05:14) and answer the questions.
a)What is happening to traditional news sources like TV news and news websites?
b)Social media is now the most used way to get news, but how much do people trust it?
c)What worry grows as more people use social media for news?
d)Why do many people still choose to get their news from social media?
Let's talk!
8
What do you think?
- Where do you usually get your news — TV, websites, social media or apps?
- Do you trust the news you see on social media? Why or why not?
- Have you ever seen fake news online? What was it about?
- Is getting your news from social media more of a good thing or a bad thing?
- Do you think you will keep up with the news more or less in the future?
9
Giving advice
Choose two people below. Then, give them advice about the news, using the phrases in the box.
A friend who only sees news through funny videos on social media.
An older relative who worries about believing fake news.
A student who says they have no time to keep up with the news.
Someone moving to a new country who wants a good local source of news.
hit a new lowa source of newskeep up with the newsfake newson the riseturn to something
- Which source of news would you tell them to use, and why?
- How can they check whether a story is fake news before sharing it?
- What is one simple habit that would help them keep up with the news?
10
Sum it up
Summarise what you learned in the lesson using some of the points below and the phrases in the box.
hit a new lowa source of newskeep up with the newsfake newson the riseturn to something
- what the report found about trust in the news
- how people are getting their news now, compared to before
- one thing from the lesson that surprised you
- one change you might make to your own news habits
Spotted a mistake in this lesson?· tell us the exercise and item
Glossary
The 6 words and phrases this lesson teaches, in one set.
Talking about the news
- hit a new low
- fall to the lowest level ever recorded
- a source of news
- a place or service where people get their news
- keep up with the news
- stay informed about what is happening
- fake news
- false stories made to look like real news
- on the rise
- increasing
- turn to something
- go to a particular source for news or help