Activity 1: 30 minutesExamining Media RepresentationsAimTo examine media representations.ObjectivesUnderstand that the media report facts and opinions.Understand the ways in which the media construct and communicate bias.Think about the ways in which reporting affects different people.ResourcesActivity Sheet 1.1 and Activity Sheet 1.2, 'Refugees in the Media', sources and questionsTasks1. Introduction to media representationsDiscuss the word 'bias', giving examples.Ask for examples where students have noticed 'biased' reporting (in any form).Mention newspapers and bias if this topic hasn't already come up.2. Refugees in the mediaGive out Activity Sheet 1.1 and Activity Sheet 1.2 for students to use to record their answers.Ask the students to work through the questions.For Question 9 it may be useful to point out to students that in the first half of the 1990s Germany had 1,500,000 applications for asylum, while Britain had 200,000.After a set time encourage students to feed back their answers to the class.Discussion PointsHow do the media report 'news'?Is the reporting fair?Do the media affect everyone in the same way?Could the media contribute to social problems such as racism?Are you affected by biased reporting? Are other people?ExtensionThe discussion points might raise the issue of censorship. This could lead you on to consider freedom of speech, an issue that is also raised in Option 4 on Dover. Additional material could be provided to illustrate the nature of press coverage.DifferentiationUse only a selection of headlines to make some of the same points so that less-able students do not have to read all of the extracts.HomeworkLook for one example of an unfair article or cartoon. Bring it to class next time.National Curriculum Focus1(h) The significance of the media 2(a) Think about issues by analysing information 3(a) Use imagination to consider other's experienceKey skills: communication