News and Information
FoundationNews reports events at home and worldwide, with a headline, a lead and the body. Read with the six-question method, tell facts from opinions, verify before sharing — be a responsible reader of information.
- News keeps us in touch with current affairs and caring for society.
- A story has a headline, a lead and a body.
- Use the six questions to understand a story fully.
文體小知識：媒體素養說明文教我們聰明地閱讀新聞，做負責任的資訊讀者和分享者。
§Text Passage
1News is our window on the world: newspapers, TV news, radio and online news platforms report each day's big events at home and abroad. News keeps us in touch with current affairs — weather, transport arrangements and community events — and teaches us to care about society.
2A news story usually has three parts: the headline sums up the point and draws the reader; the lead states the most important matter in a sentence or two; the body tells the story in detail. While reading, ask the six questions — who, what, when, where, why and how. With all six answered, the story is fully understood.
3Readers must also tell facts from opinions: a fact is a statement that can be checked, such as the opening ceremony is held in Central at three this afternoon; an opinion is a personal view, such as this event is very meaningful. Advertisements and publicity use exaggerated words to attract attention, such as the strongest in the city — read with care.
4In the internet age news travels fast, and so does fake news. When a startling message arrives, do not forward it at once: check whether the source is reliable, compare whether other news platforms report it, and ask an adult. Never pass on messages of unknown origin — be a responsible reader and sharer of information.
1Summary 重點摘要
News reports events at home and worldwide, with a headline, a lead and the body. Read with the six-question method, tell facts from opinions, verify before sharing — be a responsible reader of information.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Information reporting recent important events.
The paper medium published regularly, carrying news.
The short phrase opening a story, summing it up and catching attention.
The first paragraph, stating the most important matter in a sentence or two.
Understanding an event by asking who, what, when, where, why and how.
A statement that can be checked, such as a time or place.
A personal view of something, differing from person to person.
A promotional message selling a product or event.
Untrue or unverified information; always check before sharing.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Know where news comes fromNews comes from different media, each with its strengths. Newspapers give detailed accounts that can be read again slowly; TV news shows pictures and live reports, bringing events close; online platforms update fastest and can be checked on a phone at any time. Naming three media and their strengths helps us pick the right source for each need. Radio news suits the ride to school; each medium has its strengths, matched to different occasions.
- Step 2: Spot the three parts of a storyA news story usually has three parts. Cut out a school news item to practise: circle the headline, which sums up the main point in one short line; circle the lead, which gives the most important facts at the start; circle the body, which fills in what happened in detail. Stick the clipping in your workbook with labels, and the structure becomes easy to see. Notice that some stories carry photos and charts as well — they help readers follow what happened more clearly.
- Step 3: Read with the six questionsThe six questions are a great helper for reading news. After reading the sports day report, answer each one: who (staff and pupils), what (sports day), when (Friday), where (the playground), why (to promote exercise), and how (team competitions). If all six can be answered, the key points are grasped; any question you cannot answer shows where to read more closely. In practice, write the six questions on a worksheet as a table and fill in each item — training an orderly way of reading.
- Step 4: Tell facts from opinionsNews mixes facts with opinions, and we must tell them apart. The library opens at nine in the morning can be checked — it is a fact; the library is my favourite place carries personal feeling — it is an opinion. When reading, ask: can this sentence be verified? Telling the two apart stops us taking other people's views as facts. Editorials and comment pieces express the views of the paper or the writer; read them apart from news reports.
- Step 5: Watch for ads and publicityNewspapers and web pages mix in advertisements and publicity, so watch for them. A crisps advert claiming the strongest taste in town is exaggerated promotional wording meant to attract buyers — not a news fact; a news report gives the time, place and course of events. Telling publicity from reporting keeps us from being led by adverts when we spend. Adverts often use limited offers and celebrity endorsements to draw customers; before spending, think whether you truly need it.
- Step 6: Verify before sharingMessages online are of every kind, so verify before forwarding. On receiving a classes-are-suspended-tomorrow message, check the school website and the government press releases first, and tell your family only once it is confirmed; any message whose source cannot be found should not be forwarded at all. With the habit of checking before sharing, you become a smart reader who fights fake news. Discuss the message with your family before sharing; one more person verifying means one more measure of certainty — careful sharing is the attitude the internet age calls for.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Example: Wai receives a group message: all classes suspended across Hong Kong tomorrow — share this now! How should she handle it?
- Alarming words urging immediate sharing are classic signs of fake news; stay calm and do not forward at once.
- Check the source: the message does not say it comes from the school or the government, so its origin is unknown.
- Compare and verify: browse the school website and the government press releases — neither carries any such announcement.
- Tell her family the message is unverified, and remind classmates not to share it.
- Answer: Wai should stay calm, check the source, then verify through official channels such as the school website and government press releases; unverified messages must never be shared, and she should remind classmates and family to stay alert too.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What three parts does a news story usually have?
Q2What are the six questions of the six-question method?
Q3What is the difference between a fact and an opinion?
Q4What should we do before forwarding a startling message?
Q5How can we be responsible sharers of information?
8Recap Recap
- News keeps us in touch with current affairs and caring for society.
- A story has a headline, a lead and a body.
- Use the six questions to understand a story fully.
- Tell facts from opinions and watch advertising wording.
- Verify before forwarding — never spread fake news.