What Makes Something News?
Imagine your class hamster, Peanut, escapes his cage right in the middle of math time! Everyone stops what they're doing. "Where's Peanut? Did we find him? Is he okay?" That feeling — wanting to know what just happened — is exactly what news is all about.
What You'll Learn
In this lesson you will: Learn the three questions that turn an event into news See examples of news versus everyday happenings Meet the people whose job is to find and share news Write your very own one-sentence news report
The Three News Questions
Not everything that happens is news. Your shoe being untied is not news. But a fire truck racing down your street IS news, because it is new, it is true, and it matters to people nearby. Reporters ask three questions before they share a story: 1. Is it NEW? Did it just happen? 2. Is it TRUE? Can we check the facts? 3. Does it MATTER? Will people care or need to know?
Before you call something news, ask yourself all three questions. If you can answer YES to New, True, and Matters, you've found real news!
Real News, Kid-Sized
When a new playground opens at your local park, that is news for families in your town — it is new, it is true, and it matters because kids want to go play. But a story about a playground that opened five years ago is not news anymore, because it is not new.
Who Tells Us the News?
Reporters are people whose job is to find out what happened and tell everyone honestly. They write for newspapers, talk on TV, or post on news websites and apps. Good reporters always try to get their facts exactly right before they share a story.
Match each news word to what it means.
Terms
Definitions
Drag terms onto their definitions, or click a term then click a definition to match.
Which of these is an example of real news?
What is the FIRST question a reporter should ask before sharing a story?
Be a Kid Reporter
Think of one true thing that happened at your home or school today. Write ONE sentence that answers: what happened, and who it happened to. Example: 'Today my dog Max found a new toy in the backyard.' Then check your sentence against the three news questions: Is it new? Is it true? Does it matter to someone? Share your sentence with a family member or classmate like a real news report.
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