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9th grade · Social Studies · Unit 3 of 9

Media & Democracy

A free press and a careful public

What your child practices

Why a free and responsible press matters, broadcast, print and online media, how officials use media to shape opinion, and how to spot misinformation, bias and spin.

Alaska content standards learning standard: SS.9-12.7.2; SS.9-12.7.3 · bias in the media and judging news sources

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The First Amendment protects freedom of the press, which helps citizens hold leaders accountable.
  2. Investigative journalism digs to uncover wrongdoing. Officials and political ads use media to persuade.
  3. Check reliability: look for named sources and see whether other trusted outlets report the same thing.

Example: Which amendment protects freedom of the press? It protects speech, religion, assembly and petition too. That is the First. Answer: the First

Media & Democracy in Alaska

In the Alaska content standards, this is unit 3 of 9 in 9th grade Social Studies, after Taking Part and before Forms of Government.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Prior restraint means the government…

    • pays for newspapers
    • owns all TV
    • reviews books after printing
    • stops something from being published

  2. Question 2

    A press conference lets officials…

    • count votes
    • hold trials
    • pass laws
    • speak to reporters and the public directly

  3. Question 3

    Which is a broadcast medium?

    • magazines
    • newspapers
    • pamphlets
    • television and radio

  4. Question 4

    A political ad's main goal is to…

    • report neutral facts only
    • count ballots
    • persuade voters
    • teach math

  5. Question 5

    A primary source for a news story could be…

    • a rumor
    • a meme
    • a summary on a blog
    • a court document or an interview with a witness

  6. Question 6

    Deepfakes are…

    • realistic fake videos or audio made with software
    • public records
    • live news broadcasts
    • court transcripts

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