Mini-Debates

Freedom
of the Press
In this lesson, you will read about the rights and restrictions
of the media. You'll talk about free expressionand debate
whether or not free expressionincludes theright to offend.

Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions

1. W
 hat is your favorite newspaper,
news website, or news show, and why?

2. What restrictions do journalists have in your country?

3. H
 ow does freedom of the press
differ from freedom ofspeech?

B. Vocabulary Preview

Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.

1. interference a) making fun of society, politics, or religion

2. democratic b) private, not to be disclosed
3. libel c) to make fun of something
4. confidential d) to overstep boundaries or ignore rules and regulations
5. obscene e) hurtful, upsetting
6. publication ban f) a severely negative reaction
7. cross the line g) disgusting or immoral, especially of a sexual nature
8. satirical h) an equal rights system in which the people choose their government
9. mock i) to express strong disapproval
10. backlash j) the prevention of an action, one thing that gets in the way of another
11. condemn k) a court order not to release information about a case
12. offensive l) a person who says one thing but takes the opposite action
13. hypocrite m) a false statement that could hurt a person's reputation

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 Freedom of the Press
Mini-Debates

Reading
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
Defending the Right to Offend

1. Freedom of the press refers to the right to express and communicate Where the press is
ideas in the media. The Universal Declaration of Rights states that free, and every man
everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression through
any media without interference. Freedom of the press is closely
able to read, all
related to an individuals right to freedom of speech. issafe. Thomas Jefferson
2. Journalists, like individuals, have a few restrictions, even in
democratic nations. They cant misrepresent a person or group in
a damaging way. This is called libel. They also can't copy the work of
someone else. In many countries, it is also illegal to publish something
that is confidential or obscene. Journalists are sometimes restricted
from publishing details that could interfere with a criminal case. This
is called a publication ban. In many nations, it is illegal to publish
government secrets related to national defense. When journalists
cross these lines, they often get into trouble.

3. N
 ot everyone agrees that publishers have the right to express
themselves freely. In fact, journalists are often targeted by those who
disagree with this right. One of the deadliest media killings in history
took place in an office space in Paris in 2015. Several staff members of
Charlie Hebdo magazine were killed by terrorists. The editor and his
staff were targeted for publishing satirical articles and cartoons that
mocked religion.

 henever journalists are targeted, there is always a heavy backlash.

4. W
After all, individuals value the right to inform and be informed.
Millions of people, including at least 50 world leaders, marched
in support of free expression following the Charlie Hebdo attacks.
Reporters Without Borders called many of these world leaders
hypocrites. If they supported freedom of the press in France,
whydidthey jail journalists at home?

5. T
 hough most people agree that killing in the name of a religion is
wrong, many, including the Pope, condemned the magazine for
publishing such offensive cartoons. Does freedom of the press
include the right to offend? If not, whose job is it to decide when
apicture or article crosses the line?

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 Freedom of the Press
Mini-Debates

Comprehension Pronunciation Practice

Discuss these questions in pairs, and WORDS WITH SILENT "N"
write the answers in your notebook.
In the following English words, thefinal n is not
1. Define freedom of the press in your own words. pronounced. Listen to your teacher say these words.
Then repeat thewords outloud and try making
2. W
 hat are journalists usually
sentenceswith them.
restricted from publishing?

3. W
 hat happened at Charlie Hebdo Examples:
magazine in 2015?
condemn hymn
4. Why does this reading mention the Pope? autumn solemn
column
5. W
 hy were some world leaders who
joined the Paris rally called hypocrites?

Vocabulary Review
A. Complete the Sentences

Complete the sentences using a word from the vocabulary

list on page 1. You may need to change the word form.

1. When the government with what the media publishes, this is called censorship.

2. Please don't my religion. I don't make fun of your beliefs.

3. M
 y dad is a . He tells us not to drink soda
because it's bad for our health. Then he lights a cigarette.

4. The editor refused to publish the cartoon. He respects every political candidate.

5. Please don't share my phone number. My personal information is .

6. T
 he teacher didn't expect a from parents.
She thought her note about homework would be well received.

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 Freedom of the Press
Mini-Debates

Vocabulary Review cont.

B. Synonyms

Circle the synonyms in each group of words.

1. a
 )offensive 3. a
 )make fun of 5. a
 )ban 7. a
 )block
b)hurtful b)trick b)prohibit b)interfere
c)confidential c)mock c)backlash c)libel

2. a
 )private 4. a
 )libel 6. a
 )hypocritical 8. a
 )disgusting
b)confidential b)obscenity b)cross the line b)obscene
c)democratic c)misrepresentation c)go too far c)satirical

Discuss
A. Discuss as a Class B. Discuss in Groups

In 1791, when the US Constitution included the 1. S

phrase freedom of the press, it referred to the printing
press. The First Amendment guaranteed the right to
print and publish information without government
censorship. In your opinion, what types of media
doesthe press include today?
 hould journalists be jailed for reporting
damaging information about a government?
2. S
 hould editors worry about terrorism
when they are deciding what to publish?
3. S
 hould individuals censor themselves
when publishing opinions online?

Debate Writing
Use the useful expressions on page 5 to help you make your points. After you have a debate, write
a paragraph summarizing your
Topic 1: own personal opinion about one
of the topics on this page. Use
The press must be free. Freedom of the press includes
expressions and transitions from
the right to express personal opinions even if they
page 5 as well as vocabulary
offend an individual, group, or religion.
frompage 1.

Topic 2:

The media today is too free. The government

shoulddo more to regulate what gets published.

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 Freedom of the Press
Mini-Debates

Useful Expressions and Transitions for Debating

Agreeing and Disagreeing Expressing an Opinion

That doesnt take away from the fact that... In my honest opinion...
Thats beside the point. It is my belief that...
With all due respect... From my experience...
I agree with you there. From where I look at it...
I agree with ---- (name). From my point of view...
I see your point, but...
That may be true, but...
Clarifying / Rephrasing
Were going to have to agree to disagree.
I get/see where youre coming from, but... Lets be clear here...
Im afraid I disagree entirely. I think you misunderstood what I said.
Im afraid Id have to disagree. What I said was... (repeat a point
I agree to some extent, but... that was misunderstood or confused)
I disagree with you there. What I meant to say was...
Pardon me for disagreeing, but... (rephrase something in a way that is clearer)
In other words...
What I was trying to say
Interrupting / Asking to Contribute
before I was interrupted is that...
I hate to interrupt, but...
If I may come in here...
Summarizing / Concluding
Id like to add something.
Would you like to contribute something? So let me get this straight. You think...
Id like to raise a point. To conclude...
If I could speak for a moment... Id just like to summarize by saying...
Id like to cut in here. Finally, Id like to reiterate that...
You havent answered my question. Its time to take stock of what weve heard today.
Both sides have some valid points.
The stronger argument/team today is...
Persuading

Can you see where Im coming from?

I challenge you to give this a try/chance.
I want you to see it my way.
Put yourself in my shoes.
Am I getting through to you?

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 Freedom of the Press
Mini-Debates

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: LEVEL: IntermediateAdvanced

Students read about freedom of the press. TIME: 1.52 hours

The lesson includesvocabulary review exercises,
TAGS: discussion, media, government, freedom,
comprehensionquestions, discussion questions, and debate
freedom of the press, journalist, cartoon,
questions. It also includes useful expressions for debates.
Paris, French, Charlie Hebdo, religion, culture

Pre-Reading 5. Some world leaders who joined the Paris rally were called
hypocrites because they jail journalists in their own countries.

A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS
Pronunciation Practice
Have students work in small groups or as a class.

Help your students with the pronunciation of the words

B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW
condemn,autumn, column, hymn, and solemn. Remind them
1. j 3. m 5. g 7. d 9. c 11. i 13. f thatthe n at the end of the word is silent. (You may also
2. h 4. b 6. k 8. a 10. f 12. e wanttoadd damn tothelist.)

Reading Vocabulary Review

Read individually, in small groups, or as a class. A. COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

Help your students with vocabulary and expressions
1. interferes 3. hypocrite 5. confidential
that they are unfamiliar with. Discuss the quote.
2. mock 4. satirical 6. backlash

Comprehension B. SYNONYMS

1. Freedom of the press is the right to express and 1. a, b 3. a, c 5. a, b 7. a, b

communicate ideas in the media. (Answers will vary.) 2. a, b 4. a, c 6. b, c 8. a, b

2. Journalists are usually restricted from publishing confidential

or obscene pictures or content. They also can't publish (continued on the next page...)

misinformation that would hurt someones reputation.

When there is a publication ban, they cant publish details
about a court case. They can also get in trouble for
publishinggovernment secrets.
3. Staff members of Charlie Hebdo magazine
were targeted for their involvement in satirical
articles and cartoons mocking religion.
4. This reading mentions the Pope because
the Pope condemnedthe offensive cartoons
thatwerepublished byCharlie Hebdomagazine.

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 Freedom of the Press
Mini-Debates

Answer Key cont.

Discuss SPELLING NOTE:

This lesson shows the American spelling of the words

A. DISCUSS AS A CLASS FavoriteandDefense. Other English-speaking countries spell

Talk about what the press means in modern times. these words this way: Favourite and Defence. Make it a challenge

How have 24-hour news, blogging, and social media for your students to find these words in the lesson and see

networkschanged ourdefinition of the press? iftheyknowthe alternate spellings.

B. DISCUSS IN GROUPS

Put your students in small groups to discuss a few

questions. This wil get them warmed up for a debate.

Debate

Review language used in debates (see page 5). Then divide students
into pairs or groups, with some arguing for and others arguing against
one or both of the topics. Alternatively, allow students to choose one
topic to debate as a class. If all students want to argue the same side,
assign some students to be on the other side of the debate. Give
students time to practice making statements about their opinions.

Remind students to defend their opinions with real-life examples and

details. They may also need to be reminded to respect the opinions of
others. You could also practice interrupting politely. (See our Functional
English lesson plan on Interrupting.) Consult our Teachers Notes for
more ideas on using ESL Librarys Mini-Debates intheclassroom.

Writing

Optional. Answers will vary.

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