RI 2024 GP Y5 Infopack Media Issues Students

RI GP Y5 2024 | Media Issues FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 1 of 80 Note: Articles and/or sections in bold/asterisk(*) denote foundational readings Enduring Understanding(s) RAFFLES INSTITUTION YEAR 5 GENERAL PAPER STUDENTS’ INFORMATION PACKAGE 2024 Unit: Media Issues EUs Page Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions Past Year Examination Questions 2 3-5 Section A: Foundational Concepts* 1. Understanding the mass media – Key definitions 2. Understanding the mass media – The 5 Functions 3. Evaluating the mass media – Asking 5 Critical Questions 1 & 5 1, 3, 4 & 5 1-5 6-8 9-12 13-16 Section B: Media Representation & Effects 4. Media and gender stereotyping* 5. Dollars and diversity: Hollywood’s inclusive films 6. Minahs and minority celebrity: social media as sites of resistance 7. How the news changes the way we think and behave 3 & 4 1-5 1-3 & 5 1, 3, 4 & 5 17-20 21-24 25-28 29-32 Section C: Media’s Effectiveness as a Tool for Sociopolitical Change 8. Is posting on social media a valid form of activism?* 9. The Second Act of Social Media Activism 10. Cancel Culture – Force for Good or Mob Justice? 1, 2, 4 & 5 1, 2, 4 & 5 1, 2, 4 & 5 33-35 36-38 39-42 Section D: Privacy & Security 11. We’re living in a digital serfdom – trading privacy for convenience 12. Is social media vigilantism a valid or harmful way of dealing with rule breakers? 1, 2 & 5 1-3 & 5 43-45 46-49 Section E: Media Freedom & Regulation 13. World Press Freedom Index (Report for 2022) 14. Hold the press – A primer on Singapore media* 15. Broader implications of the SPH Media circulation scandal 16. Has POFMA been effective? A look at the fake news law, 1 year since it kicked in 17. Looking beyond POFMA to Combat Fake News and Misinformation in Singapore 18. Social media regulation in different countries 19. Excessive regulation no ‘silver bullet’ to Internet woes 20. Banning harmful ideas only strengthens them 21. Of social media platforms’ power and the future of digital democracy 1-3 & 5 1-4 1-2 & 5 1-5 1-5 1-5 1-5 1, 2, 4 & 5 1-5 50-52 53-56 57-59 60-65 66-69 70-72 73-74 75-77 78-80 Section F: Media in a Post-Truth World 22. After a ‘post-truth’ presidency, can America make facts real again? 23. Belonging is Stronger Than Facts: The Age of Misinformation* 24. How falsehoods fire up online battle to control narratives of Israel-HAMAS war* 25. How Finland starts its fight against fake news in primary schools 1-5 1-5 1-5 2 & 5 81-84 85-87 88-91 92-94

RI GP Y5 2024 | Media Issues FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 2 of 80 What key concepts students will understand as a result of this unit: 1. The media serves multiple functions and roles. These functions are informed by the interests of the producers (commercial, political etc.) as well as the interests of the consumers. 2. The functions and roles of the media may come into tension with interests of other societal stakeholders, who may react to temper this tension. 3. All media are carefully manufactured cultural products that seem to represent reality but are, in fact, constructions of reality. Hence, they contain embedded values and points of view. 4. These constructions of reality influence the way we see ourselves, our aspirations and desires, and our perceptions of the world around us. 5. Technological advancements shape the media’s impact on society. Such advancements can magnify, disrupt and accelerate media’s effects in unpredictable ways. Essential Questions What key questions students can ask as a result of this unit: 1. How reliable is the media? Can the media ever be truly objective? 2. Should the media aim only to inform or should they attempt to shape public opinion? 3. What is the impact of the media on culture, values and choices? 4. Is the media responsible for the problems in our society? 5. Who has the greatest influence – media conglomerates, consumers or the government? 6. How should governments balance the concerns of the community with the individual’s freedom of expression? 7. What is the impact of new media on mainstream media? 8. What is the impact of new media on politics, governance and democracy? How is new media shaping the regulatory role of the government?

RI GP Y5 2024 | Media Issues FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 3 of 80 PAST-YEAR EXAMINATION QUESTIONS ON THE MEDIA (2010-2020) Cambridge 1. 'The quality of human interaction is diminished by modern communication devices.’ How far do you agree? (Cambridge 2023) 2. ‘Dramas on television or film are never as effective as a live performance.’ Discuss. (Cambridge 2022) 3. To what extent has social media devalued true friendship in your society? (Cambridge 2021) 4. ‘Films are concerned with escaping from the problems of everyday life, rather than addressing them.’ Discuss. (Cambridge 2021) 5. Is news today reliable? (Cambridge 2021) 6. ‘Advertising is largely about persuading people to buy what they do not need.’ How far do you agree? (Cambridge 2021) 7. ‘In a free society, there should be no restrictions on f reedom of speech.’ Discuss (Cambridge 2020) 8. Consider the view that social media has more influence than politicians. (Cambridge 2019) 9. Does violence in the visual media portray reality or e ncourage the unacceptable? (Cambridge 2019) 10. Is regulation of the press desirable? (Cambridge 2017) 11. ‘The quality of written language is being destroyed by social media.’ What is your view? (Cambridge 2017) 12. Any adaptation of a novel for film, television or the theatre is never as effective as the original.’ Discuss. (Cambridge 2016) 13. Consider the argument that the main purpose of television should be to educate rather than simply to entertain. (Cambridge 2015) 14. Do films offer anything more than an escape from reality? (Cambridge 2014) 15. In the digital age do newspapers still have a role in your society? (Cambridge 2011) 16. ‘The book has no place in modern society.’ Discuss. (Cambridge 2010) Raffles Institution 1. Consider the role of social media in shaping political opinion. (RI 2023 Y6 Prelims) 2. ‘We should not be afraid of social media.’ Do you agree? (RI 2023 Y5 Common Test) 3. ‘We can no longer rely on the press for the truth.’ Do you agree with this view? (RI 2023 Y6 Timed Practice) 4. Examine the view that having a social media presence is a necessary evil today. (RI 2023 Y6 Timed Practice) 5. ‘In today’s digital age, freedom of expression works better in theory than in practice.’ To what extent is this true? (RI 2022 Y6 Common Test) 6. ‘State censorship of the media is no longer necessary today.’ What is your view? (RI 2022 Y6 Timed Practice) 7. Is there a place for social media beyond entertainment? (RI 2022 Y6 Timed Practice) 8. To what extent has the media hindered scientific progress? (RI 2022 Y6 Prelims) 9. ‘Advertisements on traditional media no longer have a place in society today.’ Comment. (RI 2022 Y5 Common Test) 10. ‘Government regulation of the media has become less effective today.’ Do you agree? (RI 2022 Y5 Common Test) 11. Consider the view that comics offer nothing more than entertainment. (RI 2022 Y5 Common Test) 12. ‘It is harder than ever to be a journalist today.’ Comment. (RI 2021 Y6 Common Test) 13. ‘Now more than ever, the media needs to exercise greater responsibility.’ Do you agree? (RI 2021 Y5 Promo)

RI GP Y5 2024 | Media Issues FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 4 of 80 14. ‘Social media disconnects more than it connects.’ Discuss. (RI 2021 Y5 Common Essay Assignment) 15. ‘Traditional media has lost its place in today’s society.’ Discuss. (RI 2021 Y5 Common Essay Assignment) 16. To what extent do you agree that the internet has made it difficult for us to care about anything for long? (RI 2020 Y6 Prelim) 17. ‘Fre