MEDIA CITY · MISSION 07

INVESTIGATIVE NEWSROOM

YEAR 8 · TERM 1 · WEEK 7

The Newsroom: Context Matters

Can two accurate stories still create different impressions?

Three fictional outlets cover the same public-transport trial. All use real numbers from the scenario, but one uses a narrow graph scale, one foregrounds a dramatic outlier and one gives fuller context. Your job is to audit the editorial choices and produce a more responsible account.

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MISSION DECKMEDIA CITY / WEEK 07SELECT A MODULE

01BRIEFMission

02LEARNIntel

03INVESTIGATEEvidence

04ENGLISHEvidence case

05DECIDEMake the call

06DATANumbers

07PROJECTBuild

08CHECK-INReflect

★GAMEReward

ACTIVE OBJECTIVEThree fictional outlets cover the same public-transport trial. All use real numbers from the scenario, but one uses a narrow graph scale, one foregrounds a dramatic outlier and one gives fuller context. Your job is to audit the editorial choices and produce a more responsible account.

WORLDMEDIA CITY

SEQUENCE01 / 08

REWARDGAME BREAK

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YOU NEED

Required: a device with this page open.
Optional: headphones for video or read-aloud.
Optional: pen + paper for rough working if that helps you think.

HOW TO DO IT

Read or listen to the Briefing + Learn.
Do the interactive mission.
Use facts from the reading and maths parts.
Make your choice and save your project step.
Play the weekly game. Finish Check-in.

WORK YOUR WAY

Short bursts are fine. Use Learning Tools for easier reading, read-aloud, less on screen, stronger contrast, no-rush and quieter-screen options.

If you get stuck, look at the example and try again.

MISSION BRIEFING

Three fictional outlets cover the same public-transport trial. All use real numbers from the scenario, but one uses a narrow graph scale, one foregrounds a dramatic outlier and one gives fuller context. Your job is to audit the editorial choices and produce a more responsible account.

✓Compare source selection, quotation and rhetorical emphasis across reports.

✓Explain how sample size, outliers and graph scales can alter impressions without changing the raw data.

✓Distinguish established facts, interpretation and uncertainty.

✓Write an editorially responsible bulletin with explicit limitations.

MISSION MEDIA · TED-Ed

How to Choose Your News

Use the video to prime your editorial audit: source, context, emphasis and missing information.

YOUTUBE ↗

Captions are controlled inside the YouTube player. If the embed is unavailable, use the YouTube link.

LEARN

SOURCE → CONTEXT → EDIT

Accuracy is more than using true numbers. A report can still mislead if it hides the denominator, uses a narrow graph scale, treats an outlier as typical or selects only quotes that support one angle. Strong editorial work makes the evidence chain visible: what is known, who supplied the data, what the sample can support and what remains uncertain.

LEARNING BUILD

Learn. Try. Check.

Look at the example. Try it yourself. Need help? Open a hint.

01 · REFRESH · QUICK PREREQUISITE CHECK

Refresh: percentage increase = (new − original) ÷ original × 100. An outlier is an unusually different value that needs context before being treated as typical.

Boardings rise from 1,020 to 1,110. What is the increase in the number of boardings?

Choose an answer to reactivate the idea you need for this week.

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02 · TEACH · CORE IDEA

03 · TEACH · WHAT TO NOTICE

Compare source selection, quotation and rhetorical emphasis across reports.Explain how sample size, outliers and graph scales can alter impressions without changing the raw data.

04 · TEACH · CONNECT THE SKILLS

Distinguish established facts, interpretation and uncertainty.Write an editorially responsible bulletin with explicit limitations.

05 · WORKED EXAMPLE

Worked example: (1,110 − 1,020) ÷ 1,020 × 100 = 90 ÷ 1,020 × 100 ≈ 8.8%. A graph starting at 1,000 can make that increase look much larger visually even though the underlying numbers are unchanged.

06 · WE DO · GUIDED PRACTICE

Why should the 640-boarding day be treated carefully?

Choose the strongest answer. You will get an explanation straight away.

07 · YOU TRY · INDEPENDENT PRACTICE

YOU TRY: Draft a balanced editorial lead that includes the 8.8% increase, the outlier context and one limitation. Avoid turning either the increase or the low day into proof of overall success or failure.

Write at least 25 words. This is about the learning, not personal information.

MISCONCEPTION

MISCONCEPTION: “A technically accurate graph is automatically fair.” Axis choices and omitted context can exaggerate or minimise an effect without changing the raw values.

HELP

HELP: Use FACT → PERCENTAGE → CONTEXT → LIMITATION. Keep interpretation separate from established data.

STRETCH · OPTIONAL

STRETCH (optional): Describe a graph design that would make the comparison readable without visually exaggerating the 90-boarding change.

EDITORIAL AUDIT DESK

Fact, interpretation or needs context?

Classify all four editorial statements, then choose the lead that gives the clearest evidence chain.

CLAIM 1

Average weekday boardings rose from 1,020 to 1,110.

CLAIM 2

The rise proves the trial was a strong success.

CLAIM 3

The 640-boarding day happened during a road closure.

CLAIM 4

Starting the graph axis at 1,000 makes the increase look visually larger.

EDITORIAL LEAD CHECK

Which lead gives the most responsible account?

Classify all four claims and choose one responsible editorial lead.

OPEN THE SOURCE NOTES

SOURCE 1

Outlet North

Reports that average weekday boardings rose from 1,020 to 1,110 during the fictional trial and presents the change as strong growth.

SOURCE 2

Outlet South

Uses the same boarding figures but leads with one disruption day when only 640 boardings were recorded.

SOURCE 3

Data note

The 640-boarding day coincided with a fictional road closure and is an outlier compared with the rest of the trial period.

SOURCE 4

Graph audit

A graphic starts its vertical axis at 1,000 rather than zero, making the 90-boarding increase look visually much larger.

INVESTIGATE + ENGLISH · EVIDENCE CASE

True numbers can still be framed badly

The fictional trial increased average weekday boardings from 1,020 to 1,110, which is an increase of 90. One outlet describes that as strong growth. Another focuses on a single day with 640 boardings, but that day occurred during a road closure and is not typical of the rest of the trial. A third graphic uses a vertical axis beginning at 1,000, exaggerating the visual size of the change. None of those choices changes the raw numbers, but each affects the impression a reader receives. Responsible reporting explains the denominator, unusual conditions and uncertainty.

BUILD THE EVIDENCE CASE · CLAIM → EVIDENCE → REASONING

MAKE THE CALL

Build a source matrix for the fictional coverage. Mark each claim as FACT, INTERPRETATION or NEEDS CONTEXT, then decide what an editor should lead with and what must be qualified.

BUILD YOUR CASE CONCLUSION1. Make the call. 2. Use at least two relevant pieces of evidence. 3. Explain one limitation or uncertainty. 4. Finish with what can responsibly be concluded.Strong structure: My judgement is… The strongest evidence is… However, we still do not know… Therefore…

CASE CONCLUSION: Write 190–260 words as an editor. Compare at least two fictional reports, explain one framing problem involving an outlier or graph scale, include the percentage change in average boardings, state one limitation, and publish a balanced concluding sentence. Include a counterpoint before your conclusion.

YOUR REASONING

0/190 words minimum for this writing mission.

CLAIMEVIDENCELIMITATIONCONCLUSION

MATHS + DATA LAB

Check the numbers.

HOW TO SUCCEEDRead the situation first. Estimate what a sensible answer should look like, choose an efficient calculation, then use the feedback to check your reasoning.For data questions, explain what the number shows — and what it does not prove.

Average weekday boardings rose from 1,020 to 1,110. What is the percentage increase, rounded to one decimal place?

Estimate first, then choose the answer.

MISSION 05 · MATHS + DATA LAB

DATA TRAINING

NUMBER · YEAR 8 EXTENSION

6 PROBLEMS

QUICK METHODNUMBER

Estimate first, choose an efficient operation, then check whether the answer is reasonable.

GUIDED · Q01–Q03Use the quick method, then check the explanation.

Q01

20 × 3 = ?

Q02

60 ÷ 3 = ?

Q03

23 − 3 = ?

INDEPENDENT · Q04

Which is greatest?

INDEPENDENT · Q05

Estimate 20 × 3 to the nearest ten.

INDEPENDENT · Q06

A total of 60 is shared equally among 3 groups. Each group gets…

OPTIONAL CHALLENGE · OPEN RESPONSE

Find two different calculations that produce the same answer as one question above, then justify why both are valid.

0 words · optional

PROJECT HQ · PROJECT FILE 07

CHECK — editorial review of claims and sources.

Start something real. Build an idea, test it, improve it, and share it. Make your move.

Use strong clues and explain your decisions in your Reality Project.

PROJECT HQ · PROJECT FILE 07

CHECK

PROJECT JOURNEYWEEK 7 / 9

Run an editorial review of the evidence chain.

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THIS WEEKCHECK

Complete only this project step today. Your saved work carries forward, so you do not need to finish the whole project at once.

A STRONG STEPSpecific · useful · achievable

Use evidence from this week's mission, name a real audience or purpose, and make the idea small enough to test and improve.

BEFORE YOU SAVE, CHECK:✓ I answered every field clearly✓ I used evidence or reasoning from this week✓ My next step is realistic

STRONGEST EVIDENCECOUNTERPOINT / LIMITATIONCLAIM REVISION

Write in each box. Your answers save on this device as you type.

IDEA→RESEARCH→PLAN→BUILD→TEST→IMPROVE→PRESENT

Project sharing will be optional. A future upload system must keep private submission separate from public-showcase/marketing permission.

CHECK-IN

What changed in your thinking?

One thing I learned or questioned

YEAR 8 · REMIX · TERM 1 / WEEK 7

LASER HOCKEY: ELITE

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UPGRADED DIFFICULTYBEST SCORE SAVED

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