Conversation questions - News
What is the role of newspapers in society?
What sells newspaper?
Why do we buy newspapers?
Do you think that news is censored in some countries?
Is the news censored in your country?
Will newspapers disappear in the future?
How does American news differ from your country's news?
What is your favorite section of the newspaper to read?
How often do you watch the news?
o Do you make a point of watching the news?
o Do you feel bad if you miss the news?
Which kind of news is the best for you? Why?
o Newspaper?
o Radio?
o Televison?
o Internet?
Do you think that the news is necessary? Why or why not?
What would the world be like without news?
Do you think the news tells us just information without giving its
opinion?
Should the news give an opinion?
Do you think the news influences people too much?
Do you think the news is shocking now?
How has it changed over the years?
Do you think people need to know all of the news?
What do people not need to know?
What do you think is the most important thing the news should
report?
What was the most memorable news you ever watched?
If the news reported your week, what would be the headline?
Think of a news headline for the following countries: America,
Britain, France, China, Australia, Indonesia, Russia, Germany.
Do you read the newspaper everyday?
How often do you read the newspaper?
What newspaper do you read?
How much does the newspaper cost?
What kind of magazines do you like to read?
What is your favorite newspaper?
What is your favorite magazine?
Are magazines expensive in your country?
Do you enjoy reading a newspaper?
What sections of a newspaper do you like to read?
What are the different sections in a newspaper?
Do you think that reading a newspaper is a good way to improve
your English?
What kinds of information can you get from the newspaper?
Where do you get most of your news?
Do you like to keep up with current events?
If you are someone who usually follows the news, has there
been a time when you decided to stop? Why and for how long?
Do you think it's important to read the newspaper and know
what is going on in the world? Why or why not?
Do you trust the information you get from the news?
you are someone who usually follows the news, has there been
a time when you decided to stop? Why and for how long?
What different types of newspapers do you read?
Do you read newspapers in other languages?
Is your hometown newspaper on the internet?
1. To what extent do the various news items engage you, interest
you and captivate you? Why?
2. What themes, issues and conflicts are represented in the
selected stories? Why do you think those have been chosen?
3. Which of the stories are highlighted as major news? How and
why?
4. Which sources and interviewees have been selected in the major
stories (as far as we can tell from the published news)? Why do you
think those persons have been selected?
5. Which perspectives and angles have been chosen in the editorial
introductions, the actual interviews and in the graphic presentations?
Why do you think these journalistic and editorial decisions have
been made?
6. With whom(if anyone) do you identify in the major news stories?
Why?
7. Would you describe the major news stories as essential and
important? Why, or why not?
8. What kind of essential areas, topics and perspectives are missing
in these news stories, if any? Why? To what extent may this be
representative for the news industry?
9. What kind of professional and personal values do you discover
among the journalists in the major news stories? To what extent,
and why, do you identify with these values?
10. If the Christian faith, Christian organizations or Christian
individuals are covered in the news stories, how are these
portrayed? Why?
11. To what extent did the stories leave you with a sense of
involvement, hope, excitement, indifference, despair – or maybe with
a mixture of such feelings? Why?
12. How do a classical Christian view of humanity and the world help
us to understand the wider context of the major news stories?
