The Rise of News Influencers

1. Set Focus 
Pose this essential question: What makes a news story trustworthy? 

2. Read and Discuss 
Have students read the article, marking key ideas and questions. Then ask them to answer the following questions, citing text evidence: 

• What are “news influencers” and why are they gaining in popularity? (News influencers are content creators who report on and discuss current events with their social media followers. They have become popular because, according to the article, many people have lost faith in traditional news models and no longer feel that traditional media can be trusted to report the news fully, accurately, or fairly.) 

• Consider the pros and cons listed in the “Two Kinds of Media” box. Which type of news media would you prefer? Why? (Students’ answers may vary but should be based on one or more of the pros and cons listed in the “Two Kinds of Media” box on page 7 of the article.)

• According to the final section, what are traditional news media outlets doing to “borrow from” the methods of news influencers? Do you agree that their efforts will “better the industry overall”? (According to the article, journalists at The New York Times now respond to reader comments and make short videos discussing their reporting, and The Washington Post has a TikTok account. Some outlets are also working with creators to attract younger audiences. Students’ opinions on this may vary but should be supported with reasons.)

3. Core Skill Practice
Assign, print, or project the activity Evaluate the Source. Have students use the form to evaluate the credibility of one or more news creators’ news stories.

4. Writing Prompt
What does Aaron Parnas mean by “authenticity,” and how does he establish it with his audience? Why do you think seeming authentic matters when it comes to news content creators? 

5. Classroom Debate
Should platforms be responsible for fact checking news content creators?

6. Quiz & Skills
Use the quiz to assess comprehension and the Be the Editor skills sheet to review grammar skills.