Media and Newspapers
Challenging Bias

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  • Important documents:

    Professional reading:

  • Learners use a newspaper article and images about emojis to think about what representation means. They will consider their own representation and how widely they see themselves and others represented in their daily lives and school settings.  

  • Learners explore different types of bias that exist through an advertising poster from an advertising poster. They will look at biases relating to protected characteristics such as race, gender and religion, and how if unchallenged they can facilitate racist and discriminatory ideas.

  • Learners look critically at images and media reporting of climate activist Vanessa Nakate and ways these can create, reinforce, and deepen biases we hold. Learners will explore different types of bias that exist, including racial bias, and ways that racial bias can lead to silencing in the media and beyond.

  • Learners reflect on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk about the dangers of presenting people and places as a single story which go on to become the presumed truth. They consider how those with power hold the ability to define and shape the stories of people and places by making decisions about how they are told, who tells them, when they are told, and how many are told.

Through exploration of different types of media, learners will look critically at images and reporting and the ways these can create, reinforce, and/or deepen biases we hold. The activities and discussions are designed to support learners in developing a positive and self-affirming understanding of racial and cultural identity in themselves and in others.

Anti-Racist Curriculum Principles 

Our children and young people will: be supported to reflect on positionality, privilege and power, and to unlearn bias, prejudice and divisiveness. 

Our children and young people will: be critical thinking global citizens that challenge discrimination and prejudice through an understanding and awareness of the behaviours, practices and processes that create injustice in the world. 

UNCRC Articles

Article 2: The right to non-discrimination  

Article 17: The right to access to information from the media 

Article 29: The goals of education

Additional support:

Working with the Framework
Suggested Reading Lists
Parents, Carers and the Community
Social Action and Civic Participation
Using the Teaching Materials