The key answer of exercise 2
The key to exercise solutions in chapter Unit 12 - 21st-century news for the textbook Engage B2 with Exam Skills with authors Barbara Bettinelli e Jane Bowie from Pearson Longman
Question
Read the text and answer the questions.
Answer
- Journalism of the past was characterized by investigative journalism, accurately written press releases, and carefully controlled press conferences. Today, however, news tends to prioritize immediacy, leading to poor writing, substandard fact-checking, and sometimes false information.
- Websites benefit from lots of clicks because they can sell advertising space based on the popularity of their content. Clickbait titles attract clicks, increasing revenue potential for the website.
- A scientific website conducted an experiment by publishing a headline claiming that NASA had confirmed that marijuana contains alien DNA from beyond our solar system. Despite the article clearly stating it was an experiment, it garnered over 140,000 shares, demonstrating that many people shared the article without reading it.
- A major US public information service published a headline asking why Americans didn't read anymore, revealing that 70% of social network users didn't read the articles they commented on. Despite clear instructions within the article not to comment, hundreds of people still commented.
- News feeds or 'top stories' present stories often from genuine sources, tailored to the individual's interests based on browsing history. However, relying solely on such feeds can limit exposure to alternative viewpoints and lead to the acceptance of 'alternative truth.'
- Alternative truth is described as a concerning phenomenon where a point of view lacking statistical or objective basis becomes accepted simply because it has been reported. This can occur when individuals are exposed only to certain viewpoints or when complex news stories are reduced to simplistic interpretations, leading to misinformation on a global scale.