EngoTalk

Media and news: English Conversation Questions

How do you get your news, and how do you know it's true? Discuss trust, bias, misinformation and the future of journalism.

Level: Fluent

Speaking practice: answer out loud for one minute

Where do you get most of your news?

1:00

12 conversation questions about media and news

  1. 1Where do you get most of your news?
  2. 2Do you trust the news media in your country?
  3. 3How can you tell if a story is fake?
  4. 4Should social media platforms remove misinformation?
  5. 5Is it possible for news to be completely unbiased?
  6. 6Do you pay for any news? Should people?
  7. 7Is the news too negative?
  8. 8How has the 24-hour news cycle changed journalism?
  9. 9Should journalists share their personal opinions online?
  10. 10Do headlines give a misleading picture of events?
  11. 11How should young people learn media literacy?
  12. 12Would you rather know everything or be happier knowing less?

Useful phrases

  • I tend to get my news from...
  • I take... with a pinch of salt.
  • It's important to cross-check sources.
  • There's an inherent bias towards...
  • It sells, unfortunately.
  • That's a grey area.
  • I've become increasingly sceptical of...
  • Arguably, ...

Key vocabulary

misinformation
false information spread, often by mistake
clickbait
headlines designed to make people click
media literacy
the ability to judge media critically
bias
an unfair preference for one side
take with a pinch of salt
not believe something completely
echo chamber
a space where you only hear views like your own

Sample answer

Where do you get most of your news?

I tend to get my news from a couple of established newspaper websites and a podcast I listen to on my commute. I try to avoid getting news from social media because it's so easy to end up in an echo chamber. I take dramatic headlines with a pinch of salt, and if a story seems shocking, I cross-check it with at least one other reliable source.
Notice how the answer gives a reason and an example instead of a one-word reply.

Practise "Media and news" with a real partner

Questions are easier to remember once you've answered them out loud. Start a live 1-on-1 video call and use this topic to get the conversation going.

Practise this topic live

How to practise this topic

  • Answer each question in at least two or three sentences.
  • Try to use two of the useful phrases and one new word in every answer.
  • With a partner, ask a follow-up question like "Why?" or "Can you give an example?"
  • Alone, record your one-minute answer and listen back for one thing to improve.

More fluent topics

Culture and identityScience and spaceArt and creativityAgeing and societyEthics of technologyGlobalisation
All 40 conversation topics