Section 1 — The News
8 key phrases
Session 1 Key Phrases: What is news?
The phrases educated English speakers use when discussing and evaluating news. Learn these and you will immediately sound more analytical.
According to reports...opening phrase
Use when: introducing information from news sources without full verification
A phrase that distances you from unverified information while still sharing it. Essential for sounding precise and careful.
"According to reports, the ceasefire has already broken down — though no official confirmation has been issued."
The story broke...news phrase
Use when: describing when a story first became public
"Break" in news means to publish or broadcast first. "The story broke" describes the moment news became public.
"The story broke on social media hours before any mainstream outlet picked it up."
That story didn't get much coverage.analytical phrase
Use when: noting that a significant event was underreported
"Coverage" refers to how much attention a story receives. Saying something "didn't get coverage" is a way of naming editorial choices.
"The floods in the south of the country didn't get much coverage — the election dominated everything that week."
I read that in a reliable outlet.sourcing phrase
Use when: signalling the quality of your information source
"Outlet" means publication or broadcast channel. Adding "reliable" signals you think critically about where your news comes from.
"I don't share things without checking them — I only share what I read in reliable outlets."
Who's the journalist on this?evaluative question
Use when: assessing the credibility of a story by looking at who wrote it
A question that moves beyond the content of a story to the credibility of its author. Professional readers ask this automatically.
"Before forwarding this article, who's the journalist on this? Are they a specialist? Do they have a track record?"
The headline doesn't match the story.critical observation
Use when: noting a discrepancy between a headline and the article below it
Clickbait — sensational headlines that exaggerate or misrepresent the content below — is one of the most common forms of news manipulation. Naming it is the first step.
"The headline says 'Scientists prove X' but the story says 'a small study suggests X might be possible.' The headline doesn't match the story."
What's the angle here?analytical question
Use when: asking what perspective or agenda a story is presenting
Every news story has an "angle" — a chosen perspective from which it tells the story. Asking for the angle is the beginning of critical reading.
"I can see why this story is newsworthy — but what's the angle? Who does this version of events serve?"
Let me look at a different source.practice phrase
Use when: cross-checking information before accepting or sharing it
The single most important habit of a sophisticated news consumer. Looking at multiple sources reveals what each one emphasizes — and what each leaves out.
"That seems like a significant claim. Let me look at a different source before I decide what to make of it."