Section 1 — The News
Session 4 of 16
Thursday, June 11, 2026
What stories leave out
Every story that is told also leaves something out. In this session we focus on what's missing: which voices are absent, whose perspective is not represented, and why. The decision not to cover something is as powerful as the decision to cover it. Understanding omission is one of the most important skills in critical news reading.
Vocabulary for this session
omissiongatekeepingperspectiveaccessplatformunderreportedcensorshipeditorial judgmentsilencespin
Grammar focus
Grammar focus: Implication and omission in English — how passive constructions, vague agents, and careful word choice hide responsibility. "Mistakes were made" (who made them?), "a man was shot" (who shot him?), "protests turned violent" (who started the violence?). The passive voice can be a tool of evasion.
Come prepared to discuss
"Why do some stories get covered while others don't? Who decides what matters?"
Before this session
Prepare: Think of a major issue in your country that is rarely covered in international news. Why do you think it gets so little attention?
Task-Based Activity
The Missing Voice. Give students a news article. Ask: Who is quoted? Now ask: Who is affected by this story but NOT quoted? Students brainstorm who is missing and what they might say. Then discuss: Why weren't they quoted? Was it access? Time? Editorial choice? Does it matter?
Career-Oriented Take — How to Frame It
In every meeting, some people speak and some don't. The same gatekeeping that happens in newsrooms happens in organizations. Learning to notice who is absent from a conversation — and to bring their perspective in — is a leadership skill.
Big Picture — Global Context
The concept of "news values" — what makes something newsworthy — tends to favor things that are dramatic, conflict-driven, elite-focused, and geographically close to the audience. Stories that are slow-moving, complex, or about people without power are systematically underreported. This is not conspiracy — it is structure.
Current Events Take
Ask students to name the biggest story in their country right now. Then ask: Is this story being covered internationally? Why or why not? What does that tell us about the international news agenda?
Homework (assign after session)
Find a news story about a topic that affects many people. Identify three voices that are missing. Write one paragraph for each missing voice — what would they say if given the platform?