PTE Write Essay Task:
You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below. Your response will be judged on how well you develop a position, organize your ideas, present supporting details, and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200-300 words.
How does the media influence public opinion on political issues? Is it ethical for the media to take a specific stance on political matters?
The media have a big impact on how people think about political issues. People who want to learn about political news and events often turn to news outlets, social media platforms, and other media sources as their main sources of information.
Because of this, the way the media covers political issues can have a big effect on how people think about political events and policies. Here are some ways the media can change the way people feel about political issues:
Framing: The media can present political issues in a certain way, putting more emphasis on some parts of the story and less on others. This can change how people understand and make sense of what’s going on in politics.
Setting the agenda: The media can also shape public opinion by deciding what issues will be talked about and debated in the public sphere. This can have a big effect on which problems get attention and which ones are ignored.
Partisan media: Some news outlets support a certain political party or ideology. This can change the opinions of the people who read or watch their content and can make public opinion more divided.
Selection of information and bias: The media can choose which facts or points of view to report, which can lead to biased or incomplete coverage of political events.
Different people have different ideas about whether or not it is ethical for the media to take a certain stance on political issues. Some people say that the media has a duty to give balanced coverage and not take partisan sides, because doing so can hurt their credibility and make people’s opinions more divided.
Others say that the media has a right to take a stand and give their opinions, as long as they are honest about their biases and cover the issues in a fair and accurate way.
