What are advantages and disadvantages of being in the public eye? Would you like to? (be well-known through the media) Does it take its toll? (has a bad effect)
What media do you choose to watch, read or listen to?
Do you cast doubt on media stories you see? (doubt) Which of them are trustworthy? (deserving of trust)
What news shouldn't be swept under the carpet and come out into the open? (not kept in secret and revealed)
Should media speak out against social injustice? (protest against)
What are the differences between mainstream and alternativemedia outlets (websites, YV channels, magazines)? Can you think of any examples?
Will online streaming services, like Netflix, or video sharing websites, like YouTube substitute traditional cinema theatres? (to use something instead of another thing)?
Does media influence our culture? (for example, fashion, trends, tastes, values, lifestyle). Is it a positive or negative impact?
What websites you visit leave others in the shade? (make other websites seem insignificant)
Round 2: New media
Does accessing vast amounts of information make our lives better? In what ways?
Do social media help to get any important / useful messages across?
Do you post any information online? Why do you think it is worth sharing with your subscribers?
Have you ever thought of starting a blog? If you did, what specific goals would you reach with your blog? What topics would you tackle? (try to deal with)
Instant messaging (обмен мгновенными сообщениями) has become an inseparable part of our life. What are pros and cons of its use?
Webinars are booming at the moment. Have you attended any? Are they an effective way to learn?
What role does surfingthe web play in education and work?
Do e-books feel the same as real books? Is e-learning equal to a live learning? Are proponent (сторонник) of traditional or new media?
How can offensive material be dangerous for people who come across it? (material such as pornography, or extreme political views, or material that encourages hate and violence against people).
Round 3: What's in the news?
What kind of stories get more airtime on TV or radio? (broadcasting time) or receive more coverage? (media attention)
What were the recents events that wreaked havoc? (cuase a lot of damage)
Do you think fame come at a price? (involves unpleasant consequences). If you were to acquire fame beyond your wildest dreams, would it change you as a person?
What common topics for news reports do you follow: war, government, politics, education, health, the environment, economy, business, fashion, and entertainment, athletic events, unusual events?
What events have caused a storm of protest recently? (strong feelings against a situation) What was you viewpoint of it?
Can every pressure group (группа активистов) or a person air their views in public? (express their opinions)?
Why does gutter press (бульварная пресса) choose sex, crimes and gossips as their main content? Why do people eat it?
What topics is media hype surrounding at the moment? For example, politics, culture, sport, business. (something is discussed a lot in order to attract everyone's interest.
Round 4: Making recommendations
What websites have you bookmarked? (put it in a list of websites you can access immediately)
What group in social nets or on websites are subscribed to? What is special about them?
Are you able to recognize subtle (hidden) and notsubtle forms of propaganda? Which media resources do you avoid?
Do you use you social account as media channels? What are they about? Who is your audience?
Do you follow political campaigns in media? So they give sufficient information to make a reasonable choice of a party or a candidate?
Do public service announcements (social ads) contribute to improvement of public health (e.g. smoking cessation, HIV testing, sober driving). Do they really change people's behavior?
What world would we live in if mass media didn't exist?
Are the media to blame for influencing adversely people's minds? (negatively)
