IELTS Essay: Newspapers and Other Media

This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of newspapers and other media from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Newspapers and Other Media

Some think newspapers are the best method for reading the news while others think other media is better.

Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

In recent years, many have argued that the best way to read the news is no longer in newspapers. In my opinion, though there are sentimental reasons to prefer newspapers, newer forms of media are far superior.

Those who continue to value newspapers tend to be older individuals. They have typically maintained this habit for years or even decades. Over such a long period reading newspapers, it is logical that they will have developed an emotional attachment to the act of buying and reading a physical copy of the news. For example, The New York Times continues to publish and sell physical copies of their paper in select markets. The people buying these papers could save time and money by reading the same articles online, but might be attracted to the feel and memories surrounding physical newspapers.

However, new forms of media allow audiences a wide range of choices that enhance the overall experience. A user accessing a media website can not only read an article from the convenience of their phone or laptop, but also take advantage of features like automatically generated text-to-speech, videos, links to related content, the ability to share an article, and more. All these features are also complemented by the ability to select a diversity of news sources. Instead of reading a single news outlet that might have a liberal or conservative bias, a discerning reader can seek out multiple viewpoints and find the news that is most trustworthy over time.

In conclusion, despite the respect due to the history of journalism, there are now a wide array of better options online. Individuals should nonetheless be wary of less trustworthy sources.

Analysis

1. In recent years, many have argued that the best way to read the news is no longer in newspapers. 2. In my opinion, though there are sentimental reasons to prefer newspapers, newer forms of media are far superior.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Those who continue to value newspapers tend to be older individuals. 2. They have typically maintained this habit for years or even decades. 3. Over such a long period reading newspapers, it is logical that they will have developed an emotional attachment to the act of buying and reading a physical copy of the news. 4. For example, The New York Times continues to publish and sell physical copies of their paper in select markets. 5. The people buying these papers could save time and money by reading the same articles online, but might be attracted to the feel and memories surrounding physical newspapers.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Finish the paragraph strong.

1. However, new forms of media allow audiences a wide range of choices that enhance the overall experience. 2. A user accessing a media website can not only read an article from the convenience of their phone or laptop, but also take advantage of features like automatically generated text-to-speech, videos, links to related content, the ability to share an article, and more. 3. All these features are also complemented by the ability to select a diversity of news sources. 4. Instead of reading a single news outlet that might have a liberal or conservative bias, a discerning reader can seek out multiple viewpoints and find the news that is most trustworthy over time.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.

1. In conclusion, despite the respect due to the history of journalism, there are now a wide array of better options online. 2. Individuals should nonetheless be wary of less trustworthy sources.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

In recent years, many have argued that the best way to read the news is no longer in newspapers. In my opinion, though there are sentimental reasons to prefer newspapers, newer forms of media are far superior.

Those who continue to value newspapers tend to be older individuals. They have typically maintained this habit for years or even decades. Over such a long period reading newspapers, it is logical that they will have developed an emotional attachment to the act of buying and reading a physical copy of the news. For example, The New York Times continues to publish and sell physical copies of their paper in select markets. The people buying these papers could save time and money by reading the same articles online, but might be attracted to the feel and memories surrounding physical newspapers.

However, new forms of media allow audiences a wide range of choices that enhance the overall experience. A user accessing a media website can not only read an article from the convenience of their phone or laptop, but also take advantage of features like automatically generated text-to-speech, videos, links to related content, the ability to share an article, and more. All these features are also complemented by the ability to select a diversity of news sources. Instead of reading a single news outlet that might have a liberal or conservative bias, a discerning reader can seek out multiple viewpoints and find the news that is most trustworthy over time.

In conclusion, despite the respect due to the history of journalism, there are now a wide array of better options online. Individuals should nonetheless be wary of less trustworthy sources.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

In recent years these days

argued pointed out

read the news read a newspaper

no longer in newspapers not in physical papers

sentimental reasons emotional attachment

newer forms of media are far superior more recent news sources are better

value care about

tend to be are usually

typically maintained this habit for usually keep up this practice for

decades many years

Over such a long period for a while

logical rational

emotional attachment caring about

the act of buying and reading a physical copy of the news the action of purchasing a real newspaper

publish issue, send out into the world

sell physical copies sell newspapers

paper in select markets newspaper in certain places

save time not waste time

reading the same articles online read the same news on the internet

attracted care about

feel what that it feels, seems

memories surrounding physical newspapers remembering reading real newspapers before

new forms of media allow audiences a wide range of choices more recent news sources let people do more

enhance the overall experience make the reading better

user accessing a media website reader going online to read the news

from the convenience of the ease of using

take advantage of features use the extra stuff

automatically generated text-to-speech an article read aloud to you

links to related content hyperlinks to other articles

ability to share an article posting an article on social media

features elements, parts

complemented by supported by

select a diversity of news sources choose from different news items

Instead of rather than

single news outlet one source of news

liberal or conservative bias more modern or traditional prejudices

a discerning reader a person who is skeptical

seek out multiple viewpoints look for different opinions

most trustworthy over time can be trusted more

despite regardless of

respect due to reverence you should have for

history of journalism past writing of articles

wide array of better options many different choices

nonetheless regardless

wary of less trustworthy sources worried about unreliable sites

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ɪn ˈriːsnt jɪəz
ˈɑːɡjuːd 
riːd ðə njuːz 
nəʊ ˈlɒŋɡər ɪn ˈnjuːzˌpeɪpəz
ˌsɛntɪˈmɛntl ˈriːznz 
ˈnjuːə fɔːmz ɒv ˈmiːdiə ɑː fɑː suːˈpɪəriə
ˈvæljuː 
tɛnd tuː biː 
ˈtɪpɪkᵊli meɪnˈteɪnd ðɪs ˈhæbɪt fɔː 
ˈdɛkeɪdz 
ˈəʊvə sʌʧ ə lɒŋ ˈpɪərɪəd 
ˈlɒʤɪkəl 
ɪˈməʊʃənl əˈtæʧmənt 
ði ækt ɒv ˈbaɪɪŋ ænd ˈriːdɪŋ ə ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈkɒpi ɒv ðə njuːz 
ˈpʌblɪʃ 
sɛl ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈkɒpiz 
ˈpeɪpər ɪn sɪˈlɛkt ˈmɑːkɪts 
seɪv taɪm 
ˈriːdɪŋ ðə seɪm ˈɑːtɪklz ˈɒnˌlaɪn
əˈtræktɪd 
fiːl 
ˈmɛməriz səˈraʊndɪŋ ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈnjuːzˌpeɪpəz
njuː fɔːmz ɒv ˈmiːdiə əˈlaʊ ˈɔːdiənsɪz ə waɪd reɪnʤ ɒv ˈʧɔɪsɪz 
ɪnˈhɑːns ði ˈəʊvərɔːl ɪksˈpɪərɪəns 
ˈjuːzər ˈæksɛsɪŋ ə ˈmiːdiə ˈwɛbˌsaɪt 
frɒm ðə kənˈviːniəns ɒv 
teɪk ədˈvɑːntɪʤ ɒv ˈfiːʧəz 
ˌɔːtəˈmætɪkəli ˈʤɛnəreɪtɪd tɛkst-tuː-spiːʧ
lɪŋks tuː rɪˈleɪtɪd ˈkɒntɛnt 
əˈbɪlɪti tuː ʃeər ən ˈɑːtɪkl 
ˈfiːʧəz 
ˈkɒmplɪmɛntɪd baɪ 
sɪˈlɛkt ə daɪˈvɜːsɪti ɒv njuːz ˈsɔːsɪz
ɪnˈstɛd ɒv 
ˈsɪŋɡl njuːz ˈaʊtlɛt 
ˈlɪbərəl ɔː kənˈsɜːvətɪv ˈbaɪəs 
ə dɪˈsɜːnɪŋ ˈriːdə 
siːk aʊt ˈmʌltɪpl ˈvjuːpɔɪnts 
məʊst ˈtrʌstˌwɜːði ˈəʊvə taɪm
dɪsˈpaɪt 
rɪsˈpɛkt djuː tuː 
ˈhɪstəri ɒv ˈʤɜːnəlɪzm 
waɪd əˈreɪ ɒv ˈbɛtər ˈɒpʃᵊnz 
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs 
ˈweəri ɒv lɛs ˈtrʌstˌwɜːði ˈsɔːsɪz

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

I_________________s, many have a__________d that the best way to r_________________s is n_____________________________s. In my opinion, though there are s________________________s to prefer newspapers, n_______________________________________r.

Those who continue to v_______e newspapers t____________e older individuals. They have t_________________________________________r years or even d_________s. O______________________d reading newspapers, it is l__________l that they will have developed an e____________________t to t________________________________________________________s. For example, The New York Times continues to p_________h and s___________________________s of their p_________________________s. The people buying these papers could s__________e and money by r__________________________________e, but might be a___________d to the f_____l and m_____________________________________s.

However, n____________________________________________________________s that e_____________________________e. A u_______________________________________e can not only read an article f___________________________f their phone or laptop, but also t______________________________s like a___________________________________h, videos, l______________________t, the a__________________________________e, and more. All these f____________s are also c___________________y the ability to s______________________________________s. I____________f reading a s___________________t that might have a l________________________________s, a____________________r can s_______________________s and find the news that is m_____________________________e.

In conclusion, d________e the r________________o the h______________________m, there are now a w___________________________________s online. Individuals should n_____________s be w_________________________________s.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/trust-news-sites/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Reading

1. Do you enjoy reading?
2. What kinds of books do you like?
3. Do you have a favorite author?
4. Is reading a popular pastime in your country?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Some people think that newspapers are the best way to learn about current events. However, others believe that they can learn news better through other media.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

IELTS Essay: Newspapers & Learning