This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of whether or not newspapers are still the most important source of news from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Newspapers as the Most Important News Source

Although more and more people read news on the Internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news for the majority of people.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some believe that despite the rise in consumption of online news, newspapers will always be the primary news source for most. In my opinion, though newspapers may remain more trustworthy, online news will surely only become more popular in the future.

Those who argue for the primacy of newspapers point out their reputations. Before publication, newspaper articles are researched thoroughly, often for several months, by accomplished and professional writers who then pass their articles on to editors who verify the information and approve inclusion in the next edition. Most individuals are dimly aware of this process and therefore more likely to carefully read and trust reputable papers like The New York Times and Washington Post. This stands in marked contrast to online news which is written hastily and published instantly, often with the intended purpose of generating clicks and advertising revenue rather than accurately informing their audience.

Nonetheless, the majority of people already receive most news from sources other than newspapers. This includes television and podcasts, but websites and social media now dominate the media landscape. Most individuals find articles through websites like Facebook and Twitter that allow for the direct posting of links, which can then redirect users to a primary news source. Other more popular social media, including YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, are more likely to aggregate and summarize or respond to recent news stories. Their potential audience is far wider than the dwindling circulations of physical newspapers.

In conclusion, despite the reliability of newspapers, there is little that can curb the growing ubiquity of online news. Individuals must therefore be more discerning as to which influencers they trust.

Analysis

1. Some believe that despite the rise in consumption of online news, newspapers will always be the primary news source for most. 2. In my opinion, though newspapers may remain more trustworthy, online news will surely only become more popular in the future.

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

1. Those who argue for the primacy of newspapers point out their reputations. 2. Before publication, newspaper articles are researched thoroughly, often for several months, by accomplished and professional writers who then pass their articles on to editors who verify the information and approve inclusion in the next edition. 3. Most individuals are dimly aware of this process and therefore more likely to carefully read and trust reputable papers like The New York Times and Washington Post. 4. This stands in marked contrast to online news which is written hastily and published instantly, often with the intended purpose of generating clicks and advertising revenue rather than accurately informing their audience.

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.

1. Nonetheless, the majority of people already receive most news from sources other than newspapers. 2. This includes television and podcasts, but websites and social media now dominate the media landscape. 3. Most individuals find articles through websites like Facebook and Twitter that allow for the direct posting of links, which can then redirect users to a primary news source. 4. Other more popular social media, including YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, are more likely to aggregate and summarize or respond to recent news stories. 5. Their potential audience is far wider than the dwindling circulations of physical newspapers.

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. Continue developing it…
5. as fully as possible!

1. In conclusion, despite the reliability of newspapers, there is little that can curb the growing ubiquity of online news. 2. Individuals must therefore be more discerning as to which influencers they trust.

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.

Some believe that despite the rise in consumption of online news, newspapers will always be the primary news source for most. In my opinion, though newspapers may remain more trustworthy, online news will surely only become more popular in the future.

Those who argue for the primacy of newspapers point out their reputations. Before publication, newspaper articles are researched thoroughly, often for several months, by accomplished and professional writers who then pass their articles on to editors who verify the information and approve inclusion in the next edition. Most individuals are dimly aware of this process and therefore more likely to carefully read and trust reputable papers like The New York Times and Washington Post. This stands in marked contrast to online news which is written hastily and published instantly, often with the intended purpose of generating clicks and advertising revenue rather than accurately informing their audience.

Nonetheless, the majority of people already receive most news from sources other than newspapers. This includes television and podcasts, but websites and social media now dominate the media landscape. Most individuals find articles through websites like Facebook and Twitter that allow for the direct posting of links, which can then redirect users to a primary news source. Other more popular social media, including YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, are more likely to aggregate and summarize or respond to recent news stories. Their potential audience is far wider than the dwindling circulations of physical newspapers.

In conclusion, despite the reliability of newspapers, there is little that can curb the growing ubiquity of online news. Individuals must therefore be more discerning as to which influencers they trust.

Answers

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

despite regardless of

rise increase

consumption reading

online news websites, social media

newspapers where you read the news, physical papers

primary news source main way of getting news

remain stay

trustworthy can be trusted

surely definitely

argue claim

primacy importance, dominance

point out argue

reputations how people trust them

publication release

researched thoroughly lots of time preparing

several months 3 – 4 months

accomplished experienced

professional qualified

pass their articles on give their writing to

editors people who check articles

verify make sure it is true

information what is in the article

approve inclusion allow it to be published

next edition next issue

dimly aware kind of know about

process way it is done

carefully read spend time reading

trust reputable papers believe in professional newspapers

The New York Times the most trusted newspaper

Washington Post another trusted newspaper

stands in marked contrast to is clearly different from

hastily quickly and without care

published instantly released right away

intended purpose the reason they are written

generating clicks getting people to open them up

advertising revenue money from ads

rather than instead of

accurately informing conveying correct information

audience readers

nonetheless regardless

majority most of

receive most news get their news

other than besides

includes has inside

podcasts people talking online

social media Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc.

dominate have power over

media landscape news and papers generally

articles stories

direct posting put it right on there

links a redirect to another website

redirect users send to another site

primary news source main way to get news

aggregate summarize and combine

summarize sum up

respond to answer

potential audience possible readers/viewers

far wider much larger

dwindling circulations less and less people subscribing

physical newspapers actual papers

despite regardless of

reliability trustworthiness

little that can curb not much to stop

growing ubiquity more and more common

therefore thus

discerning careful

influencers popular people who post online

Pronunciation

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

dɪsˈpaɪt 
raɪz 
kənˈsʌm(p)ʃən 
ˈɒnˌlaɪn njuːz
ˈnjuːzˌpeɪpəz 
ˈpraɪməri njuːz sɔːs 
rɪˈmeɪn 
ˈtrʌstˌwɜːði
ˈʃʊəli 
ˈɑːgjuː 
ˈpraɪməsi 
pɔɪnt aʊt 
ˌrɛpju(ː)ˈteɪʃənz
ˌpʌblɪˈkeɪʃən
rɪˈsɜːʧt ˈθʌrəli
ˈsɛvrəl mʌnθs
əˈkɒmplɪʃt 
prəˈfɛʃənl 
pɑːs ðeər ˈɑːtɪklz ɒn 
ˈɛdɪtəz 
ˈvɛrɪfaɪ 
ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən 
əˈpruːv ɪnˈkluːʒən 
nɛkst ɪˈdɪʃən
ˈdɪmli əˈweə 
ˈprəʊsɛs 
ˈkeəfli riːd 
trʌst ˈrɛpjʊtəbl ˈpeɪpəz 
ðə njuː jɔːk taɪmz 
ˈwɒʃɪŋtən pəʊst
stændz ɪn mɑːkt ˈkɒntrɑːst tuː 
ˈheɪstɪli 
ˈpʌblɪʃt ˈɪnstəntli
ɪnˈtɛndɪd ˈpɜːpəs 
ˈʤɛnəreɪtɪŋ klɪks 
ˈædvətaɪzɪŋ ˈrɛvɪnjuː 
ˈrɑːðə ðæn 
ˈækjʊrɪtli ɪnˈfɔːmɪŋ 
ˈɔːdiəns
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
məˈʤɒrɪti 
rɪˈsiːv məʊst njuːz 
ˈʌðə ðæn 
ɪnˈkluːdz 
ˈpɒdkɑːsts
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə 
ˈdɒmɪneɪt 
ˈmiːdiə ˈlænskeɪp
ˈɑːtɪklz 
dɪˈrɛkt ˈpəʊstɪŋ 
lɪŋks
ˌriːdɪˈrɛkt ˈjuːzəz 
ˈpraɪməri njuːz sɔːs
ˈægrɪgɪt 
ˈsʌməraɪz 
rɪsˈpɒnd tuː 
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈɔːdiəns 
fɑː ˈwaɪdə 
ˈdwɪndlɪŋ ˌsɜːkjʊˈleɪʃənz 
ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈnjuːzˌpeɪpəz
dɪsˈpaɪt 
rɪˌlaɪəˈbɪlɪti 
ˈlɪtl ðæt kæn kɜːb 
ˈgrəʊɪŋ ju(ː)ˈbɪkwɪti 
ˈðeəfɔː 
dɪˈsɜːnɪŋ 
ˈɪnflʊənsəz 

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:

Some believe that d___________e the r____e in c_________________n of o________________s, n______________s will always be the p____________________e for most. In my opinion, though newspapers may r____________n more t______________y, online news will s________y only become more popular in the future.

Those who a________e for the p__________y of newspapers p__________t their r______________s. Before p____________n, newspaper articles are r___________________y, often for s_____________________s, by a________________d and p_________________l writers who then p__________________n to e__________s who v______y the i_______________n and a____________________n in the n_______________n. Most individuals are d___________e of this p_________s and therefore more likely to c____________________d and t____________________________s like T______________________s and W___________________t. This s________________________________o online news which is written h___________y and p_______________________y, often with the i__________________e of g____________________s and a__________________e r__________________n a______________________g their a____________e.

N_______________s, the m____________y of people already r________________s from sources o_____________n newspapers. This i___________s television and p___________s, but websites and s_____________a now d___________e the m___________________e. Most individuals find a_________s through websites like Facebook and Twitter that allow for the d________________g of l_______s, which can then r_______________s to a p____________________e. Other more popular social media, including YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, are more likely to a____________e and s________________e or r_____________o recent news stories. Their p_______________e is f______________r than the d______________________s of p____________________s.

In conclusion, d________e the r____________y of newspapers, there is l____________________b the g__________________y of online news. Individuals must t____________e be more d_____________g as to which i_________________s they trust.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNewYorkTimes

Reading Practice

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

https://www.wired.com/1994/09/news-suck/

Speaking Practice

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

Newspapers/Magazines

1. Do you prefer to read newspapers or magazines?
2. Do you like reading the news online?
3. Is it more convenient nowadays to read the news online?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

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

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Newspapers and Media (Real Test)