English Learning: Journalism Ethics – The Cookie Report

Dialogue

Current Situation

In today’s fast-paced world, we get news from many sources like TV, the internet, and social media. It’s very easy for anyone to share information quickly. Because of this, journalism ethics, which means being honest, fair, and careful when telling stories, are more important than ever.

Good journalists always try to find and tell the truth. They check their facts carefully and try to show different sides of a story. They don’t just guess or make things up. This helps us trust the news we read and hear, just like Alice was helping Bob understand for his “cookie report” – making sure he got the full and true story, even if it wasn’t as exciting as a “feline felon”!

Key Phrases

• Top-secret reporting mission: A very private or important task to find and report information.
  • Example: My little brother thinks finding out who ate the last piece of cake is a top-secret reporting mission.
• Great Cookie Heist: A big, dramatic stealing of cookies (used humorously here).
  • Example: The kids talked about the Great Cookie Heist after all the biscuits disappeared from the jar.
• Culprit: The person or thing that is responsible for a crime or bad action.
  • Example: The police are still looking for the culprit who broke the window.
• Get the full story: To find out all the details and facts about something.
  • Example: Before you make a decision, make sure you get the full story from everyone involved.
• Check your facts: To make sure the information you have is correct and true.
  • Example: It’s important to always check your facts before you share news on social media.

Grammar Points

1. Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense is used for actions that are habits, general truths, or facts. It describes things that happen regularly or are always true.

• How it’s formed: For most verbs, it’s the base form of the verb (e.g., “I eat,” “You play”). For third person singular (he, she, it), we add ‘-s’ or ‘-es’ (e.g., “He eats,” “She plays”).
• Examples from the dialogue:
  • “Crumbs could be from anything, right?” (General truth about crumbs)
  • “Good reporters don’t just guess.” (General truth about good reporters)
  • “It is important to check your facts.” (General fact)
• Your turn:
  • The sun rises in the east. (General truth)
  • I usually drink coffee in the morning. (Habit)

2. Modal Verb ‘Should’

‘Should’ is a modal verb used to give advice, suggestions, or to express what is expected or correct.

• How it’s formed: Subject + should + base form of the verb (no -s for he/she/it).
• Examples from the dialogue:
  • “So, I should ask Mrs. Gable *before* I print ‘Muffin the Cookie Thief’?” (Bob asking for advice)
  • “You should check your facts.” (Alice giving advice/suggestion)
• Your turn:
  • You should study for your English test. (Advice)
  • We should help our neighbors. (What is expected/correct)

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using words from the box below. You might need to change the form of the verb if it’s in a bracket.

(check, culprit, should, is, reporting mission, guess)

1. My friend has a new _________________ to find the best pizza in town.
2. It’s important to ______________ your facts before you write a news story.
3. Who is the ______________ for the missing chocolate?
4. You ______________ always listen to your teacher.
5. A good journalist never just ______________; they find proof.
6. Honesty ______________ very important in journalism.

Exercise 2: True or False?

Read the sentences and decide if they are True (T) or False (F) based on the dialogue.

1. Bob saw Muffin the cat *actually* take the cookies. (T/F)
2. Alice told Bob it’s important to check facts. (T/F)
3. Mrs. Gable is a reporter. (T/F)
4. Bob initially wanted to write a headline calling Muffin a “Feline Felon.” (T/F)
5. Alice suggested asking Muffin for a comment. (T/F)

Exercise 3: Match the sentence parts

Match the beginning of the sentence on the left with the correct ending on the right.

1. Bob was covering
2. Crumbs could be
3. Good reporters don’t
4. You should
5. It’s important to get

A. just guess.

B. the “Great Cookie Heist.”

C. ask Mrs. Gable.

D. from anything.

E. the full story.