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A group called Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says that it is getting more dangerous for journalists around the world. Journalists are sometimes put in jail or threatened.
The RSF says that governments are not protecting journalists.
RSF makes a list of how safe different countries are for journalists.
The group says Eritrea is the most dangerous, then North Korea, China, Iran and Afghanistan.
It says Norway is the safest country, then Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Finland.
This year, the UK is 23rd. Last year it was 26th.
RSF also says that governments in the Middle East are controlling the news more. Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Iran put many journalists in jail.
The United States is now 55th. The RSF says a few companies control most of the news in the US. These companies care more about money than news.
Russia is 162nd. More than 1,500 journalists have left Russia since it attacked Ukraine in 2022.
RSF also says that fake news made by AI is becoming more common.
Vocabulary
- Group – 3 or more people who work together for a reason
- Dangerous – Not safe; can cause harm; can hurt
- Journalist – A person who writes news stories or reports for a newspaper, magazine, or television station
- Around the world – worldwide; in many places in the world; in many countries
- Jail – a place where people are held/kept as punishment for a crime; a building for bad people
- Threaten – express an intention to harm or cause trouble to someone or something; to say you will hurt someone
- Government – the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Protect – To keep something safe; to defend something
- List – A collection of things written down; A group of items written down
- Middle East – the area from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to Iran
- Control – to have power over something; to rule; to regulate
- Care – To want something or think it’s important
- Attack – To use force to harm or damage something or someone; When someone tries to hurt or harm
- Fake news – A story that someone makes up to fool people; Stories that are not true but are presented as if they are true
- Artificial intelligence (AI) – human intelligence in a machine. See more here.
- Common – Happens a lot; normal; usual
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think Norway is the safest country for journalists?
- What do you think about the problems journalists have around the world?
- Do you think it’s bad that news companies in the US want to make money?
- In your opinion, is artificial intelligence dangerous for the news?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
A group _____ Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says that it is getting more dangerous for _____ around the world. Journalists are sometimes put in _____ or threatened.
The RSF says that governments are not _____ journalists.
RSF makes a list of how safe _____ countries are for journalists.
The group says Eritrea is the _____ dangerous, then North Korea, China, Iran and Afghanistan.
It says _____ is the safest country, then Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Finland.
This year, the UK is _____rd. Last year it was 26th.
RSF also says that governments in the _____ are controlling the news more. Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Iran put _____ journalists in jail.
The United States is now _____th. The RSF says a few companies control most of the _____ in the US. These companies care more about _____ than news.
Russia is 162nd. More than _____ journalists have left Russia since it attacked Ukraine in 2022.
RSF also says that _____ news made by AI is becoming more common.
