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The question

How to approach this discuss both views question

A discuss-both-views essay asks you to explain two opinions fairly and then give your own.

1. Introduce both views and say you will discuss them.
2. Paragraph 1: the first view with reasons and an example.
3. Paragraph 2: the second view with reasons and an example.
4. State your own opinion clearly (in the introduction or conclusion) and keep it consistent.

How to plan this answer

Structure

1. Introduction: paraphrase the model of free online news funded by advertising and state whether its advantages outweigh its disadvantages.
2. Body 1: the advantages, such as wide access, greater reach for stories and the ability for poorer readers to stay informed.
3. Body 2: the disadvantages, such as pressure on editorial independence, clickbait headlines and the decline of paid journalism.
4. Body 3 (optional): how news organisations can reduce the disadvantages, such as mixing advertising with subscriptions or clear labels for sponsored content.
5. Conclusion: give a clear answer to the question and weigh one side against the other.

Idea bank

• Free access allows readers who cannot afford subscriptions to follow local council decisions, health advice and national politics.
• Advertising revenue depends on page views, which can encourage sensational headlines designed to attract clicks rather than inform readers.
• Newspapers that rely on advertisers may be reluctant to publish critical reporting about a major company that buys large amounts of space.
• Many local newspapers have closed in recent years, and the loss of advertising income has been one reason why fewer reporters are employed.
• A hybrid model, with a free basic service and a paid tier for in-depth investigations, can combine reach with editorial quality.
• Clear labelling of sponsored content helps readers to distinguish between news and paid promotion, which protects trust in the outlet.

Useful vocabulary

• advertising revenue: Advertising revenue has fallen for many newspapers in recent years.
• subscription model: A subscription model gives news organisations a steady income from readers.
• editorial independence: Editorial independence can be threatened when advertisers exert pressure.
• clickbait: Clickbait headlines can mislead readers about the content of an article.
• investigative journalism: Investigative journalism is expensive and is often the first casualty of budget cuts.
• wide reach: Free articles give stories a wide reach among readers who would not otherwise pay.
• at the expense of: Quality reporting can suffer at the expense of speed and clicks.
• a hybrid model: A hybrid model combines free articles with a paid tier for in-depth reports.
• on the one hand ... on the other: On the one hand, free news is widely available, but on the other, it may be less independent.
• outweigh: The benefits of free access outweigh the risks only if editorial standards are protected.

Common mistakes

• Describing free online news as entirely good or entirely bad, instead of weighing the access benefit against the independence concern.
• Using clickbait as an example without explaining how advertising revenue creates the incentive for it.
• Assuming that all advertising-funded news is biased, which is an overgeneralisation that the examiner may question.
• Mentioning newspaper closures without explaining the link to advertising income, which leaves the example underdeveloped.
• Giving a conclusion that does not answer whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, leaving the question open.

Examiner tip: Link each disadvantage to the funding model that causes it, so the reader can see why advertising-led news behaves the way it does.