Media literacy crossword vocabulary pack

Teacher key

1. SOURCE · 6 letters · noun · introductory
   Person, publication, or place where information begins

   Hint: Ask who created a claim before deciding whether to trust it.
   Why it fits: A source is where information comes from, whether that is a person, publication, organization, or document; identifying it is the first step in evaluating a claim.

2. BIAS · 4 letters · noun · intermediate
   Tendency that favors one viewpoint over fair balance

   Hint: Look for uneven treatment of people, ideas, or evidence.
   Why it fits: Bias is a tendency toward a particular viewpoint. The clue's focus on favoring one side explains why readers should notice what evidence or perspectives may be missing.

3. AUDIENCE · 8 letters · noun · introductory
   Group a message is designed to reach or influence

   Hint: Consider which people a creator expects will receive the message.
   Why it fits: An audience is the group a message targets. The clue emphasizes design and influence because creators often choose language, images, and platforms for those intended recipients.

4. FRAMING · 7 letters · noun · advanced
   Choice of angle that guides how an issue is understood

   Hint: Notice which details are emphasized and which are left outside the view.
   Why it fits: Framing is the selection of an angle, context, or emphasis for information. The clue describes how those choices guide an audience toward a particular understanding of an issue.

5. PROPAGANDA · 10 letters · noun · advanced
   Material created to promote a cause through strategic influence

   Hint: Examine whether strong emotional appeals support a larger cause or agenda.
   Why it fits: Propaganda is material designed to advance a cause or viewpoint. The clue emphasizes strategic influence because it may rely on selective information or emotional appeals to shape opinion.

6. CREDIBILITY · 11 letters · noun · advanced
   Quality of being believable because evidence and expertise support it

   Hint: Check an author's qualifications, evidence, and track record.
   Why it fits: Credibility is the quality that makes a source or claim worthy of belief. The clue links it to evidence and expertise because those features help readers judge reliability.

7. PERSUASION · 10 letters · noun · intermediate
   Communication meant to move people toward a belief or action

   Hint: Look for a message that tries to change what people think or do.
   Why it fits: Persuasion is communication intended to influence beliefs or actions. The clue directly describes that goal: moving an audience toward a chosen view or behavior.

8. HEADLINE · 8 letters · noun · introductory
   Short prominent title meant to summarize and attract readers

   Hint: It usually appears above a news story and may shape first impressions.
   Why it fits: A headline is the prominent short title for a story. The clue mentions both summary and attraction because it signals the topic while also encouraging people to read further.

9. SATIRE · 6 letters · noun · advanced
   Humorous imitation used to criticize people or social problems

   Hint: Its jokes or exaggeration often carry a serious point underneath.
   Why it fits: Satire uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize a target. The clue connects imitation and social criticism because both are common techniques for delivering its underlying point.

10. ADVERTISEMENT · 13 letters · noun · intermediate
    Paid message that promotes a product, service, or idea

    Hint: It is created to encourage attention, interest, or a purchase.
    Why it fits: An advertisement is a paid promotional message. The clue names products, services, and ideas because advertising can encourage interest or action across all of those categories.

Accept a different answer only when it matches the clue, length, grammar, and any supplied crossings. Use the reviewed answer when teaching the intended vocabulary target.