IELTS Band 9 Essay About Newspapers have influenced people’s ideas and opinions
Here we take a look at a band 9 ielts writing task 2 sample about “Newspapers have influenced people’s ideas and opinions”. This sample then will be further analyzed for its vocabulary, grammar and format, so we see how it has qualified for such band score. We also suggest over 200 band 9 IELTS samples released in 2025.
Sample Answer (Band 9)
Newspapers have influenced people’s ideas and opinions.
What are the reasons for this?
Is this a positive or a negative situation?
Newspapers have long been a powerful medium for shaping public ideas and opinions. This influence stems from several factors, including their perceived authority, widespread reach, and ability to frame issues in specific ways. While the role of newspapers in informing the public can be beneficial, their potential to manipulate opinions raises concerns. This essay will examine the reasons for the influence of newspapers and discuss whether this situation is positive or negative.
One key reason for the significant impact of newspapers is their credibility as a source of information. Unlike social media, which is often filled with unverified content, newspapers typically have rigorous editorial standards, lending them an air of trustworthiness. As a result, people tend to rely on newspapers for accurate news, even when the content is subtly biased. Additionally, newspapers offer in-depth analysis, which helps shape readers’ understanding of complex issues. For example, political editorials and opinion columns provide interpretations that can influence public attitudes toward policies and leaders.
Another reason for their influence is the frequency and consistency with which newspapers present information. Daily exposure to certain viewpoints can gradually mold readers’ perceptions over time, a process known as the agenda-setting effect. By choosing which stories to highlight and how to present them, newspapers control the narrative on critical topics such as economic policy, social issues, and international affairs. Furthermore, headlines, images, and language play a role in evoking emotional responses, which can further sway opinions.
Despite the positive role newspapers play in educating the public and fostering informed debate, their influence is not always beneficial. When newspapers prioritize sensationalism or have political affiliations, they risk spreading misinformation or promoting partisan agendas. For instance, biased reporting during election campaigns can polarize societies and undermine democratic processes. Nevertheless, responsible journalism can promote critical thinking and awareness, ultimately contributing to a more informed society.
In conclusion, newspapers influence public opinion because of their perceived authority, consistent presence, and agenda-setting power. While this influence can be positive when newspapers prioritize accuracy and fairness, it can have negative consequences when they become tools for propaganda. Therefore, the impact of newspapers depends largely on the integrity of their reporting and their commitment to serving the public interest.
Highlighted Academic Words in the sample for Newspapers have influenced people’s ideas and opinions
- Credibility (/ˌkrɛdəˈbɪləti/)
- Rigorous (/ˈrɪɡərəs/)
- Agenda-setting effect (/əˈdʒɛndə ˈsɛtɪŋ ɪˌfɛkt/)
- Misinformation (/ˌmɪsɪnfərˈmeɪʃən/)
- Polarize (/ˈpoʊləˌraɪz/)
Advanced Grammatical Structures:
- Complex sentences with relative clauses
Example: “Unlike social media, which is often filled with unverified content, newspapers typically have rigorous editorial standards.”
Why it helps: This structure improves the clarity and depth of the explanation by adding essential details. - Passive voice
Example: “By choosing which stories to highlight and how to present them, newspapers control the narrative on critical topics.”
Why it helps: The passive voice adds formality and emphasizes the action over the subject, making the writing more academic. - Use of noun phrases
Example: “Daily exposure to certain viewpoints can gradually mold readers’ perceptions over time, a process known as the agenda-setting effect.”
Why it helps: Noun phrases condense complex ideas into concise expressions, enhancing coherence and lexical resource. - Conditional sentences
Example: “When newspapers prioritize sensationalism or have political affiliations, they risk spreading misinformation or promoting partisan agendas.”
Why it helps: Conditional structures introduce hypothetical scenarios, demonstrating flexibility in grammar usage. Balanced parallel structures
Example: “They risk spreading misinformation or promoting partisan agendas.”
Why it helps: Balanced parallel structures create rhythm and clarity, improving coherence and readability.
Free IELTS Sample Essays with Answers PDF
Here you can download over a 1000 sample essays in pdf written by ex ielts examiners: PDF 1 / PDF 2 / PDF 3 / PDF 4 / PDF 5
Last But Not Least!
We suggest a useful IELTS website in English for more valuable IELTS sample essays on a range of topics. Our final suggestion is our writing free correction Telegram channel where you can send your own sample for evaluation and correction by an experience IELTS tutor with over a decade of practical experience in this matter.
