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Opinion (Agree / Disagree) Media Task 2

The media pay too much attention to the lives and relationships of celebrities such as actors, singers or footballers. They should spend more time reporting the lives of ordinary people instead. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

A full IELTS Writing Task 2 answer to this question, with a paragraph plan and what this question type is asking you to do.

The question

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

The media pay too much attention to the lives and relationships of celebrities such as actors, singers or footballers. They should spend more time reporting the lives of ordinary people instead. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

How to read this question

You are given one statement and asked how far you agree. The examiner is checking that you take a clear position in the introduction and hold it consistently to the conclusion — a partial agreement is fine, an unclear one is not.

Paragraph plan

Introduction — Clear paraphrase with balanced position

Body 1 — Main agreement - benefits of focusing on ordinary people

Body 2 — Concession - limited value of celebrity coverage

Conclusion — Restate balanced position

Model answer

Model answer

260 words

Modern media outlets dedicate considerable coverage to the personal lives of celebrities, from Hollywood actors to professional athletes. While celebrity news undoubtedly attracts large audiences, I agree that media organizations should prioritize stories about ordinary citizens, although celebrity coverage still serves some legitimate purposes.

Shifting media focus toward ordinary people's experiences would benefit society in several meaningful ways. Stories about everyday heroes - such as teachers transforming underprivileged schools, small business owners creating local jobs, or volunteers dedicating time to community projects - provide practical inspiration that viewers can realistically emulate. Furthermore, highlighting ordinary citizens' struggles with housing costs, healthcare access, or unemployment brings crucial social issues into public consciousness. This type of reporting can drive policy discussions and encourage civic engagement, whereas celebrity gossip rarely contributes to meaningful social progress.

Nevertheless, celebrity coverage does serve certain legitimate functions that should not be entirely dismissed. Entertainment news provides harmless escapism for people dealing with daily stress, and celebrity endorsements of charitable causes can raise significant funds and awareness for important issues. Additionally, media companies argue that celebrity content generates the revenue necessary to fund serious journalism. However, these benefits are vastly outweighed by the missed opportunities to inform the public about pressing social issues and to celebrate the achievements of people whose stories could genuinely inspire positive change.

In conclusion, while celebrity news has some entertainment value, I believe media organizations should dedicate far more coverage to ordinary people's stories, as these provide greater social benefit and more meaningful inspiration for audiences seeking to improve their own lives and communities.

Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.

This is an opinion (agree / disagree) question. The model answer above shows you what a strong answer looks like when it is finished. What it cannot show you is how to get there from a blank page in forty minutes.

That is what our Writing Study Library is for: the structure we teach for this exact question type, the paragraph pattern that goes with it, and the sentence openers for each stage — so the essay is planned before you start writing rather than assembled as you go.

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