1. Much has happened to the shape and definition of news as it moved from print into the electronic media. Search the Web for history timelines of the news industry or go directly to the Center for History and New Media, http://chnm.gmu.edu.* Select a news event that occurred at least 20 years ago and compare how the impact of that story would change if it happened today. Identify the major differences and similarities of how news was perceived in the past compared to today.
Weekly Update Archives
2. Go to the Student portion of the Online Learning Center and choose Chapter 10. In the left navigation bar under News, Articles & Links, click Weekly Update Archives. On the next screen, under the topic of Gatekeeping, read
02-24-03, "Local Television News—Not Bigger and Better." Using information from this article and the history section of Chapter 10, answer this question: Has ownership consolidation helped or hurt television news?
In addition, scan the list for other articles of interest pertaining to this chapter.
Industry
Web Excursion
3. Whether through satire, partisan rhetoric or sheer entertainment value, media personalities have increasing influence on how consumers receive and perceive the news. Visit the Web pages of Howard Stern, www.howardstern.com,* Rush Limbaugh, www.rushlimbaugh.com* and Jon Stewart, www.comedycentral.com/tv_shows/ds/,* and compare how each personality delivers today’s top stories. Then visit a general news site such as www.cnn.com or www.latimes.com and search for the same stories. How does the presentation differ? Compile a brief report on your findings.
PowerWeb Articles
4. Go to the Student portion of the Online Learning Center and choose Chapter 10. In the left navigation bar under News, Articles & Links, click PowerWeb Articles. On the next screen, under the topic of News Reporting, read the article, "Enron: Uncovering the Uncovered Story." Use information from this article and Chapter 10 to answer the question, "How did the press fail in the Enron case? What could it have done differently?"
In addition, scan the list for other articles of interest pertaining to this chapter.
Controversies
Web Excursion
5. The trials of OJ Simpson, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jackson have turned into entertainment events rather than news stories. Pick one of these news events and search sites like www.accesshollywood.com, http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/, www.extratv.com, www.mtv.com, www.cnn.com and www.latimes.com.* Compare and contrast how these news outlets present the story. If you were a news director at a network like NBC, which has news magazines such as Nightline as well as the entertainment show, Access Hollywood, how would you decide to handle the story? Explain when and why a story should be considered as news or entertainment.
Media World CD-ROM Excursion
6. View track 10, Journalism Students Free Wrongly Accused Death Row Inmate (from NBC News Archive). Northwestern University students practice civic journalism each semester in Professor David Protess’s class by looking into actual—and often controversial—death-row cases. Using this story as an example, answer the following questions: What is civic journalism? What other ways could a journalism class practice civic journalism?
7. View track 4.4, Issues: A Pretty Face. This segment explores gender politics in the world of broadcast news. Do you believe most people are more likely to watch a station with a young, attractive anchor team as opposed to a graying-yet-credible cast? How does this contribute to the entertainment trend of television news?
PowerWeb Articles
8. Go to the Student portion of the Online Learning Center and choose Chapter 10. In the left navigation bar under News, Articles & Links, click PowerWeb Articles. On the next screen, under the topic of Political Coverage, read the article, "Playing Favorites?." Use information from this article and Chapter 10 to argue for or against the following proposition: "The news media are politically biased."
In addition, scan the list for other articles of interest pertaining to this chapter.
