Wednesday, January 19, 2011

FINAL EXAM: Information Neighborhoods

There are six information neighborhoods in News Literacy. Go to each of the following links and identify in which neighborhood the information belongs.

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmOEhrCJsGY


2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Jeter


3. http://www.examiner.com/fantasy-baseball-in-national/derek-jeter-signs-a-new-contract-with-new-york-yankees


4. http://www.torontobaseballguys.com/jeter.html


5. http://www.splashlightportfolio.com/index.php#mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=3&p=2&a=0&at=0


6. http://www.baynews9.com/article/sports/2011/january/197570/Derek-Jeter%E2%80%99s-Celebrity-Golf-Classic:-Rock-Riley-with-Jeter-and-other-celebs-from-the-red-carpet

Wonder Bread Plant Closes Its Doors

1. Read the following article:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/01/19/2011-01-19_end_of_an_era_as_wonder_bread_plant_in_jamaica_queens_ready_to_shut_off_the_oven.html


2. Complete the source chart:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AenSTAoJOry3ZGR0c3JoaGtfMTM1NXdydnhmZA&hl=en

Why Obama is So Skinny

Read the following article and complete the source chart.


http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AenSTAoJOry3ZGR0c3JoaGtfMTM1NXdydnhmZA&hl=en


Why Obama is So Skinny


The real reason behind PRESIDENT OBAMA's shocking weight loss - he's secretly battling stomach parasites, say sources.

The pencil-thin president caught the parasites on a trip last year to Hawaii, where he and his family also vacationed over Christmas, according to top political insiders.

"Barack has wanted to keep the stomach parasites under the radar," revealed a close source.

"There had been a public health warning about them in Hawaii when he caught them."

Concerned sources say extreme stress and a poor diet caused by his hectic schedule have contributed to the 6-foot-1 president's skeletal look.

"Michelle is fearful he's close to a physical collapse," revealed an insider.

"He appears to be wasting away. "

Fun Reading!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j11BwDsyk2TA49zJ5IKSfr6GbdqghnK0H599OtnsB5Q/edit?hl=en&authkey=CIyRyYIE

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

****Final Review****Reliable Sources

Reliable Sources
At this point, you should be able to analyze an article for the sources used by reporters to gain information.

Read the following article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/education/18classrooms.html?_r=1&ref=us


Then, complete the worksheet linked below and place it into your digital journalism folder.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AenSTAoJOry3ZGR0c3JoaGtfMTM1NXdydnhmZA&hl=en

****Final Review****Rules for TV News Consumers

BE AWARE OF THE SINNERS
1. Be aware of stories that show and refer to only one point.
2. Be aware of hype - language that exaggerates the storyline: “explosive,” “amazing,” “exclusive,” “you won’t believe this.”
3. Be aware of entertainment techniques that can manipulate your emotions -music, slow motion, quick editing.
4. Be aware of video that is gratuitous; overused; titillating
5. Be aware of stories with only one or no eyewitness; no sourcing; lack of independent reporting.

LOOK FOR THE WINNERS

1. Look for differing viewpoints of a controversial story.

2. Look for first-hand accounts; good sourcing; credible eyewitnesses; independently verified information (“CBS News has learned….”).

3. Look for comprehensive news stories. Did you learn “who, what,

where, why, when?”

4. Look for compelling video that illustrates the story, without overtaking it.

Monday, January 17, 2011

****Final Review****BASIC VOCABULARY TERMS IN NEWS LITERACY

BASIC VOCABULARY TERMS IN NEWS LITERACY

INTRODUCTORY TERMS


News literacy- the ability to use critical thinking skills to judge the reliability and credibility of news reports, whether they come via print, television, radio, or Internet

Six Information Neighborhoods

Propaganda-information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc. (GOAL: TO PERSUADE}

Advertising-the act or practice of calling public attention t one’s product, service, need by paid announcements in newspapers and magazines, over radio or television, and on billboards. Information designed to sell a product. (GOAL: TO SELL)

Publicity-the measures, process, or business of securing public notice. Information designed to enhance an image. (GOAL: TO ENHANCE AN IMAGE)

Entertainment-something affording pleasure, diversion, or measurement, especially a performance of some kind. (GOAL: TO DIVERT)

Raw information-unexamined or unverified information (example a picture or video without documentation, explanation, or context. (BY-PASSSES FILTERS)

News- a report of a recent event, intelligence, information; INFORMATION OF INTEREST TO SOME PORTION OF THE PUBLIC THAT IS SHARED AND SUBJECT TO A JOURNALISITC PROCESS OF VERFICATION (GOAL-TO INFORM)

THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF JOURNALISM

Verification-evidence that establishes or confirms the accuracy or truth of something

Independence-freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like of others

Accountability-subject to the obligation to report, explain, or justify something; responsible; answerable

Monday, January 10, 2011

Can hateful words be dangerous?

***UPDATE*** - Please write a 150 word response to the articles below. Take a side on the issue and respond.


Please read the following two articles that present both sides of the argument surrounding hate speech used in our media:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/tombstone-politics/?ref=opinion?hp


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703667904576071913818696964.html?mod=WSJ_article_MoreIn_Opinion

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

TV News Story Example

Go to the link below to see an example of a basic news story format.

Answer the following questions:

1. The video is 2:25 in length, but how many edits are there?
2. How many different shots do you see?
3. What graphics/visuals are used?
4. How many people were interviewed?
5. What background research was done?
6. How does it open? How does it close?

The story is called "A Family's Outrage"

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=7877240

Monday, January 3, 2011

TV NEWS SCRIPT

News written for TV broadcast means writing for viewers and listeners. Broadcast writing must be shorter and more concise than the writing done for print news. Scripts are often no more than 30 to 60 seconds long, and broadcast writers need to think about how much listening and viewing time they will have.

The lead of a TV news story has to be even more concise than the lead of a print story. Including all of the five W's and H would make the lead too long.

Print reporters put facts in descending order so the reader can leave the story at any time. TV news writers want every sentence to count to keep viewers attention.

Here are some guidelines:

Write the way you talk. This doesn't mean use slang, but make your story conversational. Viewers want to be part of the conversation. They don't want a lecture.

Write simply.

Use subject-verb-direct object structure whenever possible. Tim Jones (s) won (v) yesterday's jackpot (d.o.).

Use one idea per sentence.

Use short, active words.

Don't start with a question or a quote.

Identify the speaker before what is said.

Hit the highlights only.

Leave out ages, middle initials, adressess, jobs, titles, etc... unless they are important to the story.

Writing for the Anchor

Write in all capital letters.

Spell things out phonetically.

Hyphenate words that go together. Monster-truck, switch-hitter, actor-director,etc...

Spell out numbers up to eleven.

Use words for big numbers.

Spell out signs and symbols.


Follow the link below to a see a sample of a TV News Script:

https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1cYEUQgm57K1p34RIn5VXMmbDQvx6qP4AqNEItZaQl1g&hl=en&authkey=CJGQ6eoC