Deconstructing TV News How to Evaluate Television News

Deconstructing TV News How to Evaluate Television News

Deconstructing TV News

Guns On Campus. wmv

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Adam Penenberg Save the Date for …… My Life As…the guy who busted Stephen Glass (and went on to other journalistic successes) Tuesday, Nov. 30 7: 30 SAC Auditorium Free Tickets (required) Available Friday 19 th. Monday 29 th at SAC box office

Correction Days Tuesday, November 23 Follows a THURSDAY schedule Wednesday November 24 Follows a FRIDAY schedule

News Matters

A Good Essay Question o. Produces an essay, not a research paper. o. Demonstrates you’ve learned to spot and ignore junk news. o. Demonstrates you know how to find reliable news o. Demonstrates you know what to use news for: ü Making a decision ü Taking action ü Making a judgment You should search at least six (6) news outlets. Your writing should reveal your process of eliminating junk information and searching for reliable information.

A Good Question Asking what your school district is doing to thwart bullying doesn't accomplish the full assignment. Push a step further: which policy should you advocate? Writing about how you voted after reading and watching campaign coverage with a more critical eye would be terrific. Some Examples: ØShould I sign a petition urging New York State to decriminalize marijuana? ØShould I sign a petition urging the News York State Liquor Authority to ban the sale of Four Loco, or any other caffeine-laced alcoholic beverage? ØShould I put down my cell phone because it may be harmful to my health? ØShould the government abolish the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy? ØIs it safe to eat seafood from the Gulf of Mexico? ØShould Social Media Sites such as Facebook or Twitter be held accountable for bullying? ØShould I close my Facebook account because of concerns about privacy? ØShould the government regulate the sale of violent video games to minors? ØShould the government regulate stem cell research?

Student Advisory Board School of Journalism “Apple Cider Social” Wednesday, Nov. 17 Campus Life time Majors and inquiring minds welcome (12: 50 p. m. - 2: 10 p. m. ) Television Studio B ECC Building

Advantages of TV News • It makes you a witness to important events in real time • It can be a powerful tool for verification • It gives you personal storytelling • It creates a national experience

Disadvantages of TV News • It is limited by time • It may rely on personalities, emotions, opinions, not facts • It can shortchange complex stories or avoid them altogether

Lessons for the TV News Consumer • Be active, not passive. Don’t be Sponge. Bob. • Don’t get all your news from TV. • Understand TV’s limitations; appreciate its strengths.

Deconstructing TV News How to Evaluate Television News

Types of TV News Reporting - Breaking News - Planned Major Events - Taped Stories for Broadcasts - Live Reporting

Live TV News Can Be Dangerous

Dangers. TV. Reporter. Edited. wmv

Process: How News Gets on the Air ∙Checks and Balances – How Stories are Produced ∙Shooting/Editing – Time it takes to do a story ∙ Advertising; sweeps; ratings

Evaluate Video and Audio • What are the main points of the story? • Does the evidence support those points? • Are the sources reliable? • Does the reporter make his or her work transparent? • Are you being manipulated by video, audio or production techniques? • Is the story fair? • Does the reporter put the story in context?

Deconstructing TV News ABC Reports on the Ford Taurus

Link Taurus_Report. wmv here

Evaluate Video and Audio • What are the main points of the story? • Does the evidence support those points? • Are the sources reliable? • Does the reporter make his or her work transparent? • Are you being manipulated by video, audio or production techniques? • Is the story fair? • Does the reporter put the story in context?

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Deconstructing TV News WNBC News Rats Out KFC/Taco Bell

INSERT RATSTACOBELL. WMV

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Deconstructing TV News FEMA Trailers Making Residents Sick?

FEMA-Trailer video here

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Deconstructing TV News A Hit and Run Accident

Hit_and_Run. wmv

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TV News and the Web ABC News Reports on a New Camera

Car. Cam. Ed. wmv

Deconstructing TV News Fox 5 News’s “Gotcha” Journalism

Operation Gotcha. wmv

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How many boyshort shots? 24 “Hooker” Shots Total

Deconstructing TV News A Teen Boot Camp Death

Boot_Camp_Death. wmv

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TV News on the Web

Rules for the TV News Consumer Be Aware of the Sinners • Be aware of stories that show and refer to only one point of view • Be aware of hype – language and or production techniques that can manipulate your emotions • Be aware of stories that have little or no independent reporting • Be aware of stories with only one eyewitness; no sourcing

Rules for the TV News Consumer Look for the Winners • Look for differing viewpoints of a controversial story • Look for first-hand accounts, good sourcing, credible eyewitnesses, independent, verified information • Look for comprehensive news stories. Did you learn, “who, what, when, where, why and how”? • Look for verification, transparency and context.

Assignments • Get Cracking on Your Essay Research! • • Due at Recitation: Deconstruct the 60 Minutes story on Computer Waste in China (link on Blackboard)