Lesson 1.5: Broadcast News

Subjects: Journalism, Language Arts, Social Studies

Estimated Time: One 45-minute class period

Grade Level: Middle and High School

Overview: Students will identify structural features of broadcast news and then compare different news sources.

Materials
Make copies of Worksheet 1.5 for students.

Warm Up Activity
What is broadcast news?

Ask students if they know what broadcast news is. If they don’t know, it is the field of news and journals which are published by electrical methods. Have them give you examples.

Main Activity
Explore: How is a television news segment structured?

Pass out at least two copies of Worksheet 1.5 to each student. This worksheet can be passed out the day before as a homework assignment for students and their families. Ask the students to watch a nightly news program and fill out the worksheet.

Teachers can also pass out the worksheet in class and play clips from at least 2 of the following programs: PBS NewsHour, ABC, CBS, NBC Nightly News, Fox News, Al Jazeera, CNN, etc.

In pairs, have students discuss the most surprising things they learned from this exercise.

Have students present what they learned to the class.

Debate what is most important, presentation or content and why.

Standards

Common Core:

Speaking and Listening
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.2 Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g., social, commercial, political) behind its presentation.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.

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