Journalism Lesson Plan

Overview: Today's media is not just print or photos.   Journalists - and even "citizen journalists" with cell phones or digital cameras - are telling about the news in a variety of ways. For instance, CNN.com covered the crash and death of a Blue Angel pilot using everything from maps to interviews to a previously recorded video of the group. What works and what doesn't? Journalists need to decide.
Suggested time allotment: Overnight to read the material supplied. On class period discussion about visual and audio presentations.
Objectives

Students will:
•  Read CNN.com and other Web sites to see how the news media covered the Blue Angels crash.
•  List the different ways journalists present facts.
•  Discuss in class what is most effective at different times and why. What are the issues with citizen journalists? Should they be paid? Should news organizations not use video or photos such "freelancers" acquire using dangerous or unethical measures a trained journalist wouldn't use?

Standards: National Council of Teachers of English and International Reading Association Standards for English Language Arts:

4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written and visual language (e.g.,conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
8. Students use a variety of technological and informational resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
12. Students use spoken, written and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion and the exchange of information).

Resources and materials:
Web sites with information:
· CNN.com's story includes several videos from different sources plus maps. What works best? "Navy identifies fallen aviator." Note extensive video and photo gallery on the left.
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· If you were writing this story, would you get any multi-media ideas from the Blue Angels Web site itself? Enter the site and note the news there as well.
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· The Associated Press used home video from Fred Yelinek and a reporter's voice over,
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· News10 Good Morning in Sacramento, Calif., was one site to use footage submitted to CNN.com's "I Report," a part of the Web site that encourages the audience to submit photos or video.
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