- Grade Focus
- Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
- Age Level
- 14, 15, 16, 17
- Subject
- Social Studies
- Technology Integration Activity
- Discovering the Internet
- Estimated Time of Completion
- 1 1/2 hour
Introduction
The purpose of this lesson is to use new media to explore media bias and gatekeeping. We are all aware of the declining readership of print newspapers; however that does not translate into citizens desisting from seeking out news and information. People have many more options to gather this information which has both positives and negative effects. On the positive side, sophisticated consumers of news can more easily bypass the traditional gatekeeping of so called mainstream media outlets to easily access information that before the internet would have been impossible. Information is much more timely than print. On the negative side, the rise of the so-called “citizen journalist” has led to questions of credibility of many news items. Many reports are promulgated with dubious sourcing and without sufficient vetting. Furthermore, the fragmentation of the media environment has the effect of increasing the polarization of our politics. Partisans go to their media outlets of choice (Huffington Post or Redstate) to filter the news items. Many of these media outlets blur the lines between reporting and editorializing—a reality that is lost on many news seekers. It is the responsibility of educators to recognize this new media reality and to teach our students to become more sophisticated consumers of news. By exposing students to different media outlets and analyzing their content for evidence of gatekeeping and bias, students will begin to obtain the skills they need to be effective citizens is this brave new media world. At this present moment PDAs like the IPhone and Blackberries represent the new way many people are accessing their news. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us as teachers to use these items effective. In this lesson, students will use the IPod Touches to explore and analyze mobile media apps in order to identify media bias and gatekeeping
Prerequisite Experience
The ability to navigate the web on IPod touches.Teacher Prep Time
2 hoursProject
Students will complete a survey from a Google form on their IPod and will complete a handout that helps them analyze their media sources.Assessment/Grading
Student Handout and Google formTime Management Tips
1. Make sure to preload the applications and the Google form to the IPhone or ITouch.Lesson Plan Details
Engage
1. Have students view “Who Chooses the News” a short 8 minute video produced for Annenberg’s Democracy in America Project. The video can be accessed by registering (for free) at the their web site: http://www.learner.org/resources/series173.html Scroll down to the media unit and select the Video On-Demand: The video starts at 17:45.
2. Have students discuss in small groups the provided questions from Annenberg listed below.
Small group discussion questions
· What is news? Can you identify criteria that make something worth reporting?
· What role does the interests of the audience play in the selection of news?
· How do the norms of professional journalism interact with the need to attract and keep an audience interested?
· How do you get your news? What are your sources?
· What are the advantages and disadvantages of your sources?
· What are some different forms of media?
· What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of the different media types (print, broadcast, and internet)?
3. Bring the class back together to share their responses and then to introduce the concepts of media bias and gatekeeping. Ask students if they have heard the terms “media bias” and “media gatekeeping.” Construct a working definition for these terms. Explain that you are going to be looking at evidence of media gatekeeping and bias using the IPod touches.
Explore
1. Distribute IPod Touches which have previously been loaded with the following applications:
a. Huffington Post
b. Washington Post
c. Politico
d. Drudge Report
e. NPR news
f. New York Times
g. White House
h. Fox News
i. Media Evaluation Google Form link.
2. Distribute Handout “Analyzing Media Sources”—Appendix A
3. Have students scroll through 6 applicationa and answer questions on handout.
Explain
1. Bring class back together to generate evidence of media gatekeeping and bias based on the information they collected in their handout. Make a T- Chart on the board and collect evidence that students share with the class.
2. Have students talk about how the media shows bias and gate keeping and answer what are the effects of this on American citizens. Refine their definitions of media bias and gatekeeping.
Elaborate
1. Have students go to three other news web sites of their choosing to find examples of media gatekeeping and bias. Students are encouraged to go to the places where they regularly get their news. Have students record what they find on the provided handout. (Appendix B)
Evaluate
1. Students should complete the Google form on their IPod. The information will be collected by the teacher to be shared with the students during the next class. The teacher will use the information collected to evaluate how well students understand the concept of media bias and media gatekeeping. The form includes some multiple choice questions and Likert scale questions.
Extend
Read this ideas piece in the New York Times about the future of digital journalism:
1. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of the transition form print to digital media.