Assignment Overview
This assignment is designed to engage students across a series of distinct yet connected questions regarding the similarities and differences in the manner in which “legacy” media and “emerging” media produce and disseminate news content. This assignment asks students to select a timely issue and examine how it is produced/delivered by “legacy” media and “emerging” media (see Instructors page for definitions & further context). Following the content analysis, students will be expected to offer their own critical analysis.
Suggested Viewing/Reading
PBS Newshour talks to Re/code's Walt Mossberg, VOX Media's Jim Bankoff, and Tom Rosenstiel of the American Press Institute about the shifting media landscape. CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS.
Pew Research Center reports on data and trends in key sectors of the U.S. news media industry. CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS.
See Wired’s News In Crisis series. CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS.
See Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism report on issues related to legacy and emerging media. CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS.
See MU Libraries' subject guide for journalism. CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS.
Assignment Directions
Find a news story on an issue of public concern or debate as reported in a printed news resource (legacy media: newspaper, magazine).
Visit King Library to access recent newspapers and magazines.
Trace this same issue across TWO more legacy media texts (printed news resources) and THREE emerging media texts (digital/online). You should have a total of SIX stories (3 legacy texts, 3 emerging texts).
Content Analysis: Download and print worksheets to systematically analyze your SIX texts. Print THREE copies of each worksheet.
Critical Analysis Essay: Based on the results of your analysis, which media type (legacy or emerging) most effectively serves the public interest on the issue? Respond in a 700 to 1000-word essay.