National News Comparison

You will review one week's worth of papers from the New York Times, one week's worth of one hour of either All Things Considered or Morning Edition on National Public Radio (100.5 FM), and one week's worth of The News Hour with Jim Lehrer on PBS (Channel 8). Examine the stories identified at the top of the hour (for broadcast), and the front page section of the New York Times.

Using examples from the stories you've reviewed, answer the following questions:

What kinds of stories are presented as most important (i.e. look at placement and amount of space/time devoted to a story--including follow-up reports)?

What kinds of news values are embedded within these stories (timeliness, impact, magnitude, proximity, prominence, conflict, oddity)?

What kinds of sources are used (governmental officials, academic experts, business experts, person on the street responses, etc.)?

What methods of reporting are employed (standard event reporting, official stories, investigative reporting, etc.)?

What have you learned about the way these organizations define news? How does what you've learned from this exercise comport with your first paper? In what ways, if any, were you surprised?

This paper should be between five and seven pages. Use 12 point type, no more than double spaced, one-inch margins all around. Be sure to provide internal citations and a works cited page. This paper is due at the beginning of the class period on March 12.