In this activity, students gather news reports on the same event to analyze diverse journalistic approaches and detect media bias, enhancing their research and critical thinking skills. Utilizing library and online resources, they'll explore the intricacies of news production, including the identification of factual accuracy and the assessment of sources' credibility. By evaluating the background of journalists and news outlets, students learn to discern quality reporting and understand the influence of various stakeholders.
- Activity goal
- Assess | Exchange knowledge | Reflect
- When
- In class | Pre class
- Where
- Offline | Online
- Duration
- < 30 minutes| < 60 minutes| > 60 minutes
- Group size
- Small | Medium
Step 1
Choose a current event or controversy that has received widespread media coverage. Ensure it's a topic that yields diverse viewpoints and reporting styles.
Step 2
Explain the task to your students. Each must find at least one news item on the selected event, emphasizing the importance of choosing reports from different news outlets.
Step 3
Guide students on how to critically evaluate their chosen news items. This includes assessing the reliability by identifying facts, claims, judgments, and prejudices, as well as evaluating the credibility through scrutiny of sources, expertise, and potential biases of journalists and publishers.
Step 4
Let students present their findings and discuss the contrasting ways the event was reported. Encourage them to share why they chose their piece and how they evaluate its quality, fostering a classroom dialogue on media literacy.
Step 5
Let students reflect on what they learned about media bias, the production of news, and the importance of critical thinking. This can be done through a short written assignment or a group discussion, reinforcing the skills developed during the activity.