Media Literacy Activity: Print versus Online Newspapers

Introduction

Activity Objective

Media critic Jon Katz once wrote: “there’s almost no media experience sweeter . . . than poring over a good newspaper. In the quiet morning, with a cup of coffee—so long as you haven’t turned on the TV, listened to the radio, or checked in online—it’s as comfortable and personal as information gets.” (Katz, Jon. “Online or Not, Newspapers Suck.” Wired Magazine 1 Sept. 1994. https://www.wired.com/1994/09/news-suck )

In this activity, you will apply the critical process to compare and contrast the content and experience of print and online versions of a newspaper.

Let’s get started! Use the previous and next links to navigate through the slides. You may also use the Outline menu to skip directly to a slide. Students must complete the slides in order.

Reviewing the Critical Process

Developing a media-literate critical perspective involves mastering five overlapping stages that build on one another. Let’s review the critical process you’ll be using below:

  1. 1. Description: paying close attention, taking notes, and researching the subject under study
  2. 2. Analysis: discovering and focusing on significant patterns that emerge from the description stage
  3. 3. Interpretation: asking and answering “What does that mean?” and “So what?” questions about one’s findings
  4. 4. Evaluation: arriving at a judgment about whether something is good, bad, or mediocre, which involves subordinating one’s personal taste to the critical “bigger picture” resulting from the first three stages
  5. 5. Engagement: taking some action that connects our critical perspective with our role as citizens to question our media institutions, adding our own voice to the process of shaping the cultural environment

Description

Look at two versions (print and online) of one specific newspaper from the same day. Take note of the following in both the print and online version:

  • Content
  • Organization and style
  • Advertisements
  • Experience

Use the text box provided to answer the following question.

Analysis

Using your findings, analyze the similarities and differences of the paper and online newspaper.

Use the text boxes provided to answer the following questions.

Interpretation

Through the following questions, interpret the experience of reading different versions of newspapers.

Use the text boxes provided to answer the following questions.

Evaluation

Now, let’s explore what your view is.

Use the text boxes provided to answer the following questions.

Engagement

Let’s take action! Try to make it your habit to read a newspaper (print or online) every day. Experiment with a range of different papers and formats. For example, read both a mainstream newspaper and an alternative news Web site (e.g. National Review, The Daily Beast, HuffPost, POLITICO, The Hill, Common Dreams). You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll have to talk about and how much more engaged you are with the world.

Use the text box provided to answer the following question.