A Free and Open Press: Evaluating the Media

Gun, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond is one of the seminal works of historical nonfiction from the late 20th century. Use the author's claims and supporting evidence to guide your high school seniors through their own research project,...

Look at different case studies to discuss the ethics of journalism. Twelve real-life events are written up and your learners get to be the editors. Encourage your class to think about the implications of publishing decisions. After each...

As a reporter, you only have a few lines to grab a reader's attention before they move on to the next story—or the next newspaper or website. Analyze the ways that both print and online news capture their readers' interest with text...

With so many ways to follow the news today, it is imperative to think critically about the sources of information we are turning to. Here is a fantastic graphic organizer that will help your learners develop the skills to properly...

Explore the newspaper as a unique entity with a detailed and extended unit. The unit requires learners to consider the newspaper's role in democracy, think about ethics, practice writing and interviewing, and examine advertising and news...

What are the benefits of media use? What are the dangers for young people and for society as a whole? After examining a series of materials, individuals craft an essay in which they explain what is at stake, state their own position on...

Analyze the presence of negative stereotypes and biased reporting in news media, and how this affects one's understanding of other cultures. Learners read newspaper excerpts and quotes from famous personalities to discuss the power of...

Election years provide the opportunity to evaluate news media as well as the next prospective president. High schoolers read about the same event in several different news sources, varying in type, origin, and political leaning, before...

As part of their continued investigation of the reporting of the shooting of Michael Brown class members analyze photos of Michael Brown and the social media response to these images. The class then develops a guide they believe news...

Students analyze and evaluate news summaries found in The New York Times Week in Review section, focusing on the steps and criteria necessary for summarizing a news article briefly. They practice their own news summarization skills.