At an almost alarming rate, students these days are unable to determine news writing from opinion writing. In my two Journalism I classes, I conducted a pre-assessment experiment where students evaluated a news article and opinion article from the local newspaper. I asked students to read both pieces, underline the facts and opinions in each article and then decide which piece was from the news section and which piece was from the opinion section. Students were able to accurately identify facts...
One of the most exciting aspects of weaving media literacy instruction into the classroom is the rich source material that we are able to glean from news and entertainment media, pop culture and social media. It can also feel overwhelming to try to keep our instruction on pace. When Beyoncé dropped “Formation” on Feb. 6, 2016, and the next day gave a Black Panther-inspired performance during the Super Bowl halftime show, there was backlash on social media and from political pundits. I quickly...
Fake news. Bias. Alternative facts. Journalism is under attack, and our students certainly feel the apathy that results in this constant cycle of distrust. For students who might be interested in journalism, the job market seems dubious and there’s been increasing vitriol about mainstream news outlets being “fake news.” These realities and fictions affect morale about the field, to be certain, but larger trends in education also threaten the ways in which young people could and should be encouraged...
The need for greater knowledge and understanding of the First Amendment is vital to our democracy. If this instruction does not occur in our classrooms, where is it taking place? In social media forums where misinformation and disinformation run rampant and unchecked, or within partisan realms where it is adapted to support political leanings? Recently, the First Amendment Center of the Freedom Forum Institute announced the results of its annual State of the First Amendment survey. Out of approximately 1,000 adults, 21% could not name any of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. According to a Freedom Forum release about the survey, “Of concern for First Amendment advocates...
Two years ago, I wrote on this site about how to use a few hours before school starts to jump start your staff. Today, we wrapped up an eight-hour, four-day camp with the newsmagazine staff; and it was such a great week of learning, I just had to share. This year, we have half newbies joining a staff of mostly students with only one year of experience on staff. Most took the level 1 classes, journalism or photojournalism. However, somehow, we have the most introverted, shy crew I’ve seen in a decade and half of teaching. I could only convince one to head off to a summer workshop at a nearby university, where she learned a ton as a writer and improved her interview skills. The others quivered...
Recently, SJ picked the brain of portrait photographer Dana Maquart. Her love for photography started in high school. SJ: How did you get interested in photography? Dana: "I majored in journalism and minored in graphic communications, so a lot of my college classes involved darkroom photography, but I really was interested in taking portraits when I started teaching darkroom photography at the high school level in 2008. My students asked me to take their photos and that's really where I wanted to keep learning!" SJ: What are three of the most important tips you could give any student wishing to pursue this career? Dana: "1. Know your camera well. If you're still shooting...
Multiple surveys and studies have shown that Americans remain unaware of the five freedoms the First Amendment guarantees. When more Americans can name characters from an...
MIPA is a state organization working in association with the Missouri School of Journalism; Journalism Educators Association, JEA; and the National Scholastic Press Association,...
January 14, 2017
