NEWSPAPERS & MAGAZINES ASSIGNMENT Choose ONE of the two following assignments Use double spaced, 11 pt font, 1 inch margins, Times New Roman, Arial, or similar. Final Paper should be three pages in length. Upload your final copy to the link in Blackboard. Choice 1 – Newspapers: FHSU students, faculty, and staff have access to the full content of New York Times (NYT.com) and NYT mobile apps. Activate your free pass and create an account by going to NYT Edupass. You must use your FHSU e-mail address to create an account. If you have trouble in the registration process, click “Forgot Password” on the login page and reset your password. For some students, the registration process doesn’t finalize properly and they aren’t allowed to log in, but this seems to fix the problem. If you still have trouble gaining access, contact Ms. R for help. Browse the newspaper archives, from Volume 1, Number 1 through 2002. Only available to subscribers through Times Machine. FIND 3 DIFFERENT PAPERS FROM YOUR BIRTHDAY, IN THREE DIFFERENT YEARS OF THE NEW YORK TIMES: 1) Look at the first year (1851) of the New York Times on the Month and Day you were born (i.e. 09/12/1852). If you were born in a month prior to October, then use the year 1852. 2) Look at the New York Times on the Month and Day you were born in 1980. – For example, if your birthday is 09/12/2001, search on 09/12/1980. 3) Look at the issue from your birthday within the last year (note date). This one may be posted on the NY Times website. (http://www.nytimes.com) • Compare the 3 papers (a) coverage, (b) writing style, (c) visual arrangement, and (d) advertising that you notice that has changed over the years. Look carefully and zoom in—especially on the antique newspapers—so you don’t miss something important. Write your findings in a comparative paper about 3 pages long. • Include the link for each of your newspapers. 2 Choice 2 – Magazines: Choose a magazine available from one of the Forsyth Library Databases linked below: *If the links take you to the ProQuest main page that asks for a login, visit the Forsyth Library website and find the same archives in “A-Z Databases” https://fhsuguides.fhsu.edu/az.php. Look in the W’s for the Women’s Magazine Archive and the E’s for the Ethnic Newswatch collection. On either link below, click on “Publications.” Then, you can find one of the available magazines online. Women’s Magazine Archive has 13 different magazines. Ethnic Newswatch Archive has 108 different magazines. • Women’s Magazine Archive An archival research resource comprising the full backfiles of leading women’s interest consumer magazines. Coverage ranges from the late-19th century through to 2005. Among the research fields served by this material are gender studies, social history, economics/marketing, media, fashion, politics, and popular culture. Includes full-text of Better Homes & Gardens, Chatelaine, Good Housekeeping, Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, and more. • Ethnic Newswatch Included are journals, magazines, and newspapers from ethnic and minority presses, from 1959-present. Ethnicities include: African American/Caribbean/African; Arab/Middle Eastern; Asian/Pacific Islander; European/Eastern European; Hispanic; Jewish; Native People. Compare two issues of the same magazine in your birthday month from a long past issue and a more recent issue from your birthday month in the most recent volume available. The year gap should be at least 50 years to see the significant differences. Write your findings in a paper of the two issues based on the following criteria (a) coverage (featured stories or topics), (b) writing style, (c) visual arrangement, and (d) advertising that you notice that has changed over the years. Paper should adhere to the format standards specified. Include links to the magazines in your paper. Whichever writing assignment you choose, remember to dig deep. Look comprehensively at each of the publications you choose. For example, what kinds of products are being advertised? How do the messages in those advertisements reflect cultural values? Do you think the advertisement from the older periodical would be as successful today? Your comparisons should show consideration of how these periodicals have changed or stayed the same as well as discussion why/how they reflect society of their time. There are many directions to go and aspects to discuss.
