The purpose of this assignment is to have you observe/analyze and then make an argument about the similarities and differences between commercial and non-commercial broadcast news. It especially asks you to think about how the mode of financial support might affect how the news is presented and framed. You will watch/listen to and take notes on a total of two hours of news; one hour of commercially produced news (this will consist of two ½ hour episodes of NBC or CBS (you can watch one of each or two of one), and listen to/watch one hour of non-commercially based news such as NPR (Morning Edition or All Things Considered), or the PBS Newshour, preferably on/for the same day and no more than a day apart.
This paper asks you to examine what stories they choose to highlight, what they regard as newsworthy, and how they frame the news. Be sure to tell the reader which broadcasts you watched/listened to, on which days. Based on your viewing, what argument(s) would you make about the similarities and differences between commercial and non-commercial news?
You need to address these points/questions:
Newsworthiness: What were the topics of the top three stories on each broadcast? Of the various criteria for newsworthiness we have studied, what made these stories newsworthy? Include as many criteria for newsworthiness we discussed in class that you believe were operating here. What were the remaining stories in each broadcast? What did the commercial news stories cover that NPR or PBS did not? Conversely, what did NPR or PBS cover that the commercial networks did not? Were there “happy” stories or human-interest stories? Was there sensationalism?
Sources: Who are the main sources or ‘primary definers’ that set the tone and agenda of the report?
Framing: How were these stories framed? Were they straight news stories, conflict stories, etc.? For example, was the story built around the conflict inherent in an issue, or points of agreement or disagreement among stakeholders in an issue?
What do you conclude from this exercise? Based on the similarities and differences you observed, do you come to any conclusions about the differences between half-hour and hour-long news? Between commercial and non-commercial news?
Below are additional prompts that you are not required to address, but that might be helpful to you as you build your argument(s).
How are people or groups represented, and are any of them “othered” as problems or deviants? Are men and women discussed differently? People of different races, ethnicities discussed in particular ways with particular language? Were issues personified? The purpose of this assignment is to have you observe/analyze and then make an argument about the similarities and differences between commercial and non-commercial broadcast news. It especially asks you to think about how the mode of financial support might affect how the news is presented and framed. You will watch/listen to and take notes on a total of two hours of news; one hour of commercially produced news (this will consist of two ½ hour episodes of NBC or CBS (you can watch one of each or two of one), and listen to/watch one hour of non-commercially based news such as NPR (Morning Edition or All Things Considered), or the PBS Newshour, preferably on/for the same day and no more than a day apart.
