CRITICAL VIEWING TIP
(see tip #2) (see tip #3) (see tip#4)
by Sue Lockwood Summers
Concept:
The news is presented in many different ways. Variations may include:
• the amount of information given
• the images that accompany the story
• the emphasis or placement of the news item
• the actual words or text used in the news story
These components may affect your perceptions of the world around you.
Activity:
Watch a news story on a nightly television news program. Listen to the radio headlines for the report of the same story. Find the same news item on the Internet and in a local newspaper, a national newspaper, and a weekly news magazine. Compare and contrast the various elements. See how you react to each presentation.
Discussion:
• What are the differences between TV, radio, print, and Internet news reporting?
• Which news source gives the most information?
• Which news source depends the most on visuals?
• How can the images used in a news report affect its message?
• How can the words used in a news report affect its message?