Dr. Tim Gilmore
Media Literacy Assignment
1) Please read the following “Readers’ Guide,” which I have pasted below, from The New York
Times and answer the question below in paragraph form.
Readers’ Guide
In its daily news pages, The Times presents both straightforward news coverage and other
journalistic forms that provide additional perspective on events. These special forms — news
analysis articles, columns and others — adhere to standards different from those of the
editorial and Op-Ed pages. The news and editorial departments do not coordinate coverage and
maintain a strict separation in staff and management.
All articles, columns, editorials and contributions in the newspaper are subject to the same
requirements of factual accuracy.
Here are descriptions of the various forms:
IN THE DAILY NEWS SECTIONS
Man or Woman in the News: A portrait of a central figure in a news situation. It is not primarily
analytical, but highlights aspects of the subject’s background and career that shed light on that
figure’s role in the current event.
Reporter’s Notebook: A writer’s collection of several anecdotes or brief reports, often
supplementing coverage of a major news event like a summit meeting or an important trial. The
items provide glimpses behind the scenes that flesh out the reader’s sense of a major story.
Memo: A reflective article, often with an informal or conversational tone, offering a look
behind the scenes at issues or political developments. The article (with a title like Political
Memo, White House Memo or Memo From London) may draw connections among several
events, or tell the reader who or what shaped them.
Journal: A sharply drawn feature article focusing on a place or event (and labeled with the place
name, whether foreign, national or regional). A Journal article is closely observed and stylishly
written, often light or humorous in tone. It is intended to give the reader a vivid sense of a
place and time.
News Analysis: A close examination of the ramifications of an important news situation. It
includes thorough reporting, but also draws heavily on the expertise of the writer. The article
helps the reader understand underlying causes or possible consequences of a news event, but
does not reflect the writer’s personal opinion.
Appraisal: A broad evaluation, generally by a critic or a specialized writer, of the career and
work of a major figure who has died. The article often accompanies the obituary.
Media Literacy Assignment
1) Please read the following “Readers’ Guide,” which I have pasted below, from The New York
Times and answer the question below in paragraph form.
Readers’ Guide
In its daily news pages, The Times presents both straightforward news coverage and other
journalistic forms that provide additional perspective on events. These special forms — news
analysis articles, columns and others — adhere to standards different from those of the
editorial and Op-Ed pages. The news and editorial departments do not coordinate coverage and
maintain a strict separation in staff and management.
All articles, columns, editorials and contributions in the newspaper are subject to the same
requirements of factual accuracy.
Here are descriptions of the various forms:
IN THE DAILY NEWS SECTIONS
Man or Woman in the News: A portrait of a central figure in a news situation. It is not primarily
analytical, but highlights aspects of the subject’s background and career that shed light on that
figure’s role in the current event.
Reporter’s Notebook: A writer’s collection of several anecdotes or brief reports, often
supplementing coverage of a major news event like a summit meeting or an important trial. The
items provide glimpses behind the scenes that flesh out the reader’s sense of a major story.
Memo: A reflective article, often with an informal or conversational tone, offering a look
behind the scenes at issues or political developments. The article (with a title like Political
Memo, White House Memo or Memo From London) may draw connections among several
events, or tell the reader who or what shaped them.
Journal: A sharply drawn feature article focusing on a place or event (and labeled with the place
name, whether foreign, national or regional). A Journal article is closely observed and stylishly
written, often light or humorous in tone. It is intended to give the reader a vivid sense of a
place and time.
News Analysis: A close examination of the ramifications of an important news situation. It
includes thorough reporting, but also draws heavily on the expertise of the writer. The article
helps the reader understand underlying causes or possible consequences of a news event, but
does not reflect the writer’s personal opinion.
Appraisal: A broad evaluation, generally by a critic or a specialized writer, of the career and
work of a major figure who has died. The article often accompanies the obituary.
Review: A specialized critic’s appraisal of works of creativity — movies, books, restaurants,
fashion collections. Unlike other feature writers, critics are expected to render opinions in their
areas of expertise.
News-Page Column: A writer’s regularly scheduled essay, offering original insight and
perspective on the news. The column often has a distinctive point of view and makes a case for
it with reporting. (Columns in the newspaper are displayed with the writer’s name and the
column’s title inset into the text.)
The news sections also present a number of regular feature articles that carry labels indicating
the topics — for example, the Saturday Profile in the foreign pages and Market Place in
Business Day.
IN THE OPINION PAGES
Editorial: A sharply written, generally brief article about any issue of public interest. Editorials
are written by the editorial board of The Times, which includes the editorial page editor, the
deputy and assistant editors, and a group of writers with expertise in a variety of fields. While
the writers’ opinions are of great importance, the editorials also reflect the longtime core
beliefs of the page. Unlike the editors of the news sections, the editorial page editor not only
reports to the publisher, but consults with him on the page’s positions. Editorials are based on
reporting, often original and in-depth, but they are not intended to give a balanced look at both
sides of a debate. Rather, they offer clear opinion and distinct positions.
Editorial Observer: A signed article by a member of the editorial board. These articles have a
more distinct personal voice than an editorial. They often reflect personal experiences or
observations, and may be written in the first person. These articles are not intended to be
policy pronouncements, but do not contradict the board’s positions.
Op-Ed Column: An essay by a columnist on the staff of The Times, reflecting the opinions of the
writer on any topic. Columnists are expected to do original reporting. Some travel extensively.
Op-Ed columns are edited only for style and usage, not for content. Columnists do not submit
their topics for approval, and are free to agree or disagree with editorial positions.
Op-Ed Contribution: An article by a person not on the staff of The Times, reflecting opinions
about a topic on which the author is an expert or has provocative and well-reasoned ideas.
These articles, most of which are solicited by the editors, are not intended to reflect the
positions of the editorial board. Indeed, the Op-Ed page is seen as a forum to air diverse and
challenging viewpoints.
Please answer the following question with at least one substantial paragraph.
In what kinds of journalistic writing are you more likely to find the personal opinion of the
journalist or writer? In what kinds are you least likely to do so? Why?
2) What is bias? Please consider each following topic and discuss, in a few sentences each,
whether and how a writer should, or should not, be biased toward or against it.
a) Nazism
fashion collections. Unlike other feature writers, critics are expected to render opinions in their
areas of expertise.
News-Page Column: A writer’s regularly scheduled essay, offering original insight and
perspective on the news. The column often has a distinctive point of view and makes a case for
it with reporting. (Columns in the newspaper are displayed with the writer’s name and the
column’s title inset into the text.)
The news sections also present a number of regular feature articles that carry labels indicating
the topics — for example, the Saturday Profile in the foreign pages and Market Place in
Business Day.
IN THE OPINION PAGES
Editorial: A sharply written, generally brief article about any issue of public interest. Editorials
are written by the editorial board of The Times, which includes the editorial page editor, the
deputy and assistant editors, and a group of writers with expertise in a variety of fields. While
the writers’ opinions are of great importance, the editorials also reflect the longtime core
beliefs of the page. Unlike the editors of the news sections, the editorial page editor not only
reports to the publisher, but consults with him on the page’s positions. Editorials are based on
reporting, often original and in-depth, but they are not intended to give a balanced look at both
sides of a debate. Rather, they offer clear opinion and distinct positions.
Editorial Observer: A signed article by a member of the editorial board. These articles have a
more distinct personal voice than an editorial. They often reflect personal experiences or
observations, and may be written in the first person. These articles are not intended to be
policy pronouncements, but do not contradict the board’s positions.
Op-Ed Column: An essay by a columnist on the staff of The Times, reflecting the opinions of the
writer on any topic. Columnists are expected to do original reporting. Some travel extensively.
Op-Ed columns are edited only for style and usage, not for content. Columnists do not submit
their topics for approval, and are free to agree or disagree with editorial positions.
Op-Ed Contribution: An article by a person not on the staff of The Times, reflecting opinions
about a topic on which the author is an expert or has provocative and well-reasoned ideas.
These articles, most of which are solicited by the editors, are not intended to reflect the
positions of the editorial board. Indeed, the Op-Ed page is seen as a forum to air diverse and
challenging viewpoints.
Please answer the following question with at least one substantial paragraph.
In what kinds of journalistic writing are you more likely to find the personal opinion of the
journalist or writer? In what kinds are you least likely to do so? Why?
2) What is bias? Please consider each following topic and discuss, in a few sentences each,
whether and how a writer should, or should not, be biased toward or against it.
a) Nazism
b) Slavery
c) Jim Crow
d) Women’s rights
e) A particular tax policy
f) Academic freedom
g) Municipal policies on animal control and no-kill shelters
3) What is “fake news”?
Here are two pieces of writing about “fake news” from The Washington Post. What’s the
difference in writer’s intention between these two stories?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/fake-news-writers-need-to-meet-the-real-reporters-
who-die-trying-to-do-their-jobs/2016/11/21/2d116308-afdc-11e6-8616-
52b15787add0_story.html?tid=a_inl&utm_term=.f76f3cc91a31
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pizzagate-from-rumor-to-hashtag-to-gunfire-in-
dc/2016/12/06/4c7def50-bbd4-11e6-94ac-3d324840106c_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-
main_comet-reconstruct-852pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.7b46ced7583e
4) Consider tabloid publications, like The National Enquirer. Please read the following article
and then answer, with at least one substantial paragraph the following questions.
The National Enquirer http://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/04/news/how-the-supermarket-
tabloids-stay-out-of-court.html
Are individuals safe from libel in the United States? If not, why not? How does a publication like
The National Enquirer differ from publications like The New York Times in terms of libel?
5) Please read the following article and answer, with at least one substantial paragraph, the
following question.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/07/us/florida-woman-is-charged-with-threatening-sandy-
hook-parent.html
If there are lots of people who believe Barack Obama wasn’t born in the United States or that
the Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax, how do you know what sources to trust? And the
answer is not just “You don’t.”
c) Jim Crow
d) Women’s rights
e) A particular tax policy
f) Academic freedom
g) Municipal policies on animal control and no-kill shelters
3) What is “fake news”?
Here are two pieces of writing about “fake news” from The Washington Post. What’s the
difference in writer’s intention between these two stories?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/fake-news-writers-need-to-meet-the-real-reporters-
who-die-trying-to-do-their-jobs/2016/11/21/2d116308-afdc-11e6-8616-
52b15787add0_story.html?tid=a_inl&utm_term=.f76f3cc91a31
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pizzagate-from-rumor-to-hashtag-to-gunfire-in-
dc/2016/12/06/4c7def50-bbd4-11e6-94ac-3d324840106c_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-
main_comet-reconstruct-852pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.7b46ced7583e
4) Consider tabloid publications, like The National Enquirer. Please read the following article
and then answer, with at least one substantial paragraph the following questions.
The National Enquirer http://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/04/news/how-the-supermarket-
tabloids-stay-out-of-court.html
Are individuals safe from libel in the United States? If not, why not? How does a publication like
The National Enquirer differ from publications like The New York Times in terms of libel?
5) Please read the following article and answer, with at least one substantial paragraph, the
following question.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/07/us/florida-woman-is-charged-with-threatening-sandy-
hook-parent.html
If there are lots of people who believe Barack Obama wasn’t born in the United States or that
the Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax, how do you know what sources to trust? And the
answer is not just “You don’t.”
6) Please find an article or news story from each of the following sources and apply the so-
called CRAAP Test (see link below) to the article or story you find. You don’t have to include
every point from the test, but you should indicate, with at least several strong sentences, how
the test’s criteria relate to the sources you find.
https://researchguides.ben.edu/source-evaluation
Apply to an article or story from:
a) The Boston Globe
b) Gawker
c) PBS NewsHour
d) Mental Floss
e) National Geographic
f) Journal of the American Medical Association
g) National Public Radio
h) National Review
i) Folio Weekly
j) Info Wars
k) The Nation
called CRAAP Test (see link below) to the article or story you find. You don’t have to include
every point from the test, but you should indicate, with at least several strong sentences, how
the test’s criteria relate to the sources you find.
https://researchguides.ben.edu/source-evaluation
Apply to an article or story from:
a) The Boston Globe
b) Gawker
c) PBS NewsHour
d) Mental Floss
e) National Geographic
f) Journal of the American Medical Association
g) National Public Radio
h) National Review
i) Folio Weekly
j) Info Wars
k) The Nation
Here are the Washington Post and New York Times articles from the assignment, in case you are unable to view the links in the assignment itself:
Fake-news writers need to meet the real reporters who die trying to do their jobs – The Washington Post.pdfdownload
Pizzagate_ From rumor, to hashtag, to gunfire in D.C. – The Washington Post.pdf download
How the Supermarket Tabloids Stay Out of Court – The New York Times.pdfdownload
Florida Woman Is Charged With Threatening Sandy Hook Parent – The New York Times.pdf download