Traditional vs. Emerging Media

Subject
Unit
Media Literacy (Lesson 2)
Level
Duration
60 minutes
Traditional vs. Emerging Media

Student Pre-Work
Conduct a short interview about life before mobile phones, internet, email, eBooks and other emerging technologies, with someone who is in a different age bracket than you: a parent, grandparent, younger sibling etc.
Ask them:
- Where do you get your news?
- Which types of emerging technology do you use most?
- What is better about your life today as a result of technology? What is worse?
- Do you think people have changed?
- Are there some technologies you purposely avoid? Why?
Opener:
Discussion (10 mins.)
Ask 3-4 students to share their findings from the interview task.
- Where do your subjects get their news?
- Which types of emerging technology do they use most?
- What is better about their life today as a result of technology? What is worse?
- Do they think people have changed?
- Are there some technologies that they purposely avoid? Why?
Class Activities
Where Do We Get Our News? (5 mins.)
Lecture/Discussion
A 2011 YouGov poll asked British people about which media outlet they trusted most.
- 64% of adults said TV is the most trusted outlet
- 55% said websites
- 58% said radio
- 38% said newspapers, 25% said magazines
- Facebook & Twitter had only 15% of people’s trust
Do you think these responses would be different if the same poll was taken this year?
A 2014 poll saw 64% of people trust the authors of Wikipedia entries, over 61% trust in BBC News journalists, and 45% trust in journalists from upmarket newspapers (Times, Telegraph, Guardian etc.)
Do you think this trust in Wikipedia over journalists is well-founded? Why?
How do you stay up-to-date on current events?
The Shift Towards Online Media (10 mins.)
Discussion
How have publishing & broadcasting moved online?
What are the digital alternatives to traditional mediums?
- Television: YouTube, downloadable shows via iTunes, streaming via Netflix
- Radio: Pandora, Spotify, podcasts
- Newspapers – blogs, websites, social media
- Magazines – blogs, websites, Apple Newsstand, Flipboard
- Books – iBooks, audiobooks
- Billboards – pay-per-click ads, banner ads
- Direct Mail – email newsletters, social media
What advantages do online vs. traditional media have over one another?
- Traditional media seen as more trustworthy
- Online media can move more quickly
- Emerging media has a level of flexibility that traditional media doesn’t (up-to-the-minute information, citizen participation)
- Traditional media often has political leanings/affiliations, where online media can be more independent – this is particularly important in countries with government-controlled media when there is political strife (i.e. the Middle Eastern uprisings)
During a crisis (i.e. pandemic or natural disaster), which outlets would you turn to for information?
Case Study (30 mins.)
Group Research Task
In groups of 3-4, look for information on a major news event that has occurred in the past few years. [Suggestions: The Boston Marathon Bombings, Middle East Conflict/ISIS, 2015 UK Elections]
Find out:
- How were these events reported on in traditional vs. emerging media?
- How different was reporting within and outside of the affected country?
- What concerns are there about accuracy of online information?
- How did citizens participate in the journalistic process?
Give groups 15 minutes to research, then share their findings with the class.
Closing Response
Free Writing (5 mins)
- How do you participate in the media cycle?
- In what ways are you an information producer or consumer?
- What opportunities exist for citizens to be involved in the creation and distribution of information?
Homework
None
Subject
Unit
Media Literacy (Lesson 2)
Level
Duration
60 minutes
Curriculum Points:
Pupils and students test their knowledge of digital media and
talk about the role media plays in their lives.
Materials & Preparation
Assign pre-work task in previous class
Students will need access to internet-connected devices in order to conduct research
Comments are closed.