Media Critique Letter ( From Journalism Student) Course – Media Laws Culture and Ethics

Media Critique Letter ( From Journalism Student) Course – Media Laws Culture and Ethics
Assignment Attached
Please select option 4 and be sure to use some of the concepts of watchdog and/or mirror journalism in your critique.

Watchdog journalism

http://www.ee.columbia.edu/~shane/words/watchdog.htm

Links to material discussed in class

U.S Soldier dragged through Mogadishu

PART 2 The Legacy of Watergate: The Media – Did the System Work? with Woodward and Bernstein at UT

Article on “Who Owns the Media”

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/democracyondeadline/mediaownership.html

Media Law, Culture and Ethics

Media Critique
Assignment #2: Due Tuesday May 24 – 9 am in dropbox.

Write a short (500 word approx.) letter critiquing the news organization’s handling of ONE of the following news stories. Be sure to use some of the concepts of watchdog and/or mirror journalism in your critique.
1. Fox news anchor Jeanne Pirro’s segment calling on the U.S. to arm moderate Muslims so they can kill other Muslims. View it here http://www.vox.com/2015/1/12/7533159/fox-news-pirro-rant Some questions you might want to address are: Is the broadcast fair or objective? Does it accurately portray (mirror) the Muslim population? Are there errors in her facts? Is this responsible journalism?
2. The Toronto Star’s coverage of the Rob Ford crack scandal. View a segment with investigative reporter Kevin Donovan discussing the stories and why they pursued them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w2p9NeRZS8 Some questions you might want to address are: Was this responsible watchdog journalism or did it go too far? Do citizens have a legitimate interest in the mayor’s private life? Should the Star have published the crack story even though they did not have a copy of the video? Was the Star sensationalizing the story in order to sell papers?
3. The CBC’s coverage of the issue of concussions in hockey. View this news story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnFZcRWI-1Q Some questions you might want to address are: 1. Does the news story give a full picture of the rates of concussions in minor hockey? Does the story present all sides of the issue fairly?
What is missing from the story? Is it responsible for the CBC to be doing stories about the dangers of concussions while paying Don Cherry a six-figure salary to promote hitting and fighting – the two main causes of concussions – on Hockey Night In Canada? Does the CBC have a responsibility to be a watchdog over minor hockey organizations in Canada?

4. CNN’s light treatment of the issue of fashion modeling and underweight models. View it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW_AVPy_VeA Some questions you might want to address are: Is this an appropriate way to treat a serious medical/psychological issue? Does Anderson Cooper’s tone of ridicule actually serve to criticize the Victoria Secret obsession with skinny, anorexic women? Is it effective? Would CNN be a better mirror of social reality if it gave the story serious treatment including just how abnormal these models are, their rates of eating disorders and related illnesses etc?

Marking Criteria (Rubric)
1. Focus: the letter clearly identifies the strengths and/or weaknesses of the news organization’s coverage. The letter focuses on two or three main points. /5 marks

2. Argument: the letter has a clear argument favouring or criticizing the news organization’s coverage. The argument draws on some of the issues raised by the watchdog or mirror theories. /8 marks

3. Evidence: The letter gives a few strong examples to illustrate the points being made. /7 marks

4. Writing Style: the letter is written in clear, concise and convincing journalistic style, free of grammar and spelling errors. /5 marks