Discussion questions for the April / May 2008 issue, along with suggestions for further readings on the future of the news business, coverage of the 2008 presidential elections and the opening of the Newseum.

Story 1: "Maybe It Is Time to Panic" |  Story 2: "Why Journalism Matters" |  
Story 3: "Off Target" |  Story 4:"Taking Root"

STORY 1: "Maybe It Is Time to Panic: Why news organizations have to act much more boldly if they are to survive. " By Carl Sessions Stepp  

MORE INFO FROM THE STORY:  Stepp calls on professional journalists to launch a counteroffensive to "recapture domination of the overall information market ... and to rebuild the business to make more money in more ways than ever before, all in keeping with the highest standards." Among his suggestions: publishing an indepth news package every day, that's not available anywhere else; creating online book clubs and discussion groups on local sports, religion and relationships, and a homework center, where teachers answer questions and offer advice; unleashing teams of high school and college students to spark innovation.

CLASS RESEARCH / ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT AND DISCUSSION:  

  • Do editors and publishers of local newspaper Web sites agree with Stepp -- that it is time to panic? What steps are they taking to ensure their survival next year, and five or 10 years down the road? Invite in a panel of local professionals for a freewheeling discussion with students.

  • Final paper suggestion for students in a multimedia or newsroom management class: Ask students to research and write an 1,800- to 2,000-word analysis of a news Web site (a list of suggested sites could be circulated to the class), summarizing what the site does well and not so well, and how it could be better positioning itself for the future. The student papers should look at how easy it is to navigate the site; how clean its design is; how well it uses photos and graphics, broadcast features (including audio and video and podcasts) and interactive elements (such as chats, blogs, polls, Google map mashups, quizzes and searchable databases); and how well stories are written and presented to make use of the medium. The analysis should be based on observations of the site throughout the semester and on background research the student has conducted on the site. Comments should be supported with facts. End notes or footnotes are required.


    RELATED COLUMNS, STORIES AND WEB LINKS:


    STORY 2: "Why Journalism Matters: At a time of gloom and doom in the business, the new Newseum reinforces its importance." Column by Deborah Potter  

    MORE INFO FROM THE COLUMN:  The $435 million Newseum is designed to educate the public on the importance of a free press, but it also puts visitors face-to-face with history, including large chunks of the Berlin Wall, Potter notes. It also reminds viewers that gathering the news can be dangerous. More than 1,600 journalists' names are listed on a memorial wall dedicated to those killed doing their jobs.

    CLASS RESEARCH AND DISCUSSIONS:

  • In times of war and calamity, the importance of an independent, resourceful press becomes magnified. Ask students to write an 800- to 1,000-word summary of the press' pivital role in keeping the public informed during a natural disaster, such as Hurricane Katrina. Attributions/informal citations should be included.

  • How can journalists engage the public in less sensational but no less important daily news events? Invite in a panel of professional and student journalists and citizen journalist/bloggers for an important discussion on the evolving role of journalists and citizens in a democracy.

    RELATED COLUMNS, STORIES AND LINKS:


    Courtesy of Jason Bedrick and Wikimedia Commons
    Rudy Guiliani: The man to beat for the GOP nomination? So said early media reports. (Courtesy Jason Bedrick and Wikimedia Commons)

    STORY 3: "Off Target : Why is the media consensus so often wrong about political campaigns? And isn't there a better way to cover elections?" By Paul Farhi

    MORE INFO FROM THE STORY: Farhi notes that the 2008 presidential election has been "particularly rich in bogus media narratives" -- among them the early speculation that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was the man to beat for the GOP nomination, and the reports that Sen. Hillary Clinton's march to the Democratic nomination was a near-certainty. An accelerated news cycle spawned by the demands of cable TV and the Internet is partly to blame, Farhi says; there's a bigger demand for "news," but not more time for thoughtfulness. There are also younger and less-experienced reporters covering the contest, he notes. Solutions? Politico Editor John Harris tells Farhi that serious journalists need to ignore "parlor games" and get back to analyzing how voters voted, what it says about them and what it might mean for the country.

    CLASS RESEARCH AND DISCUSSION:

  • Reporter Paul Farhi (above) and Editor Rem Rieder (below) do a good job of laying out some of the flaws in this year's presidential campaign coverage. But what about previous cycles? How accurate, useful and thoughtful was the coverage in earlier years? Ask students to research other presidential campaign reporting missteps from previous years. (The Chicago Tribune's "Dewey Defeats Truman" banner headline blunder in November 1948 is off-limits!) Students should detail at least two other coverage missteps, citing the problems, how they occurred, and how similar errors might be preventable in the future. Informal attributions and citations should be included. Students should be prepared to discuss their findings in class.

  • Invite in a panel of political reporters from a professional newspaper, TV station and Web site to discuss coverage of this year's presidential contest, and how the journalists think it could be improved. If local reporters aren't available, try a long-distance conference call or videoconference with the class.

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    STORY 4: "    Taking Root : A new Web site provides serious news and commentary--and genealogy--to the black community." By Roxana Hadadi

    MORE INFO FROM THE STORY: Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive launches The Root.com in January out of a conference room at the Washington offices of Slate. Relying mainly on Associated Press and freelance copy, it pulls in some big names for its top editors, including Editor in Chief Henry Louis Gates Jr., director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. The combination of news, black perspectives and genealogy should make the site stand out.

    CLASS RESEARCH, WRITING DISCUSSION:

  • What kind of competition does this site face, in its niche market, and how likely is it to be financially viable within the next five or 10 years? How does visitor traffic on this site compare to the competition? What are its expectations for growth? Assign students to do a research paper or in-depth story that delves more into the economics and business realities of Web start-ups. Primary sourcing should come not only from documents, but also from interviews with media scholars and companies that track Web traffic and business models, such as comScore Media Metrix.

  • Team students up in groups of two to four to brainstorm their own ideas for a new news Web site, summarizing ideas for content, design, potential advertising and targeted audience. Students should also note what direct competition the site would face, and how they would position the site to offer something different. This could be a small, short project, ending with a memo, early design mockups and a presentation to the class. Or it could become a semester-long project, requiring extensive research and consultations with professionals before moving to the memo, mockup and presentation phases.

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