What is the key word?

Definition:

• The presentation of stories in a way that is intended to provoke public interest or excitement, at the expense of accuracy.

M I E S N A I S S T O N L A

Sensationalism• We have just defined the above key term.

• What do you know about this concept?

• Look at the statements. Identify the ones that you think are sensationalised.

How are the sensational statements different to the non-sensational statements?• They make you worried• They are more exciting• They present things as being more serious or important

than they actually are.

Learning Objectives

• To define and recognise sensationalism, and identify it in news coverage

• To demonstrate how news coverage influences our perception by focusing on particular aspects of developing nations

Sensationalism Techniques

• What do you notice? Do these link with our earlier statements?

Research and deconstruction

• Look at one of the following three natural disaster events:– East Africa food crisis of 2006– Mozambique floods of 2005-2006– Pakistan earthquake 2005

• Research and record the key, unembellished and objective facts that answer the 5 Ws: who, what, where, when, and why.

• Find 5 or 6 images that support the facts of the disaster.

• Cite your sources for your information.

News coverage

• Find four news sources for your event. Include text and images. For each news source it must meet the following criteria:– Dealing with destruction and devastation

– Dealing with the needs of those suffering after the event.

– Calling for help/aid/resources for the immediate and ling term recovery and rebuilding process

– Dealing with the successful recovery and rebuilding after the event

• Use online news resources such as Google News.

• Make sure you select All dates from the archives

News Deconstruction

• For each source complete the News Deconstruction Chart to determine:

• Which ones are more sensational and why they were• What was deemed “newsworthy” and why• Why this event was newsworthy• What elements in the stories about the events were

considered important enough for several news sources to report

• Whether there was any news about recovery and rebuilding following the event, and how difficult it was to find this information

Share your findings!

• What were or might have been left out of the media coverage?

• Try to identify 3 missing elements.