Purpose:
Given recent events, we commonly perceive media to have a large amount of power to influence public opinion. While media is not a central part of this course, it is a central part of our lives. The purpose of the media analysis project is for you to investigate a topic relevant to this course that you are interested in, and how it is discussed in the public sphere.
Instructions:
Pick a topic that is scientific or technological in nature. The topic must be specific enough that the media coverage you are looking at is relatively tightly centered around your topic. See below for some example topics. Look up three news media articles covering this topic. At least two of these sources should be from mainstream news outlets. You may use non-print coverage (i.e. video, radio, podcast) but you must be able to indicate via link exactly where to find that coverage. Your analysis will focus on identifying similarities and differences in coverage and linking these similarities and differences to our discussions of public understandings of science, and the choices media outlets make in presenting topics in science and technology.
Your write-up must: Clearly state the issue you are interested in covering, Include a brief summary of the coverage of three news sources, Identify similarities and differences in news coverage, Incorporate an analysis that connects these similarities and differences to our readings. How does our course material clarify or organize these similarities or differences?
Be at least 800 words and include a word count.
Attach the articles you used in your analysis
Example topics:
SAT/ACT/GRE requirements for university admission
Self-driving cars
Steroids use and a particular sport/event
March for Science
Greta Thunberg
CRISPR-CAS9
Genetic testing for ancestry
( attached is some class readings)
