Gateway to Media

Gulf Oil Spill

• What do you know?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLiqvZOP8TY&feature=related

Imagine that you are ...

• ... a reporter assigned to cover the spill

• Where/how do you begin?

Who or what ...

• ... has something at stake in this spill?

What’s my point of view / agenda?

• Tony Hayward, BP

• Tony Smith, fisherman

• Barack Obama

• John Paul, scientist

• Robert Thomas, environmentalist

Who said this?• Tony Hayward, BP

• Tony Smith, fisherman

• Barack Obama

• John Paul, scientist

• Robert Thomas, environmentalist

• The wetlands are deteriorating at an incredible clip

• There are changes (in the Gulf) that are very slight, that might not be seen for years

• My industry is gone.

• The Gulf Spill is a tragedy that never should have happened.

• We’re dealing with a massive and potentially unprecedented disaster.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKcrDaiGE2s

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DyejRjyK8w&feature=channel

I said this ...• Robert Thomas,

environmentalist

• Tony Smith, fisherman

• John Paul, scientist

• Tony Hayward, BP

• Barack Obama

• The wetlands are deteriorating at an incredible clip

• My industry is gone.

• There are changes (in the Gulf) that are very slight, that might not be seen for years

• The Gulf Spill is a tragedy that never should have happened.

• We’re dealing with a massive and potentially unprecedented disaster.

When you search for sources, ask yourself ...

• What is at stake for this person, organization?

• What is his her point of view, agenda?

Is your mommy a

doctor?

How will you find sources?

• One way = Take apart an article

• NY Times article

• Google Doc

Remember

• Every story has a history

• It exists in a context

• You must understand that historical context

• What is the historical context for the Gulf spill?