Frame It In The NewsTeaching Information Literacy Without a Research Paper

 

Willie MillerAssistant Librarian

Indiana University-Purdue University IndianapolisLOEX Conference

May 4, 2013 @LibraryWillie

Presentation OutlineInstitutional Background

The Problem

A Solution

Theoretical Basis

Learning Outcomes

Lesson Plan

Student Work

Q & A

@LibraryWillie

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

Institutional Background

First Year SeminarCourse Background

The Problem

A Solution2012 U.S. Presidential Election

Theoretical Basis

Social Responsibility Theory of the Press (Peterson, 1956)

Gatekeeping Theory (Lewin, 1947)

Agenda Setting (Lippman, 1922)McCombs and Shaw (1972)

Fragmentation (Abramson, Orren, & Arterton, 1990; Katz, 1997; Morris, 2007; West, 2001; Williams & Delli Carpini, 2004)

The fragmented news era boasts a heterogeneous news environment wherein accounts of one issue, topic, or event can differ significantly depending on the source

(West, 2001, pp. 93-95).

Student Learning Outcomes

Describe bias in news media

Discuss methods of decoding bias in the news

Illustrate examples of bias in the news

Lesson Plan

Lecture

Close Reading

Class Discussion

Homework (Optional)

Lesson Plan

LectureInformation literacy BiasBias in Reporting

Close Reading

Class Discussion

Homework (Optional)

Bias In ReportingPartiality

One-sidedness

Unbalanced selection or presentation

Tendency or inclination that prevents a fair of balanced approach

Temperamental or emotional leaning to one side

Favoritism that distorts reality

Personalized, unreasoned judgment

Predisposition or preference (Sloan & Mckay, 2007 p. 6)

Lesson Plan

Lecture

Close Reading

Class Discussion

Homework (Optional)

Close Reading

Lesson Plan

Lecture

Close Reading

Class Discussion

Homework (Optional)

Lesson PlanLecture

Close Reading

Class Discussion

Homework (Optional)Watch the next debateFind an example of biased reporting on the debateWrite a one page paper illustrating ways the article is biased with examples Provide APA citation(s)

Student Work

The author fails to give the article balance on remarks, responses, and attitudes. Guffaws, snickers, interrupter, aggressive, chuckles, smirks, hammered, gaffes, feisty, are just some of the words used to describe Biden’s behavior and attitude at the debate. Ryan got remarks such as, “maintaining a steady and comparatively reserved demeanor throughout.” You are the judge here, but I call this article biased.

In response to : Sparks fly as Biden, Ryan face off in feisty vice presidential debate. (2012). FoxNews.com. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/11/biden-ryan-face-off-in-high-stakes-vice-presidential-debate-in-kentucky/

Student Work

Quotes describing Paul Ryan’s statements used words such as said, declared, or pointed out. Biden’s began or followed with words like sharply retorted, argued, and asked bluntly. The debate’s analysis offered opinion of how the debate resonated with Republicans, describing Biden as annoyed and likened him to Al Gore rolling his eyes in his debate against President Bush.

In response to: Zeleny, J., & Rutenberg, J. (2012, October 11). Biden and Ryan quarrel aggressively in debate, offering contrasts - NYTimes.com. Retrieved October 12, 2012, from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/12/us/politics/biden-and-ryan-quarrel-aggressively-in-debate-offering-contrasts.html?ref=presidentialdebates&pagewanted=all

Student Work

In the Fox News article “Biden accused of being disrespectful in vice presidential debate with grins, laughs” the bias towards the Romney/Ryan ticket was instantly evident by the title. Any news article deserves a title that informs the readers, in several words, what they can expect to read. The journalist who wrote this did just that- by running with criticism of the opposing party’s debate etiquette….

In response to: Sparks fly as Biden, Ryan face off in feisty vice presidential debate. (2012). FoxNews.com. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/11/biden-ryan-face-off-in-high-stakes-vice-presidential-debate-in-kentucky/

ResultsEngaged class participation

Achievement of learning outcomes

Happy faculty

Considerations

Students knowledge of current events

Conflicting lessons in other classes

Interest in topic

Faculty buy-in

ReferencesAbramson, Jeffrey B, Orren, Gary R, & Arterton, F Christopher. (1990). Electronic Commonwealth: The Impact of New Media Technologies on Democratic Politics: Basic Books, Inc.

Katz, Jon. (1997). Virtuous Reality: How America Surrendered Discussion of Moral Values to Opportu nists: Nitwits, and Blockheads Like William Bennett.

Lewin, Kurt. (1947). Frontiers in group dynamics II: Channels of group life; social planning and action research. Human Relations, 1(2), 143-153. doi: 10.1177/001872674700100201

Lippmann, Walter. (1922). Public opinion. New York: Macmillan.

McCombs, Maxwell E., & Shaw, Donald L. (1972). The Agenda-Setting Function of Mass Media. The Public Opinion Quarterly, 36(2), 176-187. doi: 10.2307/2747787

Morris, Jonathan S. (2007). Slanted objectivity? Perceived media bias, cable news exposure, and political attitudes. Social Science Quarterly, 88(3), 707-728. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-6237.2007.00479.x

Peterson, Theodore. (1956). The social responsibility theory Four theories of the press (pp. 73-103). Urbana, Il: University of Illinois Press.

Sloan, Wm. David, & Mackay, Jenn Burleson. (2007). Media Bias: Finding It, Fixing it. Jefferson, NC: McFarland.

West, Darrell M. (2001). The rise and fall of the media establishment: Bedford/St. Martin's.

Williams, Bruce A., & Delli Carpini, Michael X. (2004). Monica and Bill all the time and everywhere: The Collapse of gatekeeping and agenda setting in the new media environment. The American Behavioral Scientist, 47(9), 1208-1230.

Photo CreditsSlide 3: IUPUI campus photo gallery, http://communications.iu.edu

Slide 5: http://mustmakecomments.wordpress.com/category/college/

Slide 6: http://thedroidlawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1250961!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/obama-http://i2.cdnds.net/12/05/618x504/us_mitt_romney.jpghttp://socialistworker.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/330/images/elections-2012-split-screen-b.jpghttp://cdn2.kimkcdn.celebuzz.com/files/2012/10/Kim-Kardashian-Vote-2012-492x330.jpghttp://aidontheedge.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/20122.jpg

Slides 9&10: University of Michigan, http://www.umich.edu/~newsbias/

Slide 24: http://www.123rf.com/photo_16515446_a-thinking-man-or-person-thinks-beside-the-words-questions-comments-concerns-problems-and-complaints.html

Contact:Willie MillerAssistant LibrarianIUPUIwmmiller@iupui.edu

@LibraryWillie