Kaufhold news engagement

“Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment to (try to) make news use fun…and social!


• Newspaper advertising down 50% since 2007 (ASNE, 2013)

• Staffs down 31%; 17,000 newspaper jobs lost




• TV news viewership down 55% since 1980(Pew, 2013)





• Average age of a CBS or CNN news viewer?





• Average age of a CBS or CNN news viewer?62.3…and rising


• News consumption


• News consumption • Military service• Fraternal membership• Voting rates• Community investment• Union membership• School volunteering• Reported health/happiness


• News consumption • Military service• Fraternal membership• Voting rates• Community investment• Union membership• School volunteering• Reported health/happiness• Suicide• Divorce


• So, what would you rather do?


• So, why not turn news into a game?


• So, why not turn news into a game?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGi0UX0sM3s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGi0UX0sM3s


• News game, control & experimental groups• Previous week’s news; 2 local sources; no sports• 2 ways to earn points:

-Student does know a news story;-Experimenter doesn’t know a news story

• Pre- and post-tests measured 2 areas:-Current events knowledge-Civics knowledge


• First iteration: Spring 20108 classes; 200 students (exp n=113); 6 visits-Current events knowledge +15%-Civics knowledge +37%


• First iteration: Spring 20108 classes; 200 students (exp n=113); 6 visits-Current events knowledge +15% (few

students)-Civics knowledge +37%


• First iteration: Spring 20108 classes; 200 students (exp n=113); 6 visits-Current events knowledge +15%-Civics knowledge +37%

• Second iteration: Summer 20122 classes; 94 (exp n=56); 18 visits (every day)-Current events knowledge +86%-Civics knowledge +83%


• Next: Expand it to high school2 social studies classes, approx. 30 students

each-Lubbock High School (STEM magnet)-Coronado High School (more diverse)


• Next: Expand it to high school2 social studies classes, approx. 30 students

each-Lubbock High School (STEM magnet)-Coronado High School (more diverse)

• Texas Tech IRB approved• Lubbock School District research chair approved• Two H.S. principles approved & ID’d teachers• Lubbock Avalanche-Journal provided papers• …teachers never responded


• Next: Expand it to high school-Identified a likely teacher in Austin-Will continue to pursue Lubbock teachers

• Hosted TAB conference; many news directors• Plan to engage journalists & journalism faculty

to make numerous classroom visits andhost student tours in news facilities


• Next: Expand it to high school-Identified a likely teacher in Austin-Will continue to pursue Lubbock teachers

• Hosted TAB conference; many news directors• Plan to engage journalists & journalism faculty

to make numerous classroom visits andhost student tours in news facilities

• Include recent graduates, now working in news


Thanks!

Kelly Kaufhold, Ph.D.Texas Tech University(512) 944-7256 (c)[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Kaufhold news engagement

Education

Transcript of Kaufhold news engagement