Directions and Analysis Task 1: Comparing National and Local News Coverage
Watch one segment of the national evening news on a major television network of your
choice. Take careful notes about what you see. If possible, also record the segment so
you can refer to it later. As an alternative, you could use a video of a broadcast that is
available on a major news network's website. Try to choose a segment that covers an
event significant enough that it will also be covered by local news sources.
Identify a local news source that has covered the same event. Visit this news source's
website and find one article about the event. Make sure that the story is mostly written
text.
Answer the questions that follow to compare and contrast the way each news source
covers the event. Be sure to list your sources in the Resources section at the end of this
activity.
a. Describe the basics of the issue covered by each news source. What is the
background for the issue? What new developments have occurred? Who are the
major players?