Exercise objective:
To teach students how to find underreported sources for their stories.
Materials needed:
A computer and access to the Internet.
Time needed:
One class period in a computer room. (If no such room is available, the exercise could be done as a homework assignment)
Expected results:
Students will be sensitized to the absence of relevant voices in their stories. They will be encouraged to use the Internet to get a lead on new people to contact and news ideas to be included.
Instructions:
Your editor has assigned you one of the following reaction stories. She wants an in-depth story based on interviews with the usual suspects—government officials, experts, etc. You tell her that you think there are several underreported sources—voices that are rarely heard—that should be part of the story. She is skeptical but gives you 10 minutes to come up with a list of reliable sources.
Your assignments:
1. Assessing students. The House recently endorsed President Bush’s proposal to require reading and math tests for the nation’s school children. Nearly 90 Democrats joined Republicans in supporting a central tenet of the president’s educational plan. You have spoken with the superintendent, teachers’ union, university experts and other conventional sources. Now come up with three other groups you can reach using the Internet. How do they feel about the assessment? How will they be impacted?
2. The dope on dope. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-0 that an Oakland cannabis co-op could not mount a medical necessity defense against a federal marijuana distribution law. The ruling did not overturn state laws permitting the medical use of marijuana. But it will require some medical marijuana patients to find other sources for cannabis. You’ve talked with police, drug enforcement officials and medical experts. What new sources can you find on the Internet? What are their view of this ruling and the overall issue of legalized drug use?
3. Warm weather. Much of the Northern United States including your home state has been enjoying unseasonably warm weather this winter. In an update on the situation, you have talked with the usual sources but want some anecdotes and comments from other sources. Who could you find? What are their views?
Below is a list of groups that are rarely approached by mainstream journalists. Check off three groups that you could contact about your story.
_____Children
_____Religious groups
_____Rural citizens
_____Blue collar
_____Laborers
_____Criminals
_____Homeless
_____Students
_____People over age 65
_____Gays/lesbians
_____Small business owners
_____Urban Native Americans
_____Housewives/househusbands
Lillian Dunlap
Leadership and Management
Ldunlap@poynter.org
This exercise was developed in part by participants in the Poynter 2001 seminar Reporting with the
Internet for College Educators, May 21-25. 2001.
