COM 409 Final Project
This project will require you to analyze the news coverage of a specific issue or event,
using course concepts to guide your arguments. You must identify an important issue or
event, accumulate and analyze stories across a period of time and across a variety of
media types, and make a well-developed ethical argument about that news coverage.
You must also present your findings for the class using powerpoint or other presentation
software.
Expected length: 5-7 Pages for the analysis; 10-15 minutes for the Presentation
DUE: MONDAY MAY 5, 3pm.
Each paper needs:
An Introduction: grabs the attention of the reader, introduces the topic, establishes its
significance, and culminates in a thesis statement. (one paragraph)
A “Facts of the case” section: describe the issue or event you are studying, explain why it
is important to study, and tell us what we need to know about it in order to understand
your argument to follow. (one paragraph)
A “Concepts/Literature review” section: identify course concepts/ideas that will drive
your analysis; define those key terms; cite authorities from course readings or elsewhere
that support your understanding of the course ideas; explain how those key course terms
or ideas will help drive your analysis (1-3 paragraphs).
An “Analysis” Section: This is where you work through the main arguments of your
paper. Break the section up into a set of 2-4 Main points (or Main claims)—phrase each
as a mini-thesis statement. Develop each with argument, example, and analysis. Do
they, in sum, provide strong grounds for the judgment you want the reader to make?
 The arguments should be well supported by your literature and/or course readings
 The arguments should be backed by evidence from your news texts.
 The main points/sections should be clear and distinct, well justified, and linked
together to form a coherent argument.
NOTE: This is the bulk of the paper—(several pages)
A “Conclusion” Section: This signals the end of the paper, reiterates the main points,
amplifies and extends your claims about the significance of your study, and leaves the
reader with something memorable. (1-2 paragraphs)
II. Presentation: The goal of this part of the project is for you to contribute to public
understanding about your topic. After having studied and analyzed the news coverage of
a given issue or event, you now can play the role of an informed advocate. Your
presentation should inform the audience about the topic; amplify our sense of the
importance of the issues/ideas; and influence our understanding about the issue—and
specifically about the role of news media in the way we have come to understand it
Presentations should:
 Be well designed and well suited to the audience
 Be balanced and ethical in the information you provide
 Use course concepts in an informed and appropriate way
 Provide visual/multimedia elements to help carry your message
 Leave space for audiences to question and contribute
Some Advice:
Seek out an issue or event that you find significant, complex, troubling, or that you’d
like to learn more about.
Gather as many news texts as you can. Then, do some initial brainstorming, thinking,
and reading. What course concepts or ideas seem to be a play? What key differences to
you detect in the coverage of your issue? What similarities? What problems?
Write a set of arguments about the news coverage. For each, provide a claim, some
reasoning in support of the claim, some evidence to support the reasoning. Consider also
the warrant for the each argument (underlying assumptions that make the argument seem
plausible) and some potential counterarguments. The question here is this: what do you
wish to say about the news coverage about your event and how can you prove it? Draw
heavily on your key terms here.
Focus on our course concepts: ideology; advocacy vs. objectivity; watchdog vs. corporate
functions; transmission vs. ritual uses; witnessing; differences across media (e.g. tv,
radio, blogs, paper, etc); authority and anonymity; conflicting ethical obligations; media
consolidation and owners’ influences.
Pay special attention to the language and word choice in specific articles—language one
of the main ways ideology is covertly advanced (the classic example is the difference
between calling militants “freedom fighters,” or “protestors” or “terrorists.”)
Also, pay special attention to what is not said and not covered.
Remember, this paper is a kind of “test” of your knowledge of news media ethics. Make
your ideas clear, choose your terms wisely, define things appropriately, and show what
skills you’ve developed in your engagement with the class.