Learning in a digital age/LiDA104/Mass media/Tasks topical news challenge

1. Choose a topical news item from the last 6 months in your country that was widely reported across different. Select a report of the issue from each of the following:
   • Broadcast television news
   • Radio news
   • Hard copy newspaper
   • Online news report
   • A few social media references (e.g. blog posts, Tweets, Facebook posts)
2. When selecting your news item check to see if the broadcaster keeps on-demand recordings of the reports.
3. Compare and contrast the reports from the different sources.
   • Does the reporting angle differ? Why?
   • Do the same issues re-occur consistently across the reports? Why?
4. Read laterally
   • Who owns and controls the media source?
   • Can you determine the circulation / market penetration of the publisher?
   • Investigate the digital footprint of the reporter / author
   • Who is the target audience of the publisher?
   • Review public comments of online sources if enabled on the respective site.
5. Investigate social media coverage of the news item - note trends and themes.