News Scorecard
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news_scorecard.docYou will evaluate the news headlines of one day. You can choose radio, TV, daily print, or internet. Fill in one sheet for the news outlet chosen. You will: Attach a sheet that briefly summarizes each story covered and 2.) Complete the following.
Date of newscast/paper __________ News organization _______________ Newscast time or edition _____
1. Core vs. Peripheral Topics : Put a mark next to the single topic that best matches the primary subject of each of the front page stories.
Core Topics:
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Politics/government |
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Major fires/accidents |
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Natural disaster |
( ) |
Weather |
( ) |
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Education ( ) |
Social trends |
( ) |
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Economics/business ( ) |
Consumer reporting |
( ) |
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Crime/justice/prison |
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Military |
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Health |
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Science/technology |
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Environment |
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2. # of core topic stories ________ x 2 points each = Total points________ ]
3. Peripheral topics:
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Celebrities' lives/deaths/arrests ( ) |
Sports ( ) |
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Lesser fires/accidents ( ) |
Human interest ( ) |
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Other stories |
( ) |
4. # peripheral topic stories______ x 1 point each = Total points ________
Impact: Mark High if the story is mostly "big picture" reporting -- about issues, ideas, themes or patterns of events affecting more than 10,000 people in a direct, lasting way (longer than 6 months); Or Low if it's mostly "snapshot" or episodic, reporting of a specific event affecting fewer people in a direct, lasting way.
5. # of High Impact ___________________ x 3 points each= Total points ________
6. # of Low Impact ___________________ x 2 points each= Total points ________
7. Not sure ___________________ x 1 points each= Total points ________
Named sources : Were three or more named persons quoted in TV, five or more in print? Give 2 points for each adequately sourced story.
8. # of Yes ____________________ x 2 points per story = Total points ________
9. # of No _____________________ x 0 points per story= Total points ________
Determine the Gender diversity of named sources
10. # of Males_______________________
11. # of Females _________________________
12. Ratio of Males to Females = ____________ to ___________
Determine apparent racial/ethnic diversity: Place a mark for each named on-camera source in newscast.
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African |
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Native American |
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Asian |
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Middle Eastern |
( ) |
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Euro/Anglo |
( ) |
Other |
( ) |
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Hispanic/Latino/Chicano(a) ( ) Pacific Islander ( ) |
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Couldn’t tell |
13. # of Euro/Anglo ______________________________________
14. # of under-represented groups ___________________________
15. Ratio of Euro/Anglo to Underrepresented groups ____________ to ______________
Determine the overall quality of your media outlet:
16. Add up the quality scores by adding together your totals from Questions #2, 3, 5, 6, & 7 = __________
17. Add up the total number of new stories that you analyzed = ____________________
18. Divide your answer in #16 by your answer in #17 = _____________________
Source: GradetheNews.com!
Reminder:
Attach your summarization of the news stories!
