Reporting to the class on current events

Once or more during the semester, each student will be assigned to give an oral report on current events at the beginning of a class period.

Requirements include:

1. Report on at least six news stories. These should be the most newsworthy events of the day at all levels — local, state, national and international. Don't limit the report to what interests you or your friends. Mostly, you will be looking for events that touch people's lives and have long-term importance. But also include at least one event that is just interesting or funny (perhaps something from entertainment or sports).

2. Identify at least two stories as having come from the #jlabnews Twitter feed or another social media project of this class, including at least one story that you contributed to social media as a class member within the past week.

3. Identify at least one story as having come from the most recent Tropolitan, TropNews.com or TrojanVision.

4. Use a variety of media sources, such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, Fox, AL.com, the Montgomery Advertiser, the Dothan Eagle, the Troy Messenger, Montgomery and Dothan television stations, TrojanVision, Troy Public Radio, and npr.org. Multiple sources are available on the internet, on the air and in print.

5. Select one of your stories, and analyze it. In other words, describe briefly to the class what facts it contains, what sources the reporter obtained her information from, how she wrote the story, and how the story was presented in digital, print or broadcast format. Use the word “analysis” in introducing this section of your report. (Identifying the sources is the most important part of this report. To see an example of a news story with the sources identified, click here.)

6. Your report should last four to five minutes — no longer. Be concise. Summarize; don't read the stories at length. Think of it as a radio newscast, where the announcer gets straight to the point of each story and does not waste words.

7. You may use notes, but you don't have to give them to the teacher.

IMPORTANT: When it’s your turn to give the report, come to class on time and be prepared to start immediately. If you don’t show up for class without giving a good reason and notifying the professor ahead of time, you may receive a zero on this report.

Your grade on this assignment will be based on how well you follow these directions — in particular, whether you exercise good news judgment, follow all directions and provide a thorough report. Inquire after class, and the professor will be glad to discuss your grade with you. 

Revised 10/14/17