Decode the News
Module 2, Activity 3.2 - Parts of a Broadcast
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(teacher lesson for this lesson)

Introduction:

Broadcasting is a world all its own. As you enter this world, you will begin to redefine terms and concepts you have come to know in your own world. In this lesson, you will learn the value of reading for meaning and determine the major parts of a newscast.

Activities:

Task One - Putting it in Context
Often one of the more challenging parts of watching a newscast can be understanding everything that is said. When words are foreign or have several different definitions, it can be hard to know for sure what the reporter is saying.

Knowing these words have several definitions, discuss briefly with the class how you would decide which of these definitions is the correct one.

2. Now, look at the vocabulary exercise. Write down as many definitions as you can for each of the 10 words. Some of the words will be familiar to you and others may not be. You may not use a dictionary.

3. Once you have finished defining these terms, read the paragraphs regarding broadcasting. Then, redefine each of the words based on how it was used in the paragraph.

4. Correct the paragraph handout in class. Discuss the importance of listening for contextual clues.

At the end of these steps you will have received a great deal of information in a variety of different ways, teaching you about context and broadcasting.

It is in this same way that broadcast news bombards you with information to teach you about world events. The more ways that you can say something, the more likely it is that your audience will remember it!

Resources:

- recent news broadcast
- vocabulary terms
- broadcasting paragraphs
- treasure hunt

This handout asks you to review and identify key concepts such as: hard news stories, features, sports stories, and tone. It also introduces you to other components of a newscast such as: lead-ins, actualities, graphics, and order of operations.

Once you have completed the treasure hunt, consider the following points and discuss the correlating questions.

There is a very specific way in which a news broadcast is produced. The anchor and the order of operations dictate the feel and tone of the broadcast.
- Why is the anchor's job so important?
- Why is the order of the newscast important? (be sure to consider order of importance within news stories, along with the segments that are not news - i.e. sports, weather)

Print journalism requires many of the same skills as electronic journalism but must be presented in a completely different way.
- What are the similarities and differences between a newspaper and a newcast?
- Which do you prefer and why?