In Week 2 (the very first tutorial) each student will choose a week to 'lead the class' in discussion. There will generally be 2 students presenting each week (Some weeks may have 3 students depending on the total number of students in a tutorial). Students are to work together as a group, whereby they will choose a news event from that week to act as a catalyst for a discussion of the theories and ideas contained in the readings for the week. The examples used can come from either electronic and/or print media but lengthy audio-visual clips (more than 3-4 minutes) may please be avoided.
This task expects students to stimulate and manage class discussion. 'Lead the class' is not a summary of readings, nor is it a repetition of the lecture. It is about leading a discussion. The best way to approach the task is simply to be familiar with the readings, and have a few questions ready for your peers to lead to a critical analysis in the context of a contemporary news event. The task is akin to running a meeting, in which the group has a clear agenda and makes sure everyone takes part. The presentation irrespective of the number of members in the group, is to run no longer than 45 minutes and no less than 40 minutes.

The criteria against which the exercise will be judged are:

• Evidence of understanding and evaluation of theories relating to news and current affairs,
• Synthesising the theories to underline the relationship between news and current affairs and politics, as also society.
• Demonstration of wider reading,
• Clear delivery and
• Engagement with the audience

(The rubric will be posted on ilearn).
 

In about 250-300 words students are required to write a news story or news feature. This requires an understanding of 'news' (Week 2), choosing an event not reported till the date of submission elsewhere (local newspapers and websites included) based on news values (Week 3), identifying appropriate sources and collecting information from them and presenting it in an appropriate style, i.e.,  inverted pyramid or narrative (Week 4). A pithy headline will be regarded highly. This is not an essay, but a news report. Students must be familiar with the news format, preferrably in newspapers and online.  TV, radio, Twitter and blog news formats are not acceptable.

A log is to be appended to the report. The log is like a reporter's diary complete with dates of events, interviews, names of sources and contact details (phone numbers or email IDs). There is no word-limit for the log and no separate marks for it. Unfortunately, marks cannot be claimed for an excellent log and an inadequate news report. The marker will consult the log to evaluate the news gathering process and hence, it is important.

The aim of this early assessment is to help students familiarise themselves with processes and procedures related to the construction of news in order to enable a better evaluation of news and current affairs.

Hard copies to be dropped into MAS box in Student services, W6A and soft copy to be uploaded to Turnitin. Marked copies will be distributed in class, three weeks from submission.

The criteria against which the report will be graded are:

• newness of the event,
• news value of the event,
• range of appropriate sources,
• structure and style,
• comprehensiveness,
• as also grammar and presentation.

(Please also check rubric in ilearn).

Select any ONE of the following questions:

1. Identify an important national or international story which is significant enough to be covered by a range of media outlets. Select four different versions of the same story and explain choices of content and why they differ in the way that they do. This will require you to pay attention to what is left out, just as much as what is left in. The analysis is to be justified based on evidence from the course readings, which will take in the concepts of at least three weeks of the course, as well as any necessary supplementary resources.

2. What role does the digital have to play in constructing news in the contemporary world? Is it changing the format and function of news, if so, how so? Provide appropriate examples to justify your research. The analysis is to be justified based on evidence from the course readings, which will take in the concepts of at least three weeks of the course, as well as any necessary supplementary resources.

3. Identify three pseudo-events and evaluate their function in the news media. Assess whether they have any news value and what they are. If you do not think they have a news value, explain why you think so. The analysis is to be justified based on evidence from the course readings, which will take in the concepts of at least three weeks of the course, as well as any necessary supplementary resources.

4. Should we lament the increasing tabloidization of news and current affairs media? Identify three examples of tabloid news that might help to justify your answer. The analysis is to be justified based on evidence from the course readings, which will take in the concepts of at least three weeks of the course, as well as any necessary supplementary resources.

PLEASE NOTE – all of the research examples must have occurred during this SEMESTER (not earlier than January 2015. Older events can be referred to in the essay to substantiate an argument, but the essay CANNOT rest on examples of news reportage earlier than January 2015. Some of the things you might want to think about: where does the story occur in terms of the context of the program; the language the news presenters or reporters use, or the manner in which they address their perceived audience; or even the camera angles used in an interview. Please do NOT analyse the stories in a piecemeal way. The point of a research essay is to compare and contrast.

Hard copies to be dropped into MAS box in Student services, W6A and soft copy to be uploaded to Turnitin. Marked copies will be available for collection from Student Services after declaration of results.

The criteria for grading the assessment are (detailed in the rubric on ilearn):

• Evidence of understanding and evaluation of theories relating to news and current affairs,
• synthesising the theories to underline the relationship between news and current affairs and politics, as also society,
• demonstration of wider academic reading, 
• standard in-text referencing,
• a well-constructed reference list,
• good grammar and spelling and
• a clear writing style.

Tutorial attendance is compulsory and it is the student's responsibility to maintain 80 per cent attendance. Absences require the submission of a disruption to studies request online. Unfortunately, marks are not for mere attendance. The grading criteria are: active participation and meaningful discussions based on more than a passing acquaintance with media material. Discussions are to reflect an understanding and a critical evaluation of media material in the context of the week's readings. While willing participation in discussions will be regarded highly, grading will take into account the quality of contribution to the discussions rather than the number of interventions.