Hawaii Pacific University Citizen Journalism Paper

For the first assignment, students are asked to write an essay of 1,500 words which engages in a succinct but comprehensive analysis of a particular contemporary (or historical) issue or trend in news and journalism. Students are asked to select one of the questions below, and in their answer to the question to assess the strengths and weaknesses of relevant approaches, debates and theories about news and journalism in the context of changing social, cultural, economic and political structures. This assessment will allow students to familiarise themselves with some relevant theories addressed in the module and to develop a critical understanding of key processes of news and journalism. For all answers, please substantiate your approach and argument by a) critically engaging with academic research and debates in the field of journalism studies, and b) drawing on relevant academic literature in framing your assignment

Additional task-specific criteria are as follows:

– Quality of definition of a contemporary issue or trend in news and journalism and degree of understanding of appropriate primary and secondary theoretical research (K1; K2; K6; S1);

– Quality of discussion of strengths and weaknesses of academic approaches pertinent to the contemporary issue or trend in journalism under discussion (K3; S2);

– Quality of discussion of the context and consequences of news and journalism within a range of social contexts (K4; S3);

– Coherence of argument and written structure of the research essay, including academic tone and display of examples and analysis (K5; S5; S6).

Answer ONE of the following questions:

1. How useful is the concept of ‘gatekeeping’ for an understanding of the selection and wider impact of news today?
2. How useful is the concept of ‘agenda setting’ for an understanding of the selection and wider impact of news today?
3. Is it possible for news to be objective? Assess the key debates and draw on research in journalism studies to support your claims.
4. What is fake news? Draw on academic research, concepts, and debates in journalism studies to support your answer.
5. How is social media impacting on news production?
6. In what ways is digital journalism changing journalistic practices?
7. Has digital media changed ‘news’ content?
8. What is ‘citizen journalism’? How is it influencing the collection and content of news?
9. What constraints are placed on war correspondents and with what effects on news content?
10. What does Baudrillard mean by ‘hyperreality’ and how does his approach contribute to an understanding of the reporting of the Gulf War?