NEWSDAY IN EDUCATION / MIDDLE COUNTRY TEACHER CENTER

Lesson #9

In-service Course

Ben Amato | Newfield High School People listen to radio news to hear about a wide range of issues. They then watch television shows to look deeper into those events which interest them the most. They try to see between the lines of these stories, so they read newspaper stories, magazine articles and books. The Internet brings them deeper and eventually they seek out films and music which explore the topics they have devoted so much time and effort to.

This is the way we all come to see the world. We feed on radio, television, publications, music and film. We live in a world flavored by our choice of media consumption. One look at the state of current events could sour anyone's appetite. But if the flow of news is filtered, seasoned in a more positive and uplifting fashion, the mood of the viewer could be altered and lightened.

This week I want you to become a media chef. Create a recipe for a media soup flavored in some defined and entertaining direction.

By controlling the ingredients that go into the soup, you will nourish with useful information and delight by offering up the finest blend of audio clips, video pieces, photographs and editorial cartoons. Sprinkle some newspaper articles into the mix. And for dessert, you need to find a clip from a film that explores the flavor of your media soup in a more filling manner.

By controlling the media that flows into an audience, you can influence, enlighten, inform and entertain.

This is a soup I created on pollution. The ingredients are:

An audio piece from NPR that described the toxic contaminants present in farmed salmon.

A WB11 news clip on the risks women take by eating salmon.

Two newspaper articles about the health risks and benefits of eating fish.

Three clips from the movie Erin Brockovich, involving the poisoning of an entire town with industrial PCB's.

A 20 minute segment from 60 Minutes exploring the whole salmon controversy.

A song by Bruce Hornsby titled "Look Out Any Window," about industrial pollution.

A visit to the Newsday Web site that details the hazardous sites located throughout Long Island.

Even though this particular media soup leaves a bad taste in your mouth, it teaches the perils of simply living our lives each day. And it serves as an incredible teaching tool that illustrates how the media can be used to educate.

Move on to the ASSIGNMENT PAGE and become chefs of your own special blend of media soup.