Part 2: Infotainment

Part 2: Infotainment (Entertainment + Information)

SWBAT: Examine different forms of communication within the media

Focus: How is entertainment media used to transmit information? (segue to: Spread a message (PSAs) )

Questions: Is it dangerous to receive news about current affairs via this medium? What are the setbacks? Advantages?

Practical application: [links to sources listed below]

1. First read BBC’s article of the Chilean miners’ rescue.

Then read The Onion’s short article written in the same format.

2. First watch CNN coverage of Chilean miners rescue—discuss format, rate

effectiveness, objectivity, clarity, etc. / Connect to written accounts

Then watch Daily Stewart clip of Chilean miners rescue—compare, discuss Stewart’s approach, effectiveness, who would be more likely to watch what, personal preference / Connect to written accounts

3. Create a T-chart of pros and cons for both news styles

(BBC/CNN vs. Daily Show/Onion)

- HW: Choose a news topic from the past year and find two sources (1 straight news; 1 infotainment)à Can be shared with the class next lesson

4. Debate: Infotainment is not a valid news source.

Produce: Choose a current even and present it “Daily Show” style or write it Onion style

Links: Can very easily be linked to entertainment as a means to spread a message (PSAs, e.g. “That’s so Gay” campaign from 2009)

Texts:

Court documents vs. Film: The Social Network

Good “Infotainment” programs:

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

The Colbert Report

Tosh.O

South Park? Family Guy? Simpsons?

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/9086813.stm

The Onion: http://www.theonion.com/articles/chilean-miners-rescued,18291/

CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/10/12/vo.first.miner.surfaces.cnn?iref=allsearch

Daily Show: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-october-13-2010/rescue-in-chile