Activity

Year in Review 2013

Key Learning

Students will review BtN’s stories for 2013 and put together their own BtN episode. Students will understand what makes a story newsworthy.

The Australian Curriculum

English / Language / Text structure and organisation
Understand that the coherence of more complex texts relies on devices that signaltext structureand guide readers, for example overviews, initial and concluding paragraphs and topic sentences, indexes or site maps or breadcrumb trails for online texts(ACELA1763)
/ English / Literacy / Interpreting, analysing, evaluating
Usecomprehension strategiesto interpret and analyse information and ideas, comparing content from a variety of textual sources including media anddigital texts(ACELY1713)

Discussion Questions

1.  What was your favourite BtN story for 2013? Explain your answer.

2.  How many Prime Ministers did Australia have in 2013? List.

3.  Name the U.S. spy that made news headlines around the world?

4.  What country was Australia found to be spying on?

5.  The Duke and Duchess of ______had their baby.

6.  What church chose a new Pope?

a.  Uniting Church

b.  Church of England

c.  Catholic Church

7.  What AFL team was accused of cheating?

8.  Describe a natural disaster that occurred in 2013?

9.  Who reported for BtN on the Philippines typhoon this year?

10.  If you were a rookie reporter for BtN what 2013 event would you like to report on?

Activities

Produce your own rundown

Students will put together their own BtN episode (of 5 stories) using a mix of 2013 BtN stories. Students will need to include a good balance of stories across different topics (for example: science, politics, world news, environment, arts, sport and human interest). Students will also rewrite the links and make up their own poll and quizzes.

·  Consider using BtN’s media assets (video and audio files) to create your own BtN style news report. Students can find these assets on the ROOKIE REPORTER page on the BtN website.

·  Watch some of BtN’s stories to get an idea on how the links, polls and quizzes are put together. Also, check out BtN’s News24 story, which provides a great insight into how ABC’s News24 program is produced.

Before starting this activity students will research and write their own news glossary. Students can conduct their research online and refer to BtN’s jargon buster. http://www.abc.net.au/btn/rookietraining.htm

In the news industry you'll hear some words that aren't used in usual conversation. Every industry has its jargon and the news industry is no different. Write your own jargon busting glossary!

So you've gone out and done some reporting!? We'd love to hear from you, just visit the ROOKIE REPORTER page on the BtN website and click on the Submit Report button. Check out some of our rookie reporter stories from kids around Australia and the world for inspiration!

http://www.abc.net.au/btn/rookie.htm

What make a news story newsworthy?

Events happen in the world every day. Some of these events become news stories that appear in the daily news.

What makes an event news? It needs to be new, interesting and important to people. A good television news story uses words and pictures to report the most up-to-date information about an event.

Students will brainstorm what they think makes a story newsworthy. Students will then choose a news event. Sources of potential news are: newspapers, the internet, radio and TV programs, sporting and cultural events, as well as friends, family and local community.

Ask students to respond to the following questions in relation to the news story they have chosen.

We all make decisions about where we are going to find out about the news, often without even thinking about it. Understanding your audience and what will appeal to them is an important part of news making.

Ask students to compare and contrast the following news programs:

·  BtN – http://www.abc.net.au/btn/

·  News24 – http://www.abc.net.au/news/abcnews24/

·  Channel 7 News – http://au.news.yahoo.com/

·  CBBC Newsround – http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/

Guess the age of the audience for each – comment on the choice of news topics, language and layout.

Consider choosing a news report and adapting it to a different audience, either younger or older. For example, students could choose a News24 story and adapt it so that it appeals to kids their own age.

Further Investigation

Are you a quiz master? Design a quiz on any subject and share it with the world. The only thing you need to keep in mind is that we'll be looking for the most interesting and unique quizzes. Visit BtN’s quiz page for more information!

8 Related Research Links

Behind the News – Stories
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/stories.htm

ABC Splash Live – Want to be a junior reporter?

http://splash.abc.net.au/web/splashlive/home

Behind the News – Year in Review 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3639721.htm

©ABC 2013