The purpose of this assignment is to have you focus on the underlying ideological perspectives that the media uses to portray social issues
The purpose of this assignment is to have you focus on the underlying ideological perspectives that the media uses to portray social issues. Mass media include (but is not limited to) news media (e.g., news or magazine article, editorial, opinion piece, letter to the editor), advertising media (e.g. commercial or public service advertisement), and social media (e.g., blogs, internet forums, wikis, podcasts, etc.). Find a media piece (print or online) that addresses a social issue (i.e., poverty, racism, heterosexism/homophobia, etc.). It does not have to discuss policy specifically, but can be on any aspect of social policy such as equity and diversity issues, social assistance/welfare, housing, crime, women’s rights, the elderly, children, etc
Find a news article, editorial, a columnist’s opinion piece, or a letter to the editor that addresses a social issue. This can be on any aspect of social policy such as social assistance/welfare, housing, crime, women’s rights, the elderly, children, etc. You can use print or on-line editions of any Canadian newspaper or an article you have read. You may also use an article in a news magazine, such as MacLean’s and Saturday Night. See also Suggest Sites below for more ideas. Please do not use a journal or scholarly article.
Your 5-7 paged paper (double-spaced) must include the following:
- A brief description of the article: What is the main point or message that the author is trying to make? Who is the author? Can you tell me about the author? Where did you find this article? What is the date of the article?
- What ideology does the author adopt? How do you know? Don’t just tell but but show me by providing specific examples (i.e., a quote or direct reference from the article)!
- What are the key elements of ideology that are used in your article? Give an example for each element that you have identified (i.e., a quote or direct reference from the article)!
- Submit the article that you used for this assignment. If the article is found on the web, all you need to do is submit the web address with your paper. If the article is in print only, you must scan the article and submit it electronically via the submission folder.