Media Framing Analysis
Due Date: Sunday, Week 3 (midnight)
Worth: 20%
Assignment task: Compare and contrast the different ways that the media has framed a specific event or issue.
Instructions:
Choose a current event or issue that has been widely covered in the media. Here are examples of some of the categories of topics you can choose from:
- Climate change and the environment
- Race and inequality
- Immigration
- Gun control
- Crime
- Housing affordability and/or homelessness
- Gender and LGBTQ+ rights
- The COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on society
- Foreign policy
- Animal rights and welfare
Make sure to be specific with the event or issue you choose to write about. For example, if you choose to write about immigration, you will still need to narrow down your topic to a specific event or issue related to immigration.
Collect 3-4 articles from different news sources that cover this specific event or issue. All the articles you choose must discuss the same event or issue that you have chosen. Each article should present a different perspective on the issue. You may use non-English language articles for this assignment if they are relevant to your topic.
Analyze the articles you have chosen to frame the event or issue. Consider the following questions as you compare and contrast your articles:
- What are the main ideas or messages that the articles convey about the event or issue?
- How do the articles use language and images to shape the reader’s understanding of the event or issue?
- Do the articles present a balanced or unbalanced perspective on the event or issue?
- Do the articles rely on any stereotypes or generalizations?
- Do the articles include any quotes or interviews from experts or people directly affected by the event or issue?
In your conclusion, explain the importance of media framing in shaping public understanding and perception of events and issues.
The report should be 1,000-1,250 words, cited and formatted in APA style.
Resources on APA citation
UCW Library APA & Plagiarism provides a great set of resources, especially the following documents and videos:
- APA Demystified in Five Minutes – great video that covers the basics of APA citation and formatting
- APA Quick Guide – provides a great list of how to do citations for all types of sources, including news articles
- APA Template and Sample Research Paper can be found on the UCW Library APA & Plagiarism page
- UCW APA Workshop – you can also complete this UCW APA workshop, which provides a detailed explanation of APA
Other resources (videos):
- How to Avoid Plagiarism in 5 Easy Steps – great video on how to avoid plagiarism
- APA Format: In-Text Citations, Quotations, Paraphrases to Avoid Plagiarism – another video about citations and plagiarism