Newsmakers

Traditionally, news media told us what they thought we should hear. But as new ICT technologies develop, this is changing. News is becoming a two-way street, where ordinary people are now shaping what news is reported and how.

Ordinary citizens can play an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, and analysing news and information. Members of the public are increasingly recording news events on their mobile phone cameras, and sending it in to news media to print, broadcast or screen. They’re using

social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to share and discuss what’s happening.

Eye-witness accounts allow for real time updates and offer stories from people who are directly affected. These stories may otherwise be very hard to find.

News media ask people to send in their news and opinions. For example, many people sent in their own pictures and videos of the Christchurch earthquake to newspapers and television news stations.

News reports are filled with stories about ordinary people. Some key faces appear regularly because of their jobs, or events they are involved in.

Fill in the blanks with the correct name and role. Decide whether each person is likely to appear in local (L), national (N) or international (I) news stories and insert the correct letter in the small box.

In the blank mugshot box, add a person from your local newspaper.

News is information about recent or current events and issues. News media, like newspapers, news websites, and radio and TV networks, provide a valuable public service.

People work in different roles to help bring the news to you. In the newspaper for example:

- reporters find and write news stories

- news editors choose where news stories will appear in the paper

- photographers take pictures to go with the news stories

- sub editors proof read stories, write headlines and lay the stories and pictures out in the newspapers

- the editor writes an editorial (opinion column), and is responsible for editorial decisions Important local, national and globally focused stories of interest are presented. Some stories affect a few people, while others affect large numbers of people.

Where does news come from? Citizens as journalists

What advantages and disadvantages might citizen journalism have in helping to deliver news and information?

Choose a person from the newspaper and record why they are in the news. Write down Who they are, Where they are , What happened and When. You can also add a quote (something they said), if you find one.

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Your street, your school, your neighbourhood and your region has news that is specific to your area, but may also be of interest to others outside your region.

Watch the NewsByte video on NiE TV on the NiE website for tips about making your own news video about something of interest.

http://www.nieonline.co.nz/page.cfm?ID=103

Click on the ‘How to’ tab for tips on how to collect information and present your news video. You can watch a student NewsByte from Bucklands Beach Intermediate School. Click on the ‘Your views’ tab.

We’d love to hear from you and your school!

People in the news

Irene van Dyk Muammar Gaddafi John Key

Bob Parker Natalie Portman Justin Beiber Julia Gillard

Actress Leader of Libya Christchurch Mayor

Pop star NZ Prime Minister Sportsperson

Australian Prime Minister

My news

Find an example of a story in your newspaper that affects:

a) a small number of people

b) a large number of people

Find news stories that affects you. Explain how you are affected.

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CItIZeN JourNALISM

Advantages Disadvantages

What if traditional news media like radio, television and newspapers

disappeared?

News is part of people’s lives. It helps us keep up with what’s going on and to stay connected with our communities. Who is involved in

the collection and presentation of news and how is it changing?

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NAMeS

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Hey Nikki, your photo of our school sports

awards was in the local newspaper! Oh cool they used it!

I’m so glad that I sent it to them.

Students, click on KidSpace for online quizzes and activities.teachers, discover downloadable worksheets, Nie tV videos,

teaching suggestions, and loads more!

Written by Claire Wilson, Design by rachael Somerville