COMM103: iNTRO TO MEDiA

Media Analysis Paper #2

Dr. Samuel Hardman Taylor

Paper Topic: Newsworthiness

Media Analysis Paper 2 analyzes the first 3 newsworthiness criteria: Consequence,
human interest, economics

You must obtain a physical copy of a local newspaper published after September 1,
2024, and a monthly magazine published in 2024. You must bring the physical copy to
class several weeks before the due date of Media Analysis Paper 1 to confirm that you
have selected an appropriate newspaper and magazine. Check the syllabus for the
exact date. Students who are unprepared for this class period will receive a grade
reduction on Media Analysis Paper 1 and 2.

Paper Instructions
In each media analysis paper, you develop a thesis statement about newsworthiness
by (1) applying Dominick’s criteria for newsworthiness (posted on BB and discussed in
class) to the stories you see in your newspaper and magazine and (2) comparing and
contrasting the newspaper and magazine in terms of newsworthiness. This paper is an
analytical essay where you advance a declarative thesis about newsworthiness in the
media. There should be very little recounting of what you saw. Instead, you should
analyze the content. The most important aspect of this paper is that you advance an
evidence-based argument about Dominick’s newsworthiness criteria.

Media Analysis Paper 2 analyze three newsworthy criteria: Consequence, human

interest, economics
Do not consider advertising, promotional material, or paid material at any point
in this paper. Discuss each of the three news criteria in separate paragraphs.
1. Define in your own words the newsworthiness criteria
2. Describe how the criterion is playing out in the paper/magazine.
3. Provide (many) examples to support your analysis.
4. Analyze the criterion for the paper/magazine.
For the analysis of each newsworthiness criteria, you might do any of the
following:
1. The similarities and differences in applying the newsworthiness criteria
you found in the newspaper and magazine and reflect on why you think
things were as you found them.
2. How does analyzing these newsworthiness criteria contribute to media
literacy?
3. The extent to which items that really aren’t “news” (as you would define
news; as something important) were included in the newspaper. What
items were these? Should an event or topic have received more
coverage? If so, what would you cut?
 4. Discuss the source of the various stories. Do you think any might have
been from public relations firms? Did you see any stories using news
releases?
5. You might consider ethical issues – what was done ethically right? Was
anything ethically suspect?
6. The effectiveness of the newspaper or magazine at communicating with
their target audience.
Words of caution: Avoid much discussion of stylistic issues, such as the
quality of the writing and the use of imagery.

Organization and Writing

All papers should have the organizational elements of a college essay, including an
introduction, body, and conclusion. A declarative thesis, internal and external
transitions, and topic sentences for each paragraph are also expectations. The writing
style should be analytical, with appropriate grammar and mechanics. All
newsworthiness terms must be defined in-text, in your own words. Do not quote
directly from the course materials.

Submitting
3.5 to 4 pages each required. No longer than 4 pages. Grading will stop at the end
of the 4th page. The paper must be submitted as either a Word doc or a PDF on
Blackboard (.doc, .docx, or .pdf). The paper should be typed in Times New Roman 12
pt. font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins. If you do not submit the paper correctly,
the paper will be considered “late,” and the course late policy will apply. Under no
circumstance should you submit a Google Drive or Apple Pages document.

Formatting
The paper should be formatted in APA 7th edition. Do not include a title page. In the top
left corner of the first page, include (1) your name at the top of the page, (2) the name
& date of the newspaper, and (3) the name & month of the magazine. A references
page is required for the sources that you use.
Other Paper Details
• I recommend you get your paper and your magazine on the same day, and relatively early
in the term. You will be required to bring it to class to confirm that it meets the
requirements. Tell anyone else who lives with you not to recycle this paper or magazine.
• If you haven’t ever purchased a magazine or newspaper, look for them at grocery stores
(Jewel, Mariano’s), pharmacy/convenience stores (Walgreen's, CVS, Osco),and other places.
You can also find newsstands on the street (staffed or coin-box). Some stores may sell
magazines but may not carry newspapers (Costco, Target, Walmart). You may need to ask
staff in stores where these items are. You will also find hard copies of newspapers and
magazines at the UIC library and the Chicago Public Libraries. You can check suburban
libraries for availability. The instructor has some magazine he will lend to students, if
needed. Using a library copy may create complications for bringing a copy to class; email
the instructor if this is your plan.

• “Local” means in the Chicago metro area. You must use a local newspaper, but you do not
need to use a local magazine.

• “Daily” means at least a Monday-Friday publication schedule (no weeklies). Do not select a
weekend newspaper without permission. You have to approach them differently than a
Monday-Friday issue, which increases the difficulty.
• Free dailies are generally less good for this assignment because they do not represent
traditional journalism and because they are affected in additional ways by the economics
criterion. You have to approach them differently which – although it’s possible – is for most
students more difficult.

• “Monthly” means the magazine comes out once a month. Look for a publication date that
is simply (for example) “June” or “October” without listing specific dates. If you look at
People or Time magazine, you’ll see these are not monthly – so you cannot use them for
this assignment. It is okay to use a magazine that covers two months (e.g., a June/July
issue).
• You cannot do these assignments with an online version of the newspaper or magazine, nor
with a newspaper from another city (A print suburban Chicago daily newspaper is fine).
• A full letter grade deduction will be given for not using hard copies of a local daily paper or
a monthly magazine.
• If you’re referring to Dominick in your paper, use a proper in-text reference: “Dominick
(2013) presents…” or “Dominick (2013) listed the….”. You should never directly quote
Dominick, but if you do, include the page reference: “According to Dominick (2013, p. 277-
278), the most important thing is “insert quote.” It is highly unlikely you will ever refer to
Campbell in this paper, because it is based on Dominick’s criteria. However, if you do refer
to Campbell, follow the same citation information as listed for Dominick. You do not need to
take any direct quotes, because there is nothing in this material that you cannot express as
a paraphrase, but please note that you are allowed to use direct quotes in this paper, if
attributed properly.

• Use “quotation marks” to represent quoted material. Punctuation marks always go inside
“the quotation marks.” (not “outside the quotation marks”.) ‘Single quotes’ are reserved for
use when you’re inserting quotes within quotes – as was done in some examples above. You
probably won’t be using quotes within quotes.
• If you refer to Dominick in your paper, you do not need to include a reference list. If you
choose to include a reference list, it will be evaluated for proper APA style, so be sure you
reference it properly. Again, you should not refer to Campbell, but if you do, treat it the
same way as a reference to Dominick.
• If you are using the work of any other author in your text, you must include the proper in-
text reference and you must include a reference list. You do not need to refer to the work of
any other authors for this paper, and you are strongly encouraged not to, but if you do, your
references will be evaluated for proper APA style.

• For our purposes, the “media text” being analyzed (the newspaper or magazine) is not
considered a source, and you do not need to include the newspaper, magazine, or any
individual stories in a reference list. If you do include a reference list, it will be evaluated
for proper APA style.
• Do not include the page number or author of the material you have selected as examples in
your paper. You do want to let us know a little about the material, though – “The story
about Common’s car fire is an example of prominence because…” If the page number is
relevant in and of itself (for example, if it’s on Page 1 this might be an economic
consideration at work), feel free to include that in your paper, but include it as a part of the
body of your paper and not as a reference item.
• You must italicize the names of all media outlets and all media content. Thus, The Chicago
Tribune, Ebony, Sports Illustrated, Ted Lasso, Stranger Things, Killing Us Softly IV, Color
Adjustment, The Chicago SunTimes, and so forth, must always appear in italics. For most
students, because we don’t require a reference list, grading your APA style is a function only
of italicizing these titles, so if you are careful and doublecheck your paper, this should help
your score.