New Media 1: Perspectives
Week 1 Exercise
Forms of News in 3 Parts
Part 1: Go to the library (or the convenience store) and pick up a copy of a USA Today newspaper and “experience” it. In detail, describe the experience of using the paper. Consider how the paper is packaged, folded, put together physically, organized for “use” by an audience. Read a few articles. Describe what you had to do to accomplish this: page-turning; the placement of the article on the page; its relationship to other objects on the page, such as photographs, borders, and gutters. In your experience and study of the newspaper, what did you have to do to find the complete article?
Nothing in the experience of the newspaper is insignificant (lighting, furniture), texture, smell, so be as detailed as you can in your description. In addition to the “reading” and “use” experience, describe the physical environment that made using the newspaper possible.
Part 2: Once you’ve “experienced” and described the newspaper and its environment, find that same paper online on the Web at http://www.usatoday.com. Go through the same process and described how you “experienced” the online “newspaper.” Again, go for as much detail in this description as possible, including the environment of the computer.
Part 3: Finally, compare and contrast your experience of the two “versions” of the newspaper. List elements of the versions of the paper that are similar (do these elements correspond to one or more of the senses?). List elements of the versions of the paper that are different (do these elements correspond to one or more of the senses?) Identify significant differences and similarities in material, space, organization, appearance, and use, including images, text, links, and animation. In this exercise, no detail of similarity or difference is too obvious or insignificant. Any insights? What conclusions can you draw from this examination?
Essay Length: Suitable for depth of analysis.
Other Essay Requirements: This essay should be typed, organized by parts 1, 2, and 3. Double-space the document and make sure your name, course information, and date are placed at the top-left of the first page of the document.