Compairing news coverage

Media coverage

Follow an issue that is being reported about in the St. Petersburg Times, on television and online. Compare and contrast the coverage of these news sources. Which provides the most in-depth, accurate information? Do the media report on the same issues or events differently? Do they focus on different slices of an issue or event? Share your thoughts with other students here on the NIE Blogging Zone.

The art of persuasion

Swaying the voter

Look for articles in the St. Petersburg Times, in print or online, that focus on the elections. Identify at least two of these campaign techniques candidates or the media are using. How does understanding the techniques help people become better voters? Discuss how this information can help you and others make better voting decisions. Some of these techniques also are used in ads to make them more persuasive. Look through ads in the Times and identify ads where these techniques were used. Share your thoughts here on the NIE Blogging Zone.

Recommendations and endorsements

Endorsing amendments

Organizations and the media often recommend a candidate to voters who reflects the view of the editorial board or ownership of the organization, which implies more connection or support than a recommendation. Amendments also can be endorsed by the media or organizations. Look for recommendations in the Times, on tampabay.com and in other media. Here at the NIE Blogging Zone, discuss the impact these recommendations may have on voters’ opinions. Do the recommendations illustrate one of the vocabulary terms listed in the NIE Voting Times '08 publication?

Changing the Constitution

Amendments can be tricky

Amendments can be tricky to understand. Look for articles about the amendments in the St. Petersburg Times and on tampabay.com. Think about and discuss some of the following ideas in your journal. Do you think these amendments are necessary? Do you agree or disagree with the amendments? Should the Florida Constitution be amended on an ongoing basis? Share your insights with other students across the Tampa Bay area here at  the NIE Blogging Zone.

What issues concern YOU?

Share your thoughts

What are your thoughts about the issues below:

• War issues in Iraq
• The economy
• Health care/health insurance
• Homeland security/military defense
• Education
• Illegal immigration
• Energy and global warming
• Federal budget deficit

Do these issues concern you? Which of the presidential candidates is addressing these issues to your satisfaction? Share your thoughts here on the NIE Blogging Zone.

A picture is worth a thousand words

Every picture tells a story

Look for pictures of the candidates in the St. Petersburg Times. Do you think the pictures show the candidate positively or negatively? Why might a particular picture of a candidate be chosen to accompany a particular story? What does the picture tell you? Share your thoughts here at the NIE Blogging Zone.

The candidates

Assessing the candidates

Look for articles about the candidates in the St. Petersburg Times. In your journal, analyze and evaluate the candidates’ positions on issues that are important to you. Which candidate stands out to you? Why? Share your thoughts with other students here at the NIE Blogging Zone.

The issues

The issues matter

Do you think that just because you aren’t old enough to vote this election won’t affect you? You couldn’t be more wrong! Decisions made by our elected officials today can have a tremendous impact on your future. Do you worry about how you are going to pay for college, or wonder if there will be a job for you when you graduate from high school? Do you feel safe at school, at home or while traveling? Are you concerned about the environment, individual rights or gun control? If you plan on voting, you need to be aware of how the two presidential candidates feel about these issues. If you are too young to vote in this election, you still can influence your family and friends of voting age by sharing the facts about each candidate’s views, and by letting your voice be heard on topics that concern you. NIE wants to know what you think. Share your views about the candidates and the issues here on the NIE Blogging Zone.

The funny pages

Finding a leader

Barack Obama and John McCain want to be the leader of the country. A leader is someone who inspires or guides others. Look at the comics in the St. Petersburg Times. Which cartoon character do you think would be a good leader? Share your thoughts here a the NIE Blogging Zone.

Words

Speeches, TV ads, interviews.... Oh My!

Every day, the presidential candidates unleash a torrent of words: speeches, TV ads, press releases, We pages, letters to contributors, interviews, YouTube videos. Together it forms a huge river of persuasion that can be overwhelming. Who can you believe? Do you think the media does a good job of helping citizens sort out the rhetoric? Do you think political ads are confusing? Share your insights with other students across the Tampa Bay area here at the NIE Blogging Zone.