Order Description
Assignment: Start collecting newspaper articles (in print or online) that pertain to any aspect of
child abuse or neglect (write-ups about a case, descriptions of a new program or personal stories
about children or families) anything that relates to the topic will work for this project. You can
choose articles based around a theme of your choice, it is completely up to you. You
should collect 10 articles between now and the time the assignment is due (be sure to always
note the date they appeared). It?s a good idea to use different newspapers sources, since each
may have a different slant.
Choose the best 8-10 articles in order to analyze the following:
1. What impact does the article have on the reader?
2. What value laden words does the author use?
3. What appears to be the reporter’s view of the people involved?
4. Does the reporter appeal to the reader to adopt a specific view?
5. Does the reporter offer any solutions?
Summarize all of your findings in a 3 page paper that answers the question, “What effect
does the media have on child abuse and neglect?”
Examples of conclusions can include: how the media informs and educates, how the media
tends to only report the sensational and further victimizes victims, how different ethnicities are
portrayed, etc.
This assignment is meant to get you to really think about the impact media has on the topic of child abuse and neglect.
Ask yourself these questions:
Does the paper include a well thought out
summary of what impact each article has on the reader? Does the paper clearly
identify value laden words in each article and elaborate on their impact on the
reader? Does the paper disclose the Author view for the people
involved for each article? Does the paper include a discussion of the authors appeal
to the reader? Does the paper thoroughly state the reporters solutions for each
article reviewed?
Does the paper include a very well thought out summary, conclusions/reflections on
what effect the media has on child abuse and neglect?
