Introduction

Welcome to our WebQuest for students interested in creating a news package for their Video Production class.

This is an assignment for a group of two to four students where they will produce a news package from suggested topics.  Because this is a team-oriented activity it will help to foster communication and cooperation skills.  Time management abilities will also be developed. To participate in the assignment, basic news ethics/news judgment, basic camera operation and editing skills are required.

What is a WebQuest?

A WebQuest is the same as any of your other assignments with one major difference. Most of the information that you will need to complete your assignment is on the World Wide Web rather than on handouts and in textbooks. You will be using the World Wide Web to conduct the research necessary to complete your assignment. We have selected websites for you to use during your research and linked them to the pages of this website. Your research time is not to be spent randomly searching sites that are not included on this pre-selected list.

When you are ready, go to the task page to read the outline of your assignment. You will need to choose a topic for your news package. Review the process of your assignment prior to your research. Your work will be evaluated according to the expectations outlined on the rubric.

What is News?

Don't forget the Code of Broadcast News Ethics

• Is the news informative and educational?  Is the audience getting information it normally wouldn’t know?

• What is the local or national affect of the news on the audience?

• Is the story timely?

• How will the story impact those who see and hear it?

• Will the story arouse controversy because of the varied sides, opinions, or solutions?

• Are the people, places, or events well known or prominent?

• Is there conflict on either a physical, moral, or emotional level in the story?

• Is this a story that promotes human interest or empathy?

• Does the story provide an update to any previous story?

• Is this an event that is out of the ordinary, or is it unusual in any way?

NOTE:

This WebQuest is in partial fulfillment of the requirements of INST 523: Information Access and the Internet at Bridgewater State College with Dr. Thanh Nguyen. Revisions were made based on classmate feedback. Credit is also given to Dr. Bernie Dodge at San Diego State who has developed an excellent web site on WebQuest.

Sources used for development of this site can be accessed here.