Creating a News Publication Georgia Studies, Unit Two

What is “News”? What is “History”?

News is history in the making. History is old news.  Where do you get the news?  What makes something newsworthy?  What qualifies an event to be included in our study of history?  How does a journalist create a news story?

5 W’s and the H  Who?  What?  When?  Where?  Why?  How? Research, curiosity, and communication

Practice thinking like a journalist… Jack and Jill Went up the hill To fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down And broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after. Answer the 5 W’s and the H.

A 150-year “time warp”…  For the next four weeks, we are going to race through about 150 years of Georgia history.  Unit 2 takes us from the Age of Exploration (Hernando de Soto) through the establishment of Georgia as a royal colony of Great Britain.  By fall break, you will have created a news publication that covers five major events of this time period.  You will include only those events which pertain to Great Britain’s colonization of Georgia and the United States.

What must be included?  Publication or broadcast title, date, and location  One major headline story  Two smaller (shorter) news stories  One human interest story  One interview  One editorial  Two advertisements relevant to the times

Do I have to do this alone?!  Nope. You will work in groups of 2-4 people and create your publication as a team.  Edgenuity and class discussions will be your guide for information to include.  DO NOT plan to do a website or anything with technology unless you have your own device that you can bring to school regularly!

Group Jobs (Newspapers and Magazines)  Editor/Proofreader  This person makes sure that everything published is grammatically correct and free from typographical errors.  Fact checker  Reads everything to verify the accuracy of the information in each article.  Layout and design manager  Responsible for mock-up and final layout of publication or website.  Illustrator  Responsible for creating advertisements and political cartoons.  Writers  EVERYONE in the group must contribute at least one article.

 Editor/Proofreader  This person makes sure that everything written is grammatically correct and free from typographical errors.  Fact checker  Reads everything to verify the accuracy of the information.  Producer/director  Responsible for assuring that the final broadcast runs smoothly and that everyone knows where they belong throughout the presentation.  Anchor people/commercial actors  Ad manager  Responsible for creating commercials and a political cartoon.  Writers  EVERYONE in the group must contribute at least one script. Group Jobs (News Broadcast Video)

Topics and People to include…  People and events relating to the early colonization of Georgia  Background and/or biography of James Oglethorpe  The Salzburgers and the Highland Scots  Any of the three royal governors of Georgia: Who were they? What did they accomplish while in office? How did their failures affect Georgia?  The growth, pros, and cons of slavery; effects of slavery on society and economy  Relationships between the colonists and the Native Americans of Georgia  Relationships between the colonists and the British  War of Jenkins’ Ear and/or the Battle of Bloody Marsh  Human interest: Colonial lifestyles, fashions, education, religion, sports and games

Grading, rubrics, and due dates…  Each group member will receive a group grade for the overall appeal and quality of their publication or broadcast.  Each person will receive an individual grade based upon his or her contribution to the group and willingness to work together and get the job done.  Final project is due October 1 or 2, depending upon when you have social studies that week.  A full grading rubric will be provided.