Tape a 30-minute newscast. Play it for students. Have them list the stories reported. Have students work in small groups to determine where they would place the same stories in a newspaper. Have students look at a copy of the day's newspaper.
Students compare the graphics and visual presentation of news and television programing over time.
Ask students to compare the format, style and content of the newspapers. Collect videotapes of television programs from earlier years. Have students compare the programs to current shows. Look at the commercials as well. Ask students to interview parents or local television and radio producers, newspaper editors and reporters to find out about changes in each medium and why those changes have occurred.