It’s based on the article ‘Story development‘ which we recommend trainers read before adapting this lesson outline for your own purposes.

Learning objective

Students will identify and analyse multiple news angles for a breaking story, focusing on the complexity and interconnections of the issue. They will evaluate the significance of each angle to enhance public understanding and debate.

• Student-facing objective: By the end of this lesson, I’ll be able to find and assess different angles of a breaking news story in order to help the audience understand its importance to their lives.
• Standards: Students will be able to find multiple related and informative news angles to follow when covering a breaking news story.

Learning activities

Warm-up

Show students a recent news headline about a natural disaster. Ask them to jot down answers to the following questions:

• What happened?
• Why is it important?
• Who is affected?

Have students share their responses with a partner. Then, select a few students to share their thoughts with the class. This will activate their understanding of basic journalistic questions and prepare them to explore multiple angles in news story development.

Direct instruction

• Introduce the story development model: Explain the concept of story development using the flooding in Vietnam as a case study. Highlight the importance of asking the basic journalistic questions: What, Why, When, How, Where, and Who. Emphasise that these questions form the foundation of the main story and headline.
• Expand with facts and data: Discuss how to expand the story by piecing together facts and verifying them with at least two independent sources. Use the flooding example to illustrate how to gather a fact file, maps, and profiles. Introduce the role of data in supporting evidence, and demonstrate how to verify data reliability by consulting officials, NGOs, and academics.
• Explore angles and consequences: Guide students in identifying new story angles by examining the impact and consequences of the flooding. Discuss potential angles such as the economic impact, infrastructure damage, and community effects. Encourage students to think critically about accountability and future prevention plans, using the flooding scenario to explore these aspects.

Guided practice

Think, Pair, Share: Guide students through a structured activity to practice identifying and analysing news angles.

• Think: Present students with a brief news article about a recent flooding event. Ask them to individually identify potential news angles beyond the main story. Encourage them to consider angles related to impact, responsibility, and future prevention.
• Pair: Have students pair up to discuss their identified angles. Instruct them to compare their ideas and refine their angles by considering additional perspectives or missing information.
• Share: Facilitate a class discussion where pairs share their refined angles. Encourage students to explain the significance of each angle and how it contributes to a deeper understanding of the story.
• Collect and display: As students share, scribe their angles on the board, organising them into categories such as impact, responsibility, and future plans. This visual display will serve as a reference for the class.
• Reflect: Conclude the activity by asking students to reflect on how identifying multiple angles enhances the depth and quality of news reporting. Encourage them to consider how this practice can be applied to other news stories.

Independent practice

• Research and analyse: Assign students to independently research a recent news story about a natural disaster. Instruct them to identify at least three different angles related to the story, focusing on impact, responsibility, and future prevention. Encourage them to use credible sources and verify information.
• Write a brief: Have students write a brief summary for each angle they identified, explaining its significance and how it contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the story. Remind them to consider the audience’s perspective and the importance of each angle in public debate.
• Peer review: Pair students to exchange their briefs. Instruct them to provide constructive feedback on clarity, depth, and the relevance of the angles. Encourage them to suggest additional angles or perspectives that may have been overlooked.
• Revise and submit: Allow students time to revise their briefs based on peer feedback. Collect the final versions for assessment, ensuring they demonstrate a clear understanding of news story development and the ability to identify and analyse multiple angles.

Assignment

Ask students these questions:

1. What is one new angle you identified in today’s lesson that you hadn’t considered before?
2. How does exploring multiple angles change your understanding of a news story?
3. What’s one question you still have from today’s lesson?

Some suggested answers:

• Suggested answer to Question 1: An angle related to the long-term economic impact of the flooding.
• Suggested answer to Question 2: It provides a more comprehensive view and highlights interconnected issues.

Teacher resources

Differentiation guide

• Advanced learners: Encourage them to explore additional angles, such as international aid dynamics or climate change implications. Suggest they analyse the effectiveness of past interventions and propose innovative solutions. Challenge them to create a multimedia presentation to convey their findings.
• Striving learners: Provide structured graphic organisers to help them categorise angles. Offer sentence starters to guide their analysis. Pair them with peers for collaborative research and discussion. Use simplified articles to ensure comprehension and build confidence in identifying angles.
• Recommended reading: This lesson plan is  based on the article ‘Story development‘ which we recommend trainers read before adapting this lesson outline for your own purposes.

Notable definitions

• News angle: A specific perspective or approach to a news story that highlights particular aspects or issues, providing depth and context to the main event.
• Investigative journalism: A form of journalism that involves in-depth research and analysis to uncover facts, often focusing on issues of public interest, accountability, and transparency.
• Accountability: The obligation of individuals or organisations to explain their actions and decisions, often scrutinised in journalism to ensure responsibility and transparency in public affairs.

Required materials

• Recent news articles about natural disasters
• Whiteboard and markers
• Access to computers or tablets for research
• Graphic organisers for angle categorisation
• Peer review checklists
• Access to credible news sources and databases

Lesson summary

• Warm-up
• Direct instruction
• Guided practice
• Independent practice
• Assignment

The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.

Related article

Story development techniques

The post Lesson: Story Development first appeared on Media Helping Media.

Learning objective

Students will identify and analyse new angles in news stories in order to add context and depth. They will evaluate the implications of these angles on the audience and the broader news narrative.

• Student-facing objective: By the end of this lesson the student will be able to find and explain new angles in news stories that make them more informative and relevant to the audience.
• Standards: A student will understand how to develop a news story in ways that reveal important new angles that add context.

Learning activities

Warm-up

Show students a brief news clip or article headline. Ask them to jot down their initial thoughts on the main angle of the story. Then, prompt them to consider alternative angles by asking: “What other perspectives or impacts could this story have?” Encourage sharing in pairs, then select a few students to share with the class. This primes students to think critically about news angles and prepares them for deeper analysis.

Direct instruction

Introduce the concept of news angles: Begin by explaining the importance of identifying new angles in news stories. Use a real-world example, such as a recent news event. Discuss how different angles can provide varied insights. Highlight how these angles can affect audience perception and understanding.

Analyse a news story: Present a news article with a clear main angle. Break down the article with the class, identifying the primary angle and discussing its implications. Ask students to brainstorm potential alternative angles, considering factors such as audience impact and broader context. Facilitate a discussion on how these angles could change the narrative.

Explore the editorial process: Describe how journalists and editorial teams decide which angles to pursue. Use a hypothetical news meeting scenario where students role-play as editorial staff. Assign roles and have them discuss a breaking news story, debating which angles are most important to investigate further. Guide them to consider audience impact and ethical considerations.

Guided practice

Think, Pair, Share: Guide students through a structured analysis of a news story to identify new angles.

Think: Present a news article with a clear main angle. Ask students to individually identify and jot down potential new angles that could add depth or context to the story.

• Pair: Have students pair up to discuss their identified angles. Encourage them to explain their reasoning and consider their partner’s perspectives.
• Share: Facilitate a class discussion where pairs share their findings. Highlight diverse angles and discuss their potential impact on audience understanding.
• Connect: Encourage students to connect these angles to broader societal issues or trends. Discuss how these connections can enhance the story’s relevance.
• Reflect: Ask students to reflect on how identifying new angles can change the narrative and influence public perception. Encourage them to consider the journalist’s role in shaping these narratives.

Independent practice

• Exercise: Provide students with a news article. Instruct them to independently identify at least three new angles that could add depth or context. Encourage them to consider audience impact and broader societal implications.
• Analysis: Have students write a brief analysis of one identified angle, explaining its potential impact on the audience and how it could alter the narrative.
• Peer review: Pair students to exchange their analyses. Each student should provide constructive feedback on their partner’s identified angles and analysis. Encourage them to suggest additional angles or considerations.

Circulate to observe and support students as needed.

Assignment

Ask students to answer these questions:

• What is one new angle you identified in today’s news story that could add depth or context?
• How might this new angle affect the audience’s understanding of the story?
• What’s one question you still have from today’s lesson?

Here are some suggested answers:

• Suggested answer to Question 1: A new angle could be the economic impact of the event on local businesses.
• Suggested answer to Question 2: This angle might help the audience understand the broader economic implications and how it affects their community.

Teacher resources

Differentiation guide

• Advanced learners: Encourage deeper analysis by having them explore complex societal implications of news angles. Assign them to identify and critique the ethical considerations in choosing certain angles over others. Challenge them to propose alternative narratives and justify their choices.
• Striving learners: Simplify tasks by providing structured templates for identifying news angles. Use guided questions to help them focus on the main aspects of a story. Pair them with peers for collaborative analysis to build confidence and understanding. Offer additional examples to illustrate how different angles can change a story’s impact.
• Background reading: This lesson plan is based on the article ‘How to develop important news angles‘ which we recommend you read before adapting this training outline for your own purposes.

Notable definitions

• News angle: A specific perspective or approach to a news story that highlights particular aspects, providing depth and context to the audience.
• Editorial process: The series of discussions and decisions made by journalists and editors to determine which news angles to pursue and how to present them.
• Audience impact: The effect that a news story or angle has on the audience’s understanding, perception, and engagement with the topic.

Required materials

• News articles or clips for analysis
• Notebooks or digital devices for note-taking
• Access to online news sources
• Printed or digital copies of a news article for independent practice
• Peer review guidelines document
• Analysis template document

Lesson summary

• Warm-up
• Direct instruction
• Guided practice
• Independent practice
• Assignment

The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.

Related articles

How to develop important news angles

Story development techniques

The post Lesson: News Angles first appeared on Media Helping Media.