Assignment #1

Pick a popular news story and find at least three forms of media (i.e. Website (print), Podcast (audio), and MPEG (video)) that are disseminating the story. Write a one-page analysis of the pros and cons of each medium.

Three Forms of Media: Pro's and Cons

The Story: The increasingly cold weather has caused icicles to hang off plants, but temperatures are expected to raise.

WEBSITE (print)

PROS: I knew the most details about the story and was able to go back and read lines if I didn’t catch it the first time around. I could go at my own pace because I was the one reading. Print media seems like it has the most accurate information and also has great visuals. There was a picture of an icicle hanging off a plant. The icicles looked over two feet long. The visual really captured my eye. Words combined with images helped me remmeber the most and were the most powerful.
CONS: I didn't really see any cons.


PODCAST (audio)

PROS: Understanding this form of media took the least effort. I did not have to read and I did not have to watch. All I had to do was listen.
CONS: I only remembered what I wanted to listen to. If I got bored, I would zone out and not really listen.


MPEG (video)

PROS: People are drawn to visual things. I was almost distracted when watching the telvision and not really listening to the broadcaster.
CONS: Even though I have a vivid picture in my mind, I still do not know all the details of the story.