Blog Prompt #4

Living Newspaper Project Pitch

Activity:

Create a topic proposal for the final project to pitch to your teammates.

1. Identify a social or political issue that interests you.  

First, read the Living Newspaper project description. 

Need some help brainstorming? Review the list on the project prompt. 

Try free-writing about a few of the social or political issues that you find compelling. 

Do you have a personal connection to any kind of social or political issue? A movement you or a family member were/are involved in?

Is there an issue or topic that you’ve encountered in class that you could see exploring in the final project?  Try your best to limit the time period for your proposed issue. For example, the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company may inspire you to explore the issue of factory labor in the early 1900s. Or, on the other hand, the Triangle fire may inspire you to explore the more contemporary issue of factory fires in the global apparel industry. The choice is up to you. 

2. Create a persuasive pitch to your teammates. It should be approx. 300-500 words.

Do a little bit of initial research to help contextualize what is going on with this issue at the time.

Pinpoint the point of view that you might want to take in the project.

Think about the different kinds of media you might use to tell the story of this issue and outline them. Will you use music? “found words” in newspapers, political speeches, etc.? movies? poetry? artwork, posters, etc.? tweets? What other types of media could be a p0sssibility?

Outline why you are particularly interested in this project. Is there an emotional or logical connection? 

Make the most persuasive case that you can for your proposed issue. Your group will ultimately have to pick one so try to persuade them why it would be worthwhile, perhaps even gratifying, to explore the issue that you’ve proposed. 

3. Post your pitch.

4. Comment

Comment on at least 2 pitches posted by your teammates. Each comment should be approximately 100-200 words (or more if you’re inspired).  Respond to the pitch with initial thoughts or questions that you may have about taking this up as the issue for the Living Newspaper Project. What sounds exciting to you about this? What sounds like potentially problematic? Feel free to add your ideas as to how your group might explore this issue, if it is indeed the one you choose. 

Make sure to post your project pitch by Monday, March 4 at noon. Comment by Wednesday, March 6 at noon.