1. When the Pulitzer committee awarded The Tuscaloosa News the 2012 prize for breaking news
coverage of a devastating local tornado, it cited the paper’s social media efforts as a factor in its
decision. Read the Twitter feed submitted as part of the entry
2. Pick a news story that interests you and either bring it to class or keep it for homework (if this activity
as an at-home assignment). Analyze the story for the presence of the seven news values (timeliness,
3. Invite a local journalist (or Skype with a journalist from another community) to class to talk about how
he or she live Tweets a breaking news event. What information should be included? What writing style
is used? What consideration is given to the audience in writing these updates? How does he or she do
the traditional parts of the job (interviewing and taking notes) while still having time to Tweet? If a
4. Watch how “The Daily Show” critiqued CNN’s error in reporting the June 2012 Supreme Court
decision on the Obama health care plan. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live–feed/jon-stewart-
daily-show-cnn-supreme-court-343537). Discuss: How might the rush to be first have played a part in
this error? Why did it take CNN so long to correct the information (compared with FOX)? What are the
implications for the credibility of the network? CNN issued an apology, saying: “CNN regrets that it
5. Replicate the “Cover it Live” real-time reporting experience by covering a television event live on
Twitter. Watch a television program (a football game, a speech, even a guest on a late-night talk show)
and begin “covering” the event. Create a hashtag and post at least three Tweets during the event. What