Images for the journalism classroom

Ten great sites for building lessons on your SMART Board

by Gary Clites

Originally published in the Dow Jones Newsfund's Adviser Update, Fall 2010

One of the biggest educational technological developments of the last decade has been the introduction of SMART Boards to teacher’s classrooms. The interactive devices allow us to share videos and images with students in ways never before possible. Following are ten great websites you may not know for covering basic subjects in the journalism curriculum. Don’t yet have a SMART Board? Borrow a video projector and enjoy.

Uncle Jay Explains the News

Ironic, gently cynical and just plain smart, the weekly three and a half minute analysis of the news delivered by Emmy winning Cincinnati broadcaster Jay Gilbert belongs in every journalism classroom. For three years on the web Gilbert has been taking apart the big story of the week for students in brilliant fashion. He has a knack for breaking complex issues down into terms that make them perfectly understandable to teens. The show is ironically presented as though the audience were first graders. Don’t let that conceit fool you. It’s the newsmakers Uncle Jay is talking down to, not your students. (http://unclejayexplains.com)

The Newseum’s Today’s Front Pages

Every day, the Newseum posts hundreds of front pages from around the world. Project them to your SMART Board to discuss the news, variations in the way it is covered, how proximity affects coverage, and much more. Discussing coverage of a recent event? The site also offers an archive of front page collections linked to major historical events from the last decade. (http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages)

History of American Journalism

Teach a unit on J-history? Rick Musser and his graduate students at the University of Kansas created this site that tracks journalism’s growth through the 20th Century. Best for your SMART Board: Every decade’s page contains a “Media Moments” section linking to some of the most famous video and audio clips in journalism history. From Marconi’s first radio transmission, through FDR’s Fireside Chats, to the Rodney King beating, the images are all here. The clips display small, but it would be hard to find a more cohesive collection. (http://history.journalism.ku.edu)

September 11 Television Archive

September 11, 2001 was one of the worst moments in America’s history but the live coverage was one of the greatest achievements in the history of journalism. The Television Archive has collected over 400 T.V. news broadcasts from the three days after the attack that you can stream to your SMART Board. (http://www.archive.org/details/sept_11_tv_archive)

The Best of Photojournalism

The role of great photos in journalism can be difficult to share with students. The National Press Photographer’s Association created this site to showcase the work of the winners of their annual competition for still photographers, TV news photographers, and photo editors. With hundreds of winning images posted per year and an archive going back to 2002, all the images you need should be available here. (http://bop.nppa.org/2010/)

The Museum of Hoaxes’ Hoax Photo Archive

Long before the invention of Photoshop, talented photographers learned to manipulate images to their own ends. This site catalogues falsified images all the way back to the 1840’s organized by historical period. Altogether, it offers students a strong lesson in the dangers of lying through imagery. (http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/photo_database)

WWII: Intense Propaganda Posters

Good journalism students understand the power of propaganda and showing them the right images can make for a powerful lesson. Life magazine’s gallery of “Intense Propaganda Posters” is well named. Including 38 images from both sides of the conflict, these ads for war are shocking in their power and frankness. Contains some nudity and disturbing content. (http://www.life.com/image/84295579/in-gallery/27932)

Ad Forum

Media literate students understand both the positive and negative power of advertising. Ad Forum is a site designed for the advertising community worldwide. Click on the “Creative Gallery” link to find the latest cool TV ads from around the world, the top five viewed ads, commercials judged as the “Best of...”, or to search for a specific spot. A great source of video to illustrate your advertising lesson. (http://www.adforum.com)

Clio Awards

Another great site for ads in all mediums features the winners of the annual advertising competition run by the industry itself. This year’s winners of all kinds are easily accessible, but the archive’s search system is densely difficult to use, so you’d best stick with the new stuff. (http://www.clioawards.com) Another great set of 30 print ads can be found at Spyrestudios’ 30 Hilarious Print Ads site. (http://spyrestudios.com/hilarious-print-ads)

NPR’s Science Friday

Science journalism is a growing part of the business, and the reporting displayed here is a good example of the kind of niche journalism that is growing as more and more of what we do moves onto the Internet. The science radio show, which runs weekly on National Public Radio, has a solid website. One of the best features is their Video Pick of the Week. You can find them archived under the “Video” heading. Let your kids learn about science reporting on your SMART Board or projector. (http://sciencefriday.com)

Got a great website you use in class? Send the link to Gary Clites at gclites@verizon.net.

© Gary Clites, 2010