TV News - hard and soft news

Unit 1 Investigating the MediaExam Topic: Television News

Lesson 4 – Media Language: Hard and Soft News

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Starter

Write these headings down

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SERIOUS FUN

Starter

Are these images serious or fun? Are they for hard or soft news stories?

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‘Hard’ or ‘soft’ news?

What do we mean by this?

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‘Hard’ or ‘soft’ news?

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Can you think of some examples of hard and soft news?

Hard News Soft NewsThis type of news is ‘up-to-the-minute’ news and events that are reported immediately after they have taken place. Subject matter may be economics, politics, war and crime. It refers to news, which is usually very serious, perhaps urgent. Factual and formal tone of presentation.Formal mode of address

This type of news is intended to entertain or inform the reader and refers to stories that are usually of human interest. Subject material may be celebrity gossip, fashion tips, technology, and humorous and feel -good stories. It is not time sensitive. Informal mode of address

Analysing a ‘regional’ news broadcast

Watch an episode of Look North and take notes

On one side of the paper write ‘ Soft News’ on the other ‘Hard News’. Put the news stories into these categories. What makes

them hard or soft news?

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How does Newsround appeal to its target audience?Write a short response to this question. Write 2 paragraphs

Consider these points –

• Who is Newsround’s target audience?• How does the mise-en-scene, mode of address, editing and

sound appeal?• What type of content do they include?

• Do they have more soft or hard news stories?• What gratifications does the audience get from Newsround?

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Plenary‘Hard’ or ‘soft’?

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TOO MANY DOGS? — A local hero came out of the crowd today at the Animal Shelter Society in Swinton, Swansdale – where local resident Joe Public adopted 30 dogs of various breeds and ages during a charity event.Adopting the dogs was absolutely free, but taking care of the dogs will be a major endeavour.A local bystander claims that Public could not decide on which dog to take home, and eventually decided to take them all.When asked what Public planned to do with the dogs, Joe replied: ‘They are going to live with me, of course!' Our news team followed Public to a nearby pet store where Public bought 'at least one thousand pounds of dry food and five hundred pounds of wet food,' said Public.Joe, who admits to spending most of the day on Facebook, added, 'I am so happy to have all of these new friends. I've already got all of their names picked out.'

WINNER FAILS TO COME FORWARD

One of three of the National Lottery big

winners from last month failed to come

forward. Ben Dover, from Little Hampton,

Hamptonshire, bought the winning ticket at a

local convenience store a day or so before the

draw, according to the National Lottery

Commission.

Dover's £213 million win share of the £640

million will be split evenly between the other

two winners, Joe King of Denton,

Hamptonshire, and Joe Bloggs of Tempest,

Torfolk, netting them a cool £319 million each.

The owner of the convenience store who sold

the ticket, Frank Yorself, also will not recover

any of the winnings.

Ben Dover, if you're reading this, you may want

to call a relative and let them know you're still

alive.

EXPLOSION LEAVES DEVASTATION

An explosion has left thousands injured in Stortford, Hertfordshire.

Stortford, Hertfordshire residents are distraught as they try to recover what's left

of their homes and locate their families.

Officials say that petrol is to blame for Sunday's explosion. Fire brigade officials

have tracked the origin of the blast to the home of Stortford resident Dante

Inferno. Inferno stored up to 60 cans of petrol in the cellar of his home. It is not

known how the blast was started.

We will keep you updated as more news is released about this terrible tragedy.

Homework

Watch a TV news broadcast, either regional, national or global, and break it down into ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ news stories.

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