Mass Media and SocietyFinal Paper HandoutWhat is the final paper all about? .The final paper is a “news analysis” of a recent topic or event. You should closely examine an issue or event that happened in the past 24-36 months and how the news media reported the story through digital, print, TV and/or audio platforms. It’s hoped that in writing this paper you’ll gain a better perspective on the event or issue that you selected, how it was covered by the media and the impact that coverage had. So what should you write about? It’s up to you! Start by selecting a recent topic, issue or event and discuss how it was covered by journalists. Was it covered by one outlet, or several? If the latter, how did the reporting among news outlets differ? Was the coverage fair? Why or why not? Be specific. Who were sources in the story? Why do you think those sources were used for information by the journalist(s)? Do you think the journalist or media outlet had an agenda (financial, political, etc.) in reporting the story? If so, be specific when explaining why. Were the sources in the story biased in anyway? If so, how? What kind of impact did the reporting have on the public? Did the story inform the public about a previously unknown topic or event Was the story publish simply to get “clicks” or was there a genuine public interest? Did the reporting lead to any societal or public policy changes? Was the reporting celebrated by the subjects of the story, or was it condemned? Although you should briefly summarize the actual event, the majority of your paper should focus on how the story was reported and the impact of that reporting. Be sure to include a thesis, which is your statement or assertion about how the story was covered. Say, for example, you wanted to write about the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash. You could open your paper by briefly describing the circumstances of the crash – who, what, where, when, etc. Then, offer your assertion. In this case, an example thesis could be: The rush to be the first outlet to break news about the crash of the helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant and 8 other victims led to ethical missteps that violated basic journalistic values, including the publication of inaccurate statements and false information. This “rush to be first” led to distrust and skepticism of the media among local news consumers following the story. The rest of your paper could then focus on examining coverage of the crash among different news outlets, discussing how reporters and media outlets got information right or wrong, and public reactions to coverage. You can look at coverage analysis from sources like Poynter, along with reader comments. In this case, you could talk about news organizations that reported wrong information (there are many examples) in the first day of the crash. You could also discuss how TMZ broke the story first, without reaching out to Kobe Bryant’s family for comment or even confirmation. You could then discuss why it’s so important for news organizations to report accurate information quickly. You could discuss the economic incentives of “being first” to publish a major story about a prominent celebrity. You could also examine how media and news organizations – along with the journalists that work for them – are held accountable, if at all. Finally, you can end your story by examining any changes in society that led to coverage. In the case of the Kobe Bryant crash, you could look at how the FAA changed the way pilot credentials are reviewed and the new requirements for aircraft to have radar and GPS technology installed to prevent similar crashes. Where these changes tied to reporting done in the wake of the crash? Granted, not every news story will have led to changes in our society. But many often do, no matter how small. Maybe the impact of the story was simply informing the public about an important issue or event. You can write about a variety of topics – politics, sports, entertainment (film, music, streaming, gaming, social media), etc.•The Harvey Weinstein scandal and #MeToo movement•Trump’s election and his presidency•Russian interference in the 2016 election•Trump Impeachment•Family Separations at the U.S. Border•The outbreak of COVID-19 – first in China, and then across the globe•The impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on society (Be specific: Ex: The financial toll taken on corporations like Disney, or the mental health toll taken on the public under quarantine) •Suspension of U.S. pro sports leagues (starting with NBA)•MLB sign stealing scandal•Climate Change What else you need to know:Sources:You must use credible, verifiable sources. DO NOT use Wikipedia, Ask.com, About.com or any other similar site on the Internet that solicits non-experts or allows the general public to edit entries. USE TRUSTED NEWS BRANDS AND SCHOLARLY SOURCES. You must use credible sources. If you’re not sure what constitutes a credible source, JUST ASK ME. You are required to use at least three different sources. You must cite your sources at least once per body paragraph. Parenthetical references (at least one citation per body paragraph) should be formatted using standard MLA style, which looks like this: “Ledes have never been more important” (Stafanac 146). That’s parenthesis, the author’s last name, the page number, end parenthesis. OR, if you mention the author in a sentence in your paper, then you only need to list the page number. Length: Your research paper must be 3 to 4 pages long, not including the works cited page. It must be typed and double-spaced, using Times New Roman, 12-point font with a maximum of 1-inch margins all around. The paper should be white, the ink should be black and the pages should be stapled. It is your responsibility to make sure the formatting is correct.Mechanics: Your paper must be well written, organized, well researched and free of mechanical errors. It must have an introduction. The introduction starts by discussing the subject (news story, in this case) in the broadest terms and then narrowing it down until it focuses on your assertion in the thesis. Your paper must have a thesis statement, which is the sentence or two located at the end of the introduction that tells the reader exactly what the paper is about. Your thesis must have three parts:1) A topic 2)Your position on that topic and 3) A plan of development, which is the two to four specific areas of exploration that will prove/illustrate/support your thesis.Examples:Not a thesis statement: The Harvey Weinstein scandal was heavily-covered by the news media. The above sentence is just an obvious statement. It doesn’t tell the reader what the paper will be about or how the author feels about the topic. There is no bold assertion, just a statement of fact. Your thesis must state what the final paper is about, include your position or “take” on the topic and include a plan of development – the handful of areas you intend to explore to prove or illustrate your thesis.Here’s an example thesis statement: In-depth reporting by The New York Times and New Yorker of Harvey Weinstein’s criminal acts of sexual misconduct led to a watershed moment for workers’ rights and corporate accountability, providing victims a platform to speak out against those in positions of power and authority while shedding light on a serious issue that had long been ignored by the public.No one has a great thesis just floating around in his or her head. You must develop your idea by thinking about it, writing your ideas down and crafting a cogent thesis that consists of a topic, position on that topic and plan of development. The intro and these will be followed by body paragraphs.