Evaluate Press Release Challenge

Mini Challenge Summary

Summary: Critical review of a press release. Time: 1 hour.

Linked to Task 1 of Edubit assessment for LiDA104.

Press releases are inherently biased because they typically aim to put a positive spin on the announcement and therefore provide an ideal format for critical evaluation.

Stimulus Resources

Purpose

The purpose of this challenge is to:

  • help you develop critical media skills by evaluating a press release of a business or topic area of interest.

Tasks

  1. Choose a recent press release in your own business field or area of interest by searching one or more of the following news feed sites:
  2. Choose a press release which is interesting, newsworthy and topical.
  3. Record the URL of your chosen press release.
  4. Analyze and evaluate the press release by answering the following questions:
      • Who created the message and how is this likely to influence the content of the message?
      • Why was the message created, that is, what is the underlying purpose of the message?
      • What creative techniques were used to gain the readers attention?
      • How might different audiences interpret the message? (Provide examples)
      • What values and points of view are represented (or missing) from the message?

Outputs

Prepare a blog post (400–500 words) to document your analysis and evaluation of the press release you have chosen.

  1. Include a hyperlink to the title of the published press release.
  2. Your analysis should address the following questions:
      • Who created the message and how this is likely to influence the content of the message?
      • Why was the message created, that is, what is the underlying purpose of the message?
      • What creative techniques were used to gain the reader’s attention?
      • How might different audiences interpret the message? (provide examples)
      • What values and points of view are represented (or missing) from the message?
  3. Remember to tag or label your post using the course code: lida104
  4. We encourage you to post comments on a few of your fellow learner’s posts.
Last modified: Monday, February 4, 2019, 12:37 PM