Guidelines & Resources for Framing Assignment
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Framing Assignment Guidelines and Resources
Identifying Framing Strategies in the News
Due date: Friday Mar. 15
, 6pm via Discussion Section Canvas Site as a Word doc
Purpose and Skills
In this assignment, you will analyze the “frames” news organizations use to convey information to the public and employ framing techniques to create your own news headlines. Through this process, you will develop the following skills that are foundational both in this discipline and in other disciplines/careers:
●
Media literacy skills: Recognize and analyze how different frames are employed by news media in the real world
●
Creative thinking: Apply class concepts (such as framing) by using these concepts to inform your thinking and writing
●
Reflection:
Active and thoughtful reflection is an important aspect of learning as it helps you identify what you’ve learned and think about how it might be useful in your future
Knowledge
This assignment will also help you to become familiar with the following important content knowledge in this discipline:
●
Framing as an analytic concept for understanding media
●
The use of specific media frames – including episodic, thematic, strategy, and
policy framing – in real world contexts
●
Visual and text-based framing strategies
Individual Assignment: This work needs to be completed on your own. While it is okay to talk to other students about the assignment, you should
not collaborate in actually completing the assignment. All the work you turn in needs to be your own work.
Task
This assignment consists of five key parts
. First, you will read and analyze the frames employed in two articles (Activities 1-2). Then, you will step into the reporter’s role by creating headlines for and choosing photos to accompany two additional articles (Activities 3-4). Finally, you will respond to a brief reflection prompt (Activity 5).
Checklist
●
Activity 1: ●
Highlight two instances of strategy
framing (5 points)
●
Explain why it is strategy framing in comment on document (5 points)
●
Highlight two instances of policy
framing (5 points)
●
Explain why it is policy framing in comment on document (5 points)
●
Activity
2:
●
Highlight two instances of episodic
framing (5 points)
●
Explain why it is episodic framing in comment on document (5 points)
●
Highlight two instances of thematic
framing (5 points)
●
Explain why it is thematic framing in comment on document (5 points)
●
Activity 3: ●
Write a strategy frame headline (5 points)
●
Insert strategy frame photo into document (5 points)
●
Write a policy frame headline (5 points)
●
Insert policy frame photo into document (5 points)
●
Activity 4: ●
Write a thematic frame headline (5 points)
●
Insert thematic frame photo into document (5 points)
●
Write an episodic frame headline (5 points)
●
Episodic frame photo into document (5 points)
●
Activity 5:
●
Complete the reflection (20 points)
All activities can be completed within this document. Please make a copy for your own use.
Activity 1: Read and highlight
“
Biden Marks 1-year Anniversary of Climate, Health Law, Says ‘We’re Investing in All of America’” (
AP News
)
●
First, read the article below
●
Then, use the comment function to highlight and comment on two
instances of strategy framing
and two
instances of policy framing. Make sure to highlight all of the language you are referring to.
●
In your comment, identify whether the passage uses strategy or policy framing, and why you identify it as such
Article: Biden marks 1-year anniversary of climate, health law, says ‘we’re investing in all of America’ (AP News)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden proclaimed Wednesday his administration is
“turning things around” for Americans when it comes to the economy, with his signature
climate, health care and tax package giving people “more breathing room” on prices and
investing anew in clean energy jobs.
“We’re leaving nobody behind,” Biden told a packed East Room filled with lawmakers,
advocates and people who have benefited from his economic policies. “We’re investing in all
of America — in the heartland, and coast to coast.”
His remarks were delivered on the anniversary of the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. Through corporate tax increases, stronger tax enforcement, drug pricing reform, and investment in renewable energy, the bill proposed to reduce the federal
deficit by 300 billion dollars and reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent over the next ten years. This is policy framing and talks about the inflation reduction act.
The White House is on a sprint to connect what they say is a popular economic agenda with
an unpopular incumbent president, as polls show a majority of voters consistently disapprove
of Biden’s handling of the economy even amid signs of a U.S. economic upswing.
The inflation rate has cooled over the past year to a more manageable 3.2% annually, while
job growth has stayed solid and the economy has avoided the recession that many analysts
said would be needed to bring down prices. On Tuesday, the Census Bureau reported that
retail sales have climbed 3.2% over the past 12 months.
That level of consumer spending led the investment bank Goldman Sachs to raise its
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expectations for overall growth in the third quarter to an annual rate of 2.2%. The Atlanta
Federal Reserve’s GDPNow estimate jumped even higher with the forecast of third-
quarter
growth reaching 5%.
The evidence of economic strength has yet to translate into political gains for Biden,
who has
devoted the past several weeks to traveling the U.S. He’s emphasized the roughly $500
billion worth of investments by private companies that have been spurred by his policies.
This is policy framing because it discusses Bidens policy
Democrats have also sought to highlight the health benefits of the bill for the American electorate, which include lowering Affordable Care Act health premiums and capping out-of-pocket Medicare costs to $2,000. Aides say the mood of the American electorate has been dampened in recent years by
outside forces such as a once-in-a-century pandemic and said it would take time for laws
signed by Biden to have an impact on voters’ sentiments. As of September, 2023, President Biden’s nationwide approval rating sits at just 40%, yet staffers remain optimistic.
This is strategy framing because it shows Bidens approval when compared to other candidates.
“Once those investments happen, once those jobs are created, once those people
are at
work, in red districts, purple districts, blue districts, it’s very hard to walk away from that,”
this shows the contrast between the different political group
s and shows competition
White House energy adviser John Podesta said Wednesday. “And so I’m quite confident that
as the public really begins to feel the presence of this law in their lives, particularly on that
workforce side, it’s here to stay.’
Activity 2: Read and highlight
“
High cancer risk plagues Louisiana town near chemical plants” (
CBS News
)
●
First, read the article below
●
Then, use the comment function to highlight and comment on two
instances of thematic framing
and two
instances of episodic framing
●
In your comment, identify whether the passage uses episodic or thematic framing, and why you identify it as such
Article: High cancer risk plagues Louisiana town near chemical plants (CBS
News)
Reserve, Louisiana — In a Louisiana town of 10,000 people, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) said there is some of the most toxic air in America. More than 100
petrochemical plants and refineries dot the corridor between New Orleans and Baton Rouge,
often referred to as "cancer alley."
This is episodic framing because it is a specific example of the town
in Louisiana The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, nationwide, “
for
every 100,000 people, 403 new cancer cases are reported and 144 people die of cancer
” annually. This is thematic framing because it is the overall cancer statistics for the nation.
However, in the town of Reserve–situated in the center of “cancer alley”–the cancer risk is almost 50 times the national average, according to the EPA.
Robert Taylor has lived there most of his 78 years. Even his family cemetery is surrounded
by a refinery. He said his mom, sister, uncle and nephew all died of cancer.
This is episodic framing because its one mans experiences that being used as an example.
"
“
As I stand here, it
'
’
s overwhelming to me. All of my folks are here. I will eventually
wind up
here,
"
”
he said.
For decades, people in Reserve have had health problems ranging from dizziness and
severe headaches to liver and lung cancer. Many believe a plant, hundreds of yards from
some of their homes, is the source.
The Denka Performance Elastomer plant, owned by DuPont until 2015, makes chloroprene,
A
chemical the EPA calls a "
“
likely human carcinogen.
"
”
While the EPA reports the U.S. is home to 13,500 chemical plants,
This is thematic framing because it shows how these chemicals are harmful to the broader population and how the US has so many of these plants Denka is the only plant in the country producing this especially deadly chemical.
In a new study obtained first by CBS News, the University Network for Human Rights
found
actual cancer rates surrounding Denka are higher than expected. Those living in homes
surveyed within a mile of the plant had cancer rates of nearly 7%. Go a half mile farther away
and the cancer rate drops significantly, by almost 40%.
Denka said it hasn't had the opportunity to see the new study and cites a state tumor registry
that does not show a cancer increase in Reserve. The company said the EPA's chloroprene
concerns are "based on faulty science," resulting in a "dramatically inflated risk factor."
Taylor said he's concerned about children in the community. "What really drove us was the
fact that we've got a school right here, with 400 to 500 black children in it, 1,500 feet from the
fence line," Taylor said.
Taylor is a lead plaintiff in a suit against Denka. He recently took his fight 7,000 miles to
Denka's headquarters in Tokyo. CBS News was there as his team tried to confront company
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executives. They were turned away. Denka later told them they couldn't meet because of
pending litigation.
"They demonstrated to us, today that they don't care about what's happening to the
people in
Reserve, Louisiana," Taylor said.
He said he shouldn't have to move.
"Why should I move? How can I move?" he said. "I struggled all my life to build this. Here's
the American dream, to own your own home. Right now, in good conscience, who would I
actually sell this house to? What poor, unsuspecting family would I trick into moving
into this
death trap?"
Activity 3: Come up with headlines and photos to accompany the article below about a 2020 Presidential debate
For this activity, first read the anonymized article below and then answer the following questions:
1.
Imagining that you were the reporter, come up with a headline (one sentence) to accompany the article that uses strategy framing
a.
Strategy frame headline: Trump and Biden’s head to head is less combative at the most recent debate.
b.
In 1-2 sentences, explain how your headline demonstrates strategy framing:
This is Strategy framing because it shows the Trump Vs Biden aspect of the debate rather than highlighting the more tameness of the debate. 2.
In the space below, paste a photo to accompany the article that uses strategy
framing
a.
Strategy frame photo: b.
In 1-2 sentences, explain how your photo demonstrates strategy framing:
This shows strategy framing because it shows Trump and Biden facing each other as if they are going to fight. This photo reminds me of fighting video game entrances where they face off the 2 characters and a large VS symbol comes up. 3.
Come up with a headline (one sentence) to accompany the article that uses policy framing
a.
Policy frame headline: Trump and Biden discuss covid policy at the most recent debate.
b.
In 1-2 sentences, explain how your headline demonstrates policy framing:
This is policy framing because it focuses less on their debate and rather shifts the focus the policies that get talked about. 4.
In the space below, paste a photo to accompany the article that uses policy framing
a.
Policy frame photo:
b.
In 1-2 sentences, explain how your photo demonstrates policy framing:
This photo represents policy framing because it shows their different takes and policies towards covid. 2020 Presidential Debate Article:
The mute button, or at least the threat of it, seemed to work. In the second presidential
debate, Donald Trump and Joe Biden were more restrained.
The candidates allowed each other to speak. They used respectful tones. Even when
they
went on the attack, they did so in a calm, deliberate manner.
After a pugnacious first debate, during which Donald Trump's constant interruptions
may
have cost him support in subsequent opinion polls, the president has very visibly dialled
down the volume - and it made him a much more effective debater.
This time, the content of what the candidates are saying might be what the American public
remembers from the debate - not the chaotic manner in which it was delivered.
Once again, Biden largely held up under fire - avoiding the kind of gaffes and stumbles that
could have played into Republican attempts to question his age and mental acuity.
The Trump campaign will try to make an issue out of Biden's call for a "transition" from oilbased energy - a risky thing to throw in at the tail end of the debate. In an era of hybrid cars
and energy-efficient homes, however, when even petroleum companies employ similar
language, it may not hit Americans as hard as Republicans imagine.
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In the end, the raucous first debate probably will be what the history books remember. And
with polls showing most Americans already having made up their minds - and more than 45
million already having voted - the chance that this evening has a lasting impact on the race
seems slim.
Covid takes center stage
The Trump campaign complained that this debate was supposed to be focused on foreign
policy - perhaps allowing the president to tout what he sees as his accomplishments
in the
Middle East, trade and Syria and go after Biden on his son's business ties to China.
Instead, like earlier debates, it started on the coronavirus pandemic - a topic the American
public cares most about, polls suggest.
Donald Trump, once again touted a vaccine he said would be ready "in weeks". He offered
personal testimony to the power of the new drugs to treat the disease and boasted that he
was now "immune".
Biden, not surprisingly, went on the attack. He pointed out Trump had repeatedly promised
the disease would disappear on its own. He said there were 220,000 Americans dead and
there could be another 200,000 by the end of the year.
In the back and forth between the two candidates, Trump continued to offer hope that things
were getting better and businesses and schools should reopen. And when Trump said that
people were "learning to live" with the disease, Biden pounced.
"People are learning to live with it?" he asked. "People are learning to die with it."
At one point, Trump offered an answer that he said was "perhaps just to finish this". The
president, clearly, was eager move on to different subjects.
Trump finds his footing on criminal justice
In the first presidential debate, Trump talked himself into trouble when the topic turned to
race relations, as he danced around whether to directly condemn white supremacist
groups.
This time around, the president was considerably more nimble.
He boasted about his cross-party criminal justice reform and funding for historically black
colleges. He attacked Biden for his sponsorship of a draconian crime bill in the 1990s that
led to a sharp rise in the number of black Americans in prisons. And, perhaps most potently,
when Biden began talking about his proposals for reform, he questioned why the former vice president didn't accomplish more when he served with President Barack
Obama.
"It's all talk but no action with these politicians," Trump said. "Why didn't you get it done? You
had eight years to get it done."
Anyone who lived through the "tough on crime" 1990s in the US would probably be shocked
by this debate exchange, where both candidates talked about the number of felons to whom
they gave clemency and their efforts at reducing the number of incarcerated Americans. As
the mass demonstrations against institutional racism demonstrated earlier this year, the
times have indeed changed.
Activity 4: Come up with headlines and photos to accompany the article below about the Covid-19 pandemic
For this activity, first read the anonymized article below, then answer the following questions:
1.
Imagining that you were the reporter, come up with a headline (one sentence) to accompany the article that uses thematic framing
a.
Thematic frame headline: Covid causes many nurses across the
US to exit the workforce.
b.
In 1-2 sentences, explain how your headline demonstrates thematic framing:
This headline shows how many nurses across the entire US are exiting the workforce because of the stress caused by covid. It is thematic because it shows a nationwide trend. 2.
In the space below, paste a photo to accompany the article that uses thematic framing
a.
Thematic frame photo:
b.
In 1-2 sentences, explain how your photo demonstrates thematic framing:
This photo shows the stressed nature of nurses during covid and shows how overworked they are.
3.
Come up with a headline (one sentence) to accompany the article that uses episodic framing
a.
Episodic frame headline: New York nurses on strike after exhausting work hours during covid
b.
In 1-2 sentences, explain how your headline demonstrates episodic framing:
This is headline shows a specific instance of distressed nurses within new York specifically. This is episodic because it isn’t about nurses in the US broadly but its more so about nurses specifically in New York 4.
In the space below, paste a photo to accompany the article that uses episodic
framing
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a.
Episodic frame photo:
b.
In 1-2 sentences, explain how your photo demonstrates episodic framing:
This image shows that these strikes are specifically contained to New York. It shows its more of a contained instance and isn’t nationwide or broader in general.
Covid-19 Pandemic Article:
About 100,000 registered nurses in the US left the workplace due to the stresses of the
Covid-19 pandemic, according to the results of a survey published Thursday by the National
Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Another 610,388 registered nurses, who had more than 10 years of experience and an
average age of 57, said they planned to leave the workforce by 2027 because of stress,
burnout or retirement. The same was true of 189,000 additional nurses with 10 or fewer
years of experience and an average age of 36.
The survey found that there were over 5.2 million active registered nurses and 973,788
licensed practical nurses or vocational nurses in the US in 2022. The researchers analyzed
data from 29,472 registered and advanced nurses and more than 24,000 licensed practical
or vocational nurses across 45 states. More than a quarter of those surveyed said they plan
to leave the industry or retire in the next five years, the study says.
About 62% of the nurses surveyed said their workload increased during the pandemic, and
50.8% said they felt emotionally drained at work.
Almost half of nurses said they felt fatigued or burnt-out: 49.7% and 45.1%, respectively.
These concerns were seen most in nurses with less than 10 years of experience.
Maryann Alexander, chief officer of nursing regulation at NCSBN and one of the authors of
this study, said she is shocked by the findings of the study, especially related to younger
nurses.
Soon, the industry will rely on nurses with less than 10 years of experience to act as
mentors, managers and leaders in nursing care, Alexander said.
“It will send us into a health care crisis of huge proportions,” Alexander said.
She said that while it is common to see young nurses leaving the industry to go back to
school and get more education, it is uncommon to see young nurses leaving due to stress
and burnout.
“That is a huge cause for concern,” Alexander said.
This exhausted tone was a driving factor behind a strike in New York in January, when over
7,000 nurses took to the streets to call attention to staffing shortages and burnout.
“We are sick and tired of the hospital only doing the bare minimum,” said Danny Fuentes, a
union official who spoke to the crowd during the strike. “Time and time again, we are forced
to take unsafe patient loads. We are humans, and we are burnt-out. And we are tired. And
the hospital doesn’t seem to care. All they see are profits. We don’t want to be out here. We
would much rather be with our patients. We need a fair contract to protect our patients.”
The strike ended when the New York State Nurses Association reached tentative deals with
the two hospitals involved, Mount Sinai Health System and Montefiore Health System. The
union said the deal would provide enforceable “safe staffing ratios” for all inpatient units at
Mount Sinai and Montefiore.
Montefiore agreed to financial penalties for failing to comply with agreed-upon staffing levels
in all units.
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Activity 5: In 1-2 paragraphs (minimum 200 - maximum 300 words), respond to the following reflection prompt:
If you were a reporter covering poverty in the U.S., would you find it more
important to prioritize contextual, thematic information, including statistical and historical details, or episodic information, including specific stories and experiences?
Choose one that you think is most important
and explain your reasoning (you might think both are important, but make an argument for which one you think is most important
). How do you think these different types of information affect the ways in which people perceive and make sense of the news?
I think that Thematic Framing would be the most important to convey the overall message of nationwide poverty. I think thematic is the most important because in the prompt it asks about poverty in the United States as a whole and not about more specific and contained instances. Thematic would do the best job at contextualizing the overarching nature of the poverty. I think episodic framing would do a good job at making it a more personable experience and making the situation more human, but I think it has downsides that can’t be overlooked. If it were to be shown in an episodic frame then people could rebuttal the argument by say thing that the instance shown is a contained example and that the shown struggle isn’t as wide spread. For example, if in the article they were to describe an impoverished community in West Virginia and
show their struggles, many people may read that and be touched by their struggles yet still believe it is a contained example that is only within West Virginia. Thematic framing wouldn’t have this issue and would be able to demonstrate the vastness of the issue. The only issue with thematic framing could be its lack of personal examples and lack pathos, but I think with the grand scale pathos comes through. Thematic framing is not able to zoom in on smaller examples and demonstrate an individuals’ struggles which often can make thematic arguments really persuasive from a statistical standpoint but lack the emotional appeal that drives it home with most readers. However, I think that if the thematic framing is able to demonstrate how widespread and tragic something is it can also have this emotional appeal and can reach the reader on an emotional basis as well.
Rubric for Evaluation
Identify and Analyze Framing (40 points)
The student highlighted four passages in “Biden Marks 1-year Anniversary of Climate, Health Law, Says ‘We’re Investing in All of America’”
Yes
No
The student highlighted four passages in “High Cancer Risk Plagues Louisiana Town Near Chemical Plants”
Yes
No
The student identified the framing strategies they highlighted.
Yes
No
The identifications of different framing strategies are correct.
Yes
No
Create Framing with Headlines and Images (40 points)
The student submitted four headlines and four images. Yes
No
Do the first headline and image combination complement each other and serve as a good example of strategy framing?
Yes
No
Do the second headline and image combination complement each other and serve as a good example of policy framing? Yes
No
Do the third headline and image combination complement each other and serve as a good example of thematic framing? Yes
No
Do the fourth headline and image combination complement each other and serve as a good example of episodic framing? Yes
No
Reflect (20 points)
Did the student respond thoughtfully to the reflection prompt?
Yes
No