Newspaper Association of America Foundation

More Ideas for Using the Newspaper:
JUNIOR HIGH

1. Using a ruler, figure out the percentage of space on a given page for ads, pictures, stories and headlines.

2. On the front page of The Times-Dispatch, circle all the numbers you can find and give the range. Determine also the mean, median and mode.

3. Over a period of several weeks, clip articles that deal with problems and/or issues facing your local city government. Discuss the reason for these problems, and how the government hopes to solve them.

4. Find a news article written in past tense. Clip it out of the paper and rewrite it in present tense.

5. Research the area of drugs, tobacco or alcohol, and write an article that informs the local readers of the dangers of one of the substances.

6. Look in the classified ads to find job listings for the medical/health professions. What is the median pay range? Job requirements? Educational requirements? Benefits? Opportunities for advancement?

7. Look for slogans used by businesses in their advertisements. What is the reason for these slogans? Are they believable to you? To whom do they appeal, and what propaganda devise is used? Make up five businesses and write slogans for them.

8. What are the qualifications a person should have to hold public office? Make a list, and then see how the current office holders of candidates stack up. Use articles from The Times-Dispatch and other sources to find out about previous jobs, experiences, and other factors that make each candidate or office holder prepared to serve as an elected official.

9. Select three apartments listed in the classified ads for rent section. For each of the following, compute the total rent for a year. Determine the average monthly rent based on the apartments you have chosen. Which of the three apartments you have chosen appears to be the best choice for the money and why?

10. Scan through The Times-Dispatch and list ten occupations which are discussed. Don't use your classified advertisements for this activity!

*Ideas compliments of the Newspaper Association of America Foundation