Assignment 1: News blogs: content

Description of Assignment: Most traditional media outlets maintain a digital presence through standard websites that feature their regular content that already ran in the paper or on TV.

Examine the website of one print, one radio, and one TV media outlet of your choice. How do each of these websites provide additional content without cost? Write a summary and provide specific examples from each website.

Assignment 2: News blogs: niche opportunities

Description of Assignment: A blog allows journalists to expand their coverage into a small area of interest that might move beyond what most people would come to expect of them.

Examine the website of one print, one radio, and one TV media outlet of your choice. How do each of these websites reach consumers through a niche approach? Write a summary and provide specific examples from each website.

Assignment 3: Promotional blogging

Description of Assignment: Public relations practitioners can sidestep mainstream media outlets and speak directly to the public through a blog. Choose an organization, either profit or nonprofit, and examine how they humanize their organization and drive traffic to their site. Write a summary of your findings with specific examples.

Assignment 4: Establish yourself as a thought leader

Description of Assignment: A blog gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge frequently, thus giving you the opportunity to show that you are a thought leader on the topic. Choose an industry and examine the blog of the leading organization in that particular field. How do they establish themselves as a thought leader? Write a summary of your findings and include specific examples.