Lesson Plan
What’s Appropriate to Publish? A ‘Breakfast Test’ Case Study
This activity debates what types of news photographs are appropriate to publish as journalists strive to be fair, accurate and clear.
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Duration
Less than 30 minutes
Topic(s)
- Journalism
- Media Ethics
Grade(s)
- 6-12
- Divide students into small groups.
- Tell them: There is said to be a “breakfast test” to guide publication decisions: Do not publish images or language that might be repulsive enough to make people choke on their breakfast.
- Have students read the scenario and answer the questions. Do they think the newspaper was right in publishing the photographs?
- ‘Breakfast Test’ Case Study handout (download), one per small group.
Have each group share their decisions and explain their reasoning. Did they find other groups’ arguments compelling? Why or why not? When should editors follow the guideline? When should they not?
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Common Core State Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.1
Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
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ISTE: 3d. Knowledge Constructor
Students build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems.
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National Council of Teachers of English: NCTE.12
Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).
