Impacting Everyday News During World War II

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About Course

Welcome to this 3-credit course for upper undergraduate history and film studies majors. This course discusses the role and impact of everyday news media coverage during World War II. We will particularly look at how an African-American news station, All-American News, covered various aspects of the War compared to other news outlets during 1940s.

In the course, you will complete historical research about World War II reporting in a form of an audio podcast or YouTube video. You will submit your final project as a Google Drive or YouTube URL.

At the end, you should have the skills and understanding to:

  • Critically analyze World War II reporting historical primary and secondary sources
  • Create music based on your interpretation of World War II-style music
  • Provide your own interpretation of World War II reporting within your podcast
  • Use GarageBand software to create your music OR
  • Use a camera to create your YouTube video
  • Give and receive constructive peer feedback

In your final project you must include:

  • A 30-45 minutes final podcast/video
  • At least one All-American News video
  • Other primary and secondary sources from African-American news reporting and other media sources
  • A five minute maximum segment, including 1940s-themed music, within your podcast to give your point of view as a 1940s World War II reporter

Course Grading:

  • Lessons 30%
  • Quizzes 20%
  • Final Project 50%

To navigate this course, click on the topic sections to learn more about what the module is about and then continue on with the questions indicated by a question mark icon and the lessons indicated by a notebook icon. Once you are finished with a topic module, click on the button “Complete Lesson” to mark your completion as you go through the coursework.

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What Will You Learn?

  • Historical thinking and writing
  • Writing multimedia scripts
  • Creating music in GarageBand
  • Creating a YouTube video
  • Researching various news media sources
  • More about World War II reporting

Course Content

Your Initial Assessment About World War II and its News Media
Learning more about what you initially know about World War II and the news media during this time.

  • QUIZ: How much do you know about World War II?

All-American News
Information and historically think about the African-American news source, All-American News.

Various News Media Sources
Examples of other various kinds of news media sources and what they are depicting of the happenings of World War II.

Creating Your Own Music in GarageBand or YouTube Video
We will be learning about how to create your own music using the Digital Audio Software, GarageBand. Determine what type of Podcast you will make. Whether it's an audio podcast or YouTube video, start to think of your process of creating it. Also begin to develop your 1940s-themed music for 5 minute World War II reporter segment. You will need to create at least 2 types of musical segments, one is the podcast's theme music and the other is the reporter segment 1940s music. Also think about music that you will want to add in throughout your podcast.

Creating Your Script Introduction
In this topic, we will work on your final project's script introduction based on what you have learned thus far and incorporate your project's theme music.

Continue Creating Your Script
After receiving feedback on your script introduction, continue creating your script body and conclusion.

Final Project Peer Review
Upload your completed script and there will be peer reviews conducted for it before creating your final version of your podcast.

Submit Final Projects
Taking the instructor and peer review feedback into consideration for your final project, submit your final draft of your podcast.

Course Feedback
Obtain feedback from students about this course.