Y8 Media - Weeks one to five - Homework project - Press Release

At 11.56 pm on the 29^th August a robbery took place at Leeds Castle, near Maidstone in Kent.  Police have reported that thieves used force to enter the Castle and managed to steal a number of valuable items including two 16^th century gold goblets, a rare platinum framed mirror, and a number of portraits and other works of art.  

The owner of the Castle Mr and Mrs Devalen are very distressed, they were out of the country at the time of the robbery and had to be contacted by police to be told the news.

An eye witness, neighbour Mr James saw a white Ford transit van and three heavily built men leaving the scene.

The above is a press release that you are responsible for reporting to the general public.  Although you must keep the basic facts you are allowed to add details and ideas.

Week One – Writing the story

Using the press release you must write a draft news article informing the public of the crime that has been committed; it is a big story and will be front page news, so make sure you think about the style and language you use.

Week Two – Designing the layout

You must decide where your news story will be published.  You can select a front page of a newspaper, magazine, web page, the choice is yours but you must plan and design the layout.  Think carefully about headings, font, pictures and colour.

Week Three – Putting it all together

You must now complete the neat copy of your media text.  Please make sure you have followed the conventions of the form you have chosen.  You should also try and include information about other stories/articles that will be inside the magazine/newspaper/ web site. 

Week Four – Your own ideas

You must now think of an article that would be inside your media text e.g another news story, a film/sport review, or a true life story.  If you are stuck speak to your teacher about your ideas.  You should then write the draft version of your article.

Week Five – Finishing touches

Re draft and produce a neat version of your own article, remember to think about layout, colours, pictures and font as well as what you are actually writing.

Handing the project in

When you hand your project in you should have:

·        A front page story about the Castle robbery.

·        An article of your choice to go inside your media text.

Remember presentation is very important; think about what you have learnt about media texts in class and writing styles.