Assignment: 20th Century Event Newspaper Assignment
According to the Center for History and News Media, George Mason University, “Historians generally use newspapers for three purposes: learning facts about specific events; looking for long-term trends; and searching for details or the “texture” surrounding an event—a fact or story that illuminates or complicates a larger pattern.”
You will choose a twentieth century event – any event – and examine how that event was reported in newspapers at the time. If you are interested in exploring WWI or WWII, it might be a good idea to focus on a specific event related to the war since the world wars are so large in scope.
Basic Requirements:
Choose a twentieth century event – one you’re interested in or one you have a personal connection to (maybe you have a family member who is a Vietnam Vet, for example)
Collect 3 newspaper articles on your event (it would be a good idea, if possible, to have a national newspaper, a local newspaper, and a foreign newspaper. Each newspaper will cover the event a little differently.)
Compare the newspaper’s coverage of the event. Where do the stories align? In what ways do they differ? What different perspectives are represented? What context or “texture” do you learn about your historical event? [At least two paragraphs here]
Compare how your event was reported in newspapers to how it was presented in the textbook or another secondary source or article. What details does the newspaper provide that secondary sources written long after the event do not provide? [at least one paragraph]
What are the strengths and limitations of using historical newspapers as sources for research? As we move further into a technological era, what sources do you think will be most valuable for learning the details of events that occurred in the 21st century? [at least one paragraph]
Digital Newspaper Collections:
Chronicling America
New York Times Historical Newspaper (Bankier Library Database)
Google News Archives
https://newspapers.ushmm.org/
https://www.nypl.org/research/collections/articles-databases/americas-historical-newspapers
