"The Daily" Podcast Analysis Worksheet
Always Learning HQAlways Learning HQDescription
If you can complete this sentence--"I'm Michael Barbaro, and this is..."-- then you probably know that "The Daily" podcast by The New York Times is one of the highest quality daily newscasts available.
If you aren't yet familiar with "The Daily," you will soon discover that the podcast is the epitome of excellence in long-form journalism that dives deep into current events and culture. With the proliferation of podcasts available for download, it is imperative to teach students critical listening skills by giving them practice in analyzing quality content.
Choose an episode of "The Daily" that best pairs with current content in your course. Use it as an introductory activity or as enrichment for a unit of study or as a recurring assignment to keep students engaged with current events and cultural trends. The analysis worksheet makes a great activity for a substitute lesson plan too.
Most episodes of "The Daily" run 20:00 - 30:00 long. Episodes are available through the NYT website (https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-daily) or via Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, and Stitcher.
This worksheet follows the general format for "The Daily," guiding students through an analysis of an episode you choose. Although some episodes may vary the format, most will work well with this worksheet.
Using the worksheet, students analyze the information presented, as well as the methods of presentation. Students articulate their opinion of the topic and explore how the podcast helps shape that opinion. Students identify the most effective tactics the podcast uses to inform listeners, and ultimately, students evaluate the podcast's effectiveness in providing in-depth content to educate the public.
The analysis worksheet is suitable for use in high school ELA, media/journalism, and social studies courses.
Please note: If you find errors in this description or on the analysis worksheet, please contact me. I welcome feedback and want to ensure that Always Learning HQ enriches your teaching experience.