WNYX: BROADCASTING
NOW!

INTRODUCTION
 

THE TASK

You will create a radio broadcast of approximately 30 minutes, depicting one day in 1934.  This 'broadcast' will be taped on a regular audiocassette, and each student must contribute his/her voice and/or talent to the broadcast.  You must cover three broad areas that will allow for a comprehensive report of America during this time period: politics/economics, social, and entertainment.  In addition to these three areas, you must include various miscellaneous information, such as commercials, weather and sports reports.   

In addition to the actual taped broadcast, you must submit a written 'transcript' of your broadcast, including reports, interviews, serial dramas, and even commercials.

During this webquest you will learn a great deal about life in the 1930's.  You must write up your reports based on actual facts, and deliver them in a manner that is appropriate for a radio broadcast.  Be creative and remember to have fun!! Use sound effects, music (make sure that the music you use is appropriate to the time period), experiment with different voices, etc.   

MENU

THE PROCESS

The categories that must be reported on are as follows:

Like the famous Lowell Thomas and H.V. Kattenborn, you are serious news reporters. Your job in this category is to report up-to-the-minute political and economic information.  Since the political and economic realms were so closely linked in the 1930's, information for the two may, and oftentimes will, be combined. You may include interviews with political and economic leaders.  
   
In addition to being serious news reporters, at least one of you will be posing as Franklin Delano Roosevelt--you must select and read an excerpt (no longer than 5 minutes) from one of Roosevelt's famous " fireside chats ."

Social:

Like the famous Walter Winchell, you are well-respected news commentators.  Your job is to report news from around the country, such as the Lindbergh kidnapping, or the exploits of the infamous 'Bonnie and Clyde.'  You must also report the social conditions around the country--perhaps the racial situation in the South, or the mass migration of the 'Okies' from Oklahoma..  Don't forget to include interviews--perhaps with various hobos 'riding the rails' throughout the country, or even with one of the infamous Scottsboro boys.

Entertainment:

Miscellaneous:

EVALUATION

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Reflects time period appropriately	Students have made little attempt to understand and include the various details appropriate to the time period.	Attempts have been made to reflect the time period appropriately.	Information is mostly accurate--for the most part reflecting the time period precisely.	Information is accurate, reflecting the time period appropriately in all respects.
Information is complete and varied	Information given is incomplete or sketchy, and does not reflect a wide variety of topics.	An attempt has been made to include cover topics as completely as possible and to reflect a wide variety of topics.	Except for a few instances, information provided by students in complete and varied.	Information provided by students is complete and reflects a wide variety of interesting topics.
Creativity	Little or no attempt has been made to make the project as interesting as possible--very little creative effort made.	An attempt has been made to make broadcast as interesting and creative as possible.  Needs work.	Students have made a good attempt at creativity--broadcast is, for the most part,interesting and effective.	Students have clearly had fun in this project--they have included interesting information and made use of sound effects, voices, etc. in a manner that is effective and interesting.
Factual Accuracy	Students have made little or no attempt to include factual information.	An attempt has been made to ensure that information presented is factual.  Needs work.	Except for a few instances, information is factual and accurate.	Facts presented are entirely accurate and precise.
Time	Students have made a poor use of their time.  They have gone over/under time limit; broadcast is not balanced--too much/too little time given to each segment.	An attempt has been made to ensure a good use of time, with some problems.  Needs work.	Generally speaking, students have made good use of time.	Students have made an excellent use of time.  Time limits respected--broadcast is well-balanced.

MENU

CONCLUSION

Congratulations!  You have created your first radio broadcast, and in doing so, I hope that you have gotten a sense of what life was like for the American people as they endured the hard days of the Great Depression in 1934.  In creating this broadcast you have also learned how to research and compile information, to write interesting, as well as concise, reports and to organize your research and time. Finally, I hope that you have stretched your creative muscles and had fun!!  

MENU

REFERENCES AND CREDITS

Special thanks to Old Time Radio, and their link to Donna L. Halper's The History of Radio website in particular, that provided much of the background information concerning radio in 1934 used in this website.  I encourage you to check out the information on this website as it could be very helpful when constructing and organizing your broadcast.  I also encourage you to use check out the following websites to find more information for your broadcast reports:

MENU