MEDIA CASE STUDY

FAST FACTS Key Learning Unit or lesson title and main focus questions Most appropriate level and Area suggested number of lessons ONWeb THE WEB links English Media case study Stage 4-5

How does the media cover the Metro Northwest? ExamplesDOWNLOAD of media coverage A number of articles may be found by searching the web using key phrases such 2–3 lessons INFO as ‘Northi West Rail Link’ (as it was previously known prior to being renamed Northwest in June 2015). For example: https://www.google.com.au/search?q=north+west+rail+link A railway for Sydney’s

Below is a selection of coverage of Sydney Metro project in major and local newspapers. North West region

Teacher briefing Sydney metro line ‘on track and on budget’ as first tracks laid (8 June 2016) Topic One: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/sydney-metro-line-on-track-and-on-budget-as-first-tracks- This media case study may be adapted for either Stage 4 or 5 English. Students find and laid-20160608-gpedzj.html#ixzz4CRuzUnq2 review articles and news clips found on the web that relate to the Sydney Metro and discuss Sydney CBD buildings to be demolished for underground Metro interchange (11 May 2016) the following questions. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-11/high-rise-buildings-demolished-for-sydney-metro- Note: Sydney Metro Northwest was formerly known as North West Rail Link. It had a name change in June 2015. interchange/7404144 For more information visit http://www.sydneymetro.info/ Plan to extend Sydney metro line south hits growing list of hurdles (3 February 2016) „„ How much coverage is there of the Sydney Metro project? http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/plan-to-extend-sydney-metro-line-south-hits-growing-list-of- „„ Is the coverage positive or negative? What would you expect for such a big project? hurdles-20160201-gmj9dz.html#ixzz4CS1qCXLU

„„ What type of coverage is it? How detailed is it? Sydney Metro Northwest train line crosses over (28 January 2016) http://www.rousehillcourier.com.au/story/3692382/new-sight-for-drivers/ „„ Is there a difference in focus in national and local newspaper articles? Cracks emerge in Skytrain section of $8.3 billion Sydney rail line (15 January 2016) „„ Do all journalists seem to agree or disagree about the purpose of the project? http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/cracks-emerge-in-skytrain-section-of-83-billion-sydney-rail- „„ What aspects of Sydney Metro project do journalists seem most interested in? line-20160115-gm6nes.html#ixzz4CRvk3ACT

Requirements for these lessons Twin tunnels for Sydney’s new Northwest metro line completed ‘ahead of time’ (14 January 2016) „„ Computers http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/twin-tunnels-for-sydneys-new-northwest-metro-line- „„ Interactive whiteboard completed-ahead-of-time-20160113-gm5j59.html

„„ Bookmarked links (see web links). Waterloo chosen over Sydney University as site for new metro train station (17 December 2015) Assessment http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/waterloo-chosen-over-sydney-university-as-site-for-new- Assess how well students are able to compare media texts that represent ideas and events metro-train-station-20151215-gloiu2.html in different ways, and are able to explain the effects of differing approaches. Crows Nest gets Sydney Metro train station as State Government plans to extend new line to Liverpool (19 November 2015) http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/crows-nest-gets-sydney-metro- train-station-as-state-government-plans-to-extend-new-line-to-liverpool/news-story/2fc02 abe6f50f9dc407d65bcbe43333f NSW Government announces new city stations for Sydney Metro (16 November 2016) http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/travel/nsw-government-announces-new-city- stations-for-sydney-metro/news-story/b4e27abbe76834ad4e2f1b7e1048f352 Sydney unveils new single deck and driverless trains (6 November 2015) http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/design/sydney-unveils-new-single-deck- and-driverless-trains/news-story/794e16114205bc10769a09c5d9e0f345

52 TOPIC ONE: A RAILWAY FOR SYDNEY’S NORTH WEST REGION FASTTRACKING THE FUTURE | SECONDARY EDITION NOVEMBER 2016 53 Sydney Metro Northwest’s tunnel boring machine Isabelle breaks through at Epping Second North West Rail Link Environmental Impact Study completed (18 September 2015) (31 October 2012) http://www.hillsnews.com.au/story/3359134/video-sydney-metro-northwest-reaches-end- https://transportsydney.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/second-northwest-rail-link- of-the-line/ environmental-impact-study-completed/ Skytrain to Sydney’s north-west has led to jobs boom, NSW Government says (1 Chatswood will cope with rail link passengers: minister (2 October 2012) http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/chatswood-will-cope-with-rail-link-passengers-minister- September 2015) http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-01/skytrain-to-sydneys-north-west-has-led-to-jobs- 20121002-26wq3.html#ixzz2P4UhhNC2 boom-baird-says/6739980 There are also news video clips to be found on YouTube and in other locations. Skytrain’s the limit as Sydney’s north-west hosts new rail line (24 August 2015) A railway for Sydney’s

Several recent examples: North West region http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/skytrains-the-limit-as-sydneys-northwest-hosts-new-rail-

line-20150821-gj4nsx#ixzz4CRxLUaWX The sky’s the limit as the North West Rail Link lifts its game (12 January 2015) Topic One: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/the-skys-the-limit-as-the-north-west-rail- First glimpse of finished tunnel at Epping’s Sydney Metro Northwest site (17 July 2015) link-lifts-its-game/story-fni0cx12-1227181553324 http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/news/first-glimpse-of-tunnel-at-eppings- sydney-metro-northwest-site/news-story/1eb934f1dacc37380e00526b5bb444bf North West rail link: tunnel burrows through to Norwest station (22 January 2015) http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/north-west-rail-link-tunnel-burrows-through-to-norwest- Sydney metro: Battle over route for $11b project (15 June 2015) station-20150121-12uvgl http://www.afr.com/real-estate/sydney-metro-battle-over-route-for-11b-project-20150615- ghob3s#ixzz4CRxsvb00 (Nine News Sydney) Tunnelling contract signed for North West Rail Link (25 June 2013) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cokQWdKo2C0 Monorail becoming temporary bridge to keep traffic moving during Sydney Metro Northwest construction (31 January 2014) (Ten News Sydney) Tunnelling work starts on North West Rail Link (25 June 2013) http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-hills/monorail-becoming-temporary- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y9w66k46qU bridge-to-keep-traffic-moving-during-north-west-rail-link-construction/story- North West Rail Link to be finished in 2019 (16 June 2013) fngr8i1f-1226814748794 http://youtu.be/RgvXQY2_Lpg Hong Kong metro gives commuters a clue to what North West Rail Link will look like (22 January 2014) http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-hills/hong-kongs-rail-a-vision-of‑the- north-west-rail-link/story-fngr8i1f-1226812751206 Syllabus links Windsor Road bridge plans for low impact (19 December 2013) English K–10 http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/windsor-road-bridge-plans-for-low-impact-20131218-2zlhk.html (EN4-1A) responds to and composes texts for understanding, interpretation, critical analysis, Italian contractor to take on elevated section of the North West Rail Link imaginative expression and pleasure (18 December 2013) http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/italian-contractor-to-take-on-elevated- (EN4-2A) effectively uses a widening range of processes, skills, strategies and knowledge section-of-the-north-west-rail-link/story-fni0cx12-1226786017250 for responding to and composing texts in different media and technologies Second Sydney Harbour crossing to follow North West Rail (6 December 2013) (EN5-1A) responds to and composes increasingly sophisticated and sustained texts http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/second-sydney-harbour-crossing- for understanding, interpretation, critical analysis, imaginative expression and pleasure to‑follow-north-west-rail/story-fni0cx12-1226776525890 (EN5-2A) effectively uses and critically assesses a wide range of processes, skills, strategies 170,000 new homes, mostly in western Sydney (16 March 2013) and knowledge for responding to and composing a wide range of texts in different media http://www.parramattasun.com.au/story/1368387/170000-new-homes-mostly- and technologies. in‑western-sydney North West Rail Link “milestones” reached (18 February 2013) http://www.hillsnews.com.au/story/1308244/north-west-rail-link-milestones-reached

54 TOPIC ONE: A RAILWAY FOR SYDNEY’S NORTH WEST REGION FASTTRACKING THE FUTURE | SECONDARY EDITION NOVEMBER 2016 55 Learning experiences Students read a range of the media examples provided in web links and discuss these. Alternatively bring up each article on the interactive whiteboard and discuss.

Use the following questions as a guide:

„„ How much coverage is there of the Sydney Metro project (or North West Rail Link as it was previously known prior to June 2015)?

„„ Is the coverage more or less than you would expect for such a big project?

„„ What type of coverage is it? How detailed is it? A railway for Sydney’s North West region „„ Is there a difference between the focus of national and local newspaper articles? Topic One: „„ Do all journalists seem to agree or disagree about the purpose of the project?

„„ What aspects of the project do journalists seem to be most interested in?

After discussion and note-taking from the sources, follow-up activities can involve:

„„ Writing news headlines

„„ Writing news items in the format of web-news or newspaper articles

„„ Developing a short 30 second TV report explaining forthcoming change to the local area or some feature of the Sydney Metro project.

Teacher references and extension work This lesson may be a perfect addition to a larger lesson sequence about ‘What is journalism?’ A good introduction to this lesson might include:

„„ What is a journalist?

„„ What are some of the tasks of a journalist?

Through discussion, a list such as the following may be created about the roles of a journalist:

„„ News gathering and recording eyewitness accounts of events

„„ Accuracy and corroboration of facts with multiple sources

„„ Ensuring balance of viewpoints and ‘both sides of the story’

„„ Stories with conflict are more interesting than stories without.

Through discussion, students identify different types of journalism:

„„ Broadcast journalism

„„ Advocacy journalism

„„ Investigative journalism

„„ Consumer journalism

„„ Tabloid journalism

„„ Political journalism.

56 TOPIC ONE: A RAILWAY FOR SYDNEY’S NORTH WEST REGION The skytrain construction gantry in operation,FASTTRACKING May 2016 THE FUTURE | SECONDARY EDITION NOVEMBER 2016 57