Cold War Research Project
Following World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union entered into a sustained war with one another.
This war was one of threats and words, not bullets and fighting. However, with each passing event from 1945
until the late 1980’s, the possibility of nuclear war reared its ominous head. Your task in this research project is
to examine more carefully one of these Cold War events.
You will be asked to present an authentic "News Program” in class on your topic. You will put yourself into the
time period of your event and explain the crisis to the class in your news report.
The news shows may be either videotaped or presented live in class. It's your pick.
For this assignment you will be working in cooperative groups of 4 in order to research your Cold War Event.
You will be allowed to pick your own groups, so please choose carefully!!
***Here is a list of the Cold War Topics to choose from:
1) Berlin Blockade and Airlift (1948)
2) Sputnik (1957)
3) U2 Spyplane Incident (1960)
4) Berlin Wall—Setup and Demolition
5) Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)
6) Invasion of Afghanistan/Olympic Boycotts
(1979, 1980 & 1984)
7) Hungarian Uprising and Invasion (1956)
In your research you will want to cover the following:
a) General Information
Who was involved? What happened? Where did these events take place?
When did these events take place? Why did these events take place?
b) Analysis
How did both sides react to the event?
What long term effect did the event have on the two countries or the world?
Was it a negative or a positive effect?
What kind of impact did this event have on US-Soviet relations?
Your group Newscast Grade will be based on the following:
1) Research Information: accuracy and depth
2) Time Limit: 9-12 minutes per group
3) Creativity: action (Don't just sit behind a news desk and talk. Spice it up!)
4) Professionalism: rehearsed, appropriate (DON'T GET SILLY!!), eye contact, voice
5) Props and Visual Aids
Your Individual grade will be based on the following:
1) Participation
- Your own group will grade you on your level of participation with the group
- If you don't participate in the newscast you will not receive any group credit!
2) Library Research
-Notes on topic
-Script for newscast
Cold War Newscast
How to get organized:
1. Choose a leader or anchorperson early.
2. As each member of the news team comes up with a news segment, report to the
anchorperson so they can compile a master list (on the back).
3. Try to make segments short and do 2 or 3 each rather than speaking for 3 minutes
straight.
4. Create an outline of all news segments starting with the introduction of the news team
to the sign off. Include names, topics, and approximate time.
5. Develop call letters for your station and a location for your telecast.
6. Rehearse, If possible, to obtain a smooth presentation.
Ideas to create realism:
1. Dress how a newscaster or reporter might.
2. Organize tables into a news desk. You may sit if you can project your voices well I enough
from that position. You may look at your note cards from time to time but do not read.
3. Make transition statements between speakers.
4. Have a person from another group assist with audio-visual equipment (VCR, opaque
projector, etc.) to allow reporters to stay in one place. Before the broadcast, print key
terms from each news segment on the board to help class members in note-taking.
5. If anyone has a digital video camera at home, you may want to tape a reporter "on
location" and use it as a news segment.
6. Make up names for each member of the team appropriate to that country. Consult
culturegrams for proper greetings, gestures, holidays, etc.
7. Make your presentations short, interesting, and informative. Don't be afraid to have a
little fun with this!!!
NEWS TEAM FORMAT
STATION CALL LETTERS:
ANCHOR PERSON OR CO-ANCHORS:
REPORTERS:
NEWS PRESENTATION - MASTER PLAN
REPORTER’S NAME
TOPIC OF SEGMENT
INTRODUCTION OF NEWS TEAM
+ SUMMARY OF KEY STORIES
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
+ SIGNOFF
LENGTH AUDIO/VISUAL EQUIPMENT
OF TIME