Breaking News: World War II Broadcasts
Princess Elizabeth’s radio broadcast, photo courtesy of BBCAssignment: We’re going back in time and you, yes you, are my historical reporter!
Create an informative and engaging TV or radio broadcast based on numerous events from World War II. Research, write and record your show in preparation for our class event. This is a group assignment. You should work in
groups of three to five. If you wish to work with others in my other section, please confirm with me first!
Your broadcast should include:
● A 5-15 second introduction that introduces your show and the name of your program
● News stories: your broadcast will need to include events between 30 seconds-2 minutes
each. Include the basics of the event, see below (who, when, why, where, what, how)
● This includes at least one interview with fictional characters that give first hand accounts
of an event and their experiences. While the characters should be fictional, their accounts should be realistic and based on the information in your research. The characters can be from any of the following categories: soldiers, spies or code breakers, civilians, children or teenagers, medical workers. (1-2 minutes total)
● An advertisement for a product that would be sold in the 1940s. See the ABC-Clio pop culture database for ideas, think commercial!
● A brief conclusion of the program that thanks the listeners and provides closing remarksNote: While you may include words from another language, please do not imitate non-English accents for this assignment.
To turn in:
● Research notes (shared to me) – individual (10 points per student)
● Script (shared Google document) – group (15 points)
● Broadcast file – group (25 points)
Research Notes Directions:
Each group member should find a reliable source related to the event your show will cover.(If your group has three members, I expect three different sources.) ABC-Clio’s Modern World History database is an example of a reliable source. *This should not be a problem as Mrs. Counts will come in to help as well! Take notes in a new google doc. Be sure to include at least ten relevant pieces of information about the event as well as a link to your source. When you have finished, email your notes to your group members and to me, nbgonzalez@bishopodowd.org.Script Directions:
Create a Google Doc, which you will share with me and your group members. Include the following:
● The names of all group members
● A description of each fictional character that will be interviewed on the show (name, age, nationality, occupation, situation/experience during this event).
● A script that includes all of the broadcast’s required elements: Introduction, news stories, interview, advertisement, and closing remarks. Note: Be sure to proofread and spell-check your work.
Broadcast Directions: You will have time in class next week to work on your broadcast. Please wait until I have given you feedback on your script before proceeding with this step.
EVENTS
Choose ONE of the following events in each category to cover in your broadcast. If you choose, you may focus on one specific subtopic of this event. Suggested interviewees are in italics. Please keep your interviews appropriate and respectful.
Wars Start/ End (30 seconds to 1 minute) x2
Outbreak of war Alliances
VE Day
VJ Day
Research on atomic weapons Treaties
Asia/Pacific Theater (1-2 minutes)
Invasion of Shanghai or Nanjing (1937, China, Chinese civilian or teenager, British civilian living in China)
Bombing of Pearl Harbor (1941, Hawaii, teenager or other civilian living in Hawaii, American soldier, civilian worker at the dock, Japanese pilot)
Bataan Death March (1942, Philippines, Filipino and American prisoners of war)
Battle of Midway (1942, Pacific island battle, US dive-bombers, Japanese troops)
Operation Vengeance (1943, Assassination of Admiral Yamamoto, US intelligence officer, code breaker, Japanese soldier or civilian)
Battle of Iwo Jima (1945, Pacific island battle, Navajo code-talkers, American & Japanese soldiers) Battle of Okinawa (1945, Japanese or American soldier, Okinawa civilian)
Firebombing of Tokyo (1945, Japanese teenager or child living in Tokyo, American pilot)
European Theater (1-2 minutes)
Battle of Britain (1941, German air raids/blitzes of British cities, evacuated British school child, nurse or doctor, refugee from France or another part of occupied Europe)
Battle of Stalingrad (1942-43, Russia, German or Russian sniper, German soldier trapped in the city, evacuated civilian)
D-Day (1944, France, parachutist, soldier, medical worker, French civilian)Liberation of Paris (1944, France, French civilian, Allied soldier)Murder/assassination of Mussolini (1945, Italy, Italian civilian/witness)
Groups (1-2 minutes(Pick two for the segment))
Women- Woman Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS)
African Americans- Tuskegee Airmen (African-American Fighter Pilots)
Jewish
Native Americans- Navajo Code talkers, 158th Regimental Combat Team
Latin Americans- Army's WACS, the Navy's WAVES, 158th Regimental Combat Team
Japanese Americans- 442n d (highly decorated Japanese-American unit)
Italian Americans
*Segregated regiments:
You may produce a segment on one of the following groups and their US military service in WWII. Introduce the group(s) and highlight their achievements.
At Home (1-2 minutes)
*Any of the Groups category Victory gardens
Propaganda to sign up for the draft Liberty bonds
Advertisements (30 seconds to 1 minute)
Research online products from 1938-1945
