This document provides instructions for a student's final project on analyzing media coverage of a religious issue. Students must choose a specific, ongoing religious topic and analyze its portrayal in news or entertainment media. They will create a PowerPoint presentation with narration, a Screenr recording of their analysis, and a visual representation on Glogster. The analysis should include quantitative data on coverage, examples, critique, and examination of reporters/writers. The document provides an example analysis of media coverage of plans to build an Islamic community center near the World Trade Center site. Coverage of this issue is described as intense on TV and radio talk shows along ideological lines. [END SUMMARY]

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Your final project for RELG 2401 involves doing a short
presentation on the media coverage of ONE religious issue
along with a written summary.
This week, choose one ongoing, specific religious topic and
then analyze how it has been portrayed in the media. The
portrayal can either be in the news media or the entertainment
(TV/film/publishing) media.
· Create a PowerPoint based on your discoveries and analysis.
Upload your PowerPoint to present.me and then create a video
of your slides with your narration.
· Create a Screenr of your conclusions (screenr records your
voice and your screen while you narrate what is on your screen,
and then converts it to a weblink). Post the link.
· Create a glog on Glogster (an online poster-making site)
where you can post a visual representation of your analysis.
The analysis should include:
· Some quantitative data of the coverage
· Specific examples
· Critique of the coverage
· Analysis of the reporters/writers/producers
Religious issue
Islam in the headlines
The plan by some Islamic faithful to build a mosque and an
Islamic center near the scene of World Trade center attack
culminated to a heated debate, and still is, on the morality of
building such a center in that place. The controversies were
covered more in the media and accounted for around 25 % of
religion-related coverage in 2010. The controversies are still
going on especially in the period nearing September, the
commemoration of the attacks.
Organizers and Imam Feisal Abdul presented their plan to the
relevant authorities and were granted approval to build the

2. mosque, eliciting major debate over the issue internationally.
Bloggers and commentators criticized the plan due to the
proximity of the site which was formerly World Trade Center.
The debate on whether or not it’s ideal to build a mosque in
close proximity to the site of World Trade Center attack has
grown from being a local discussion to an international issue. It
has prompted protests in US and drawn responses from even
main political leaders.
Proponents to the project argue that the Muslim Community
Center will be beneficial to the local economy and the
neighborhood and the construction would show American
tolerance to religion. Opponents to the project argue that the
project is a disrespectful and insensitive political ploy by the
radical Islamists which will inflict more emotional distress on
the families that suffered casualties in the aftermath of the 9/11
attacks.
The coverage was very intense on television and radio talk
shows that were ideologically driven. Conservative
commentators decry the project as an affront to those who
suffered in the 9/11 attacks while the liberal commentators
depicted the reaction as contrary to the American culture on
religious freedom.
A conservative host at Fox News Program, Sean Hannity,
discussed the issue more in his program. He at one time played
Obamas clip addressing some Muslims that had gathered at
White House in August 2012 that he fully supported the idea of
developers to build a mosque and an Islamic Center. He also
played another clip later where Obama had responded to the clip
where he depicted that he wasn’t supporting the wisdom of the
whole project.
A liberal host at MSNBC, Keith Olbermann, focused the
controversy in his program. He depicted the reaction of the
project a fake hysteria and the danger of intolerance. He
reminded the viewers that the project would be some few blocks
away from the ground zero. Olbermann played clips of leaders
who were against the project and he at times added his

3. commentary and at times depicted that the president had gotten
the whole idea wrong on fact and principle and that he was out
of touch.
The public are more aware of the project and has become an
international debate regarding the tolerance of Islam and
Muslim and the freedom of religion. The debate over the
Islamic center and mosque usually return to the headlines in the
months approaching the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
References
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/real-
estate/ground-zero-mega-mosque-article-
1.1326154#ixzz2zPCFW0hP
Number of Pages: 8 (Double Spaced
Writing Style: APA
Number of sources: 4
Focus of the Final Paper
The student will select a company of their choosing (The Disney
Corporation) and prepare a fundamental financial analysis of
the firm from its published financial statements. After selecting

4. the firm and analyzing its most recently published Annual
Report (financial statements), submit an eight-to-ten page paper
(excluding appendixes, cover page, abstract, and references).
The report will cover each of the following broad areas that
make up a fundamental analysis of the financial statements of a
publicly held firm: (a) background on the firm, industry,
economy, and outlook; (b) short term liquidity; (c) operating
efficiency; (d) capital structure; and (e) profitability.
Writing the Final Paper
The paper:
Must be eight- to ten- double-spaced pages in length and
formatted according to APA style as outlined in the approved
APA style guide. Title, reference, and any exhibits or
appendices are not counted in the paper length.
Must include a cover page that includes:
Title of paper
Student’s name
Course name and number
Instructor’s name
Date submitted
Must include an abstract after the title page according to APA
style in the approved APA style guide.
Must include an introductory paragraph with a succinct thesis
statement.
Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
Must include citations to references that support the assertions
made in the paper.
Must conclude with a restatement of the thesis and a conclusion
paragraph.

5. Must use APA style as outlined in the approved APA style
guide to document all sources.
Must include, on the final page, a Reference List that is
completed according to APA style as outlined in the approved
APA style guide.