Avoid this
- Comparing only headlines instead of full reporting
- Confusing opinion pieces with straight news reporting
- Assuming disagreement automatically means misinformation
High school project idea · Media & Communication
Behind the Headlines
Compare how different news outlets tell the same story, then write the report you think readers deserve.
Good citizens ask where information comes from before deciding what to believe.
Original Compass project by Davisville LabsReviewed August 2026Goal real work, evidence, and reflectionEditorial standards →
Why this project matters
Learn by doing something real.
The same event can look surprisingly different depending on who reports it. Headlines, word choice, sources, images, omissions, and framing all shape how people understand the world. This project helps students become thoughtful news consumers by comparing multiple sources, evaluating evidence, recognizing bias and perspective, and producing a balanced report grounded in credible information rather than opinion. News literacy is an increasingly important skill for informed citizenship and critical thinking. [oai_citation:0‡newslit.org](https://newslit.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
What you will create
Your project plan
Use these deliverables as milestones for Behind the Headlines. Adapt the details to your interests, available time, and real-world opportunities.
- 01
News Event Brief
Choose one significant news event and explain why it deserves careful investigation.
- 02
Coverage Comparison Matrix
Compare how several credible news organizations reported the event, including headlines, sources, framing, evidence, visuals, tone, and important details.
- 03
Evidence & Credibility Analysis
Evaluate the quality of sources, identify where reporting agrees or differs, distinguish reporting from opinion, and note unanswered questions.
- 04
Balanced News Report
Write, record, or present your own evidence-based version of the story using verified information, multiple perspectives, and clear attribution.
- 05
Media Literacy Case Study
Publish a portfolio-ready case study explaining your investigation, comparison process, reporting decisions, lessons learned, and reflection.
Make the work stronger
What separates a finished project from a meaningful one?
For Behind the Headlines, use these checkpoints to protect the quality of the work without turning the project into a performance for admissions.
Evidence that it is working
- A news event was selected
- Multiple credible news sources were compared
- Evidence and source quality were evaluated
If you want to go further
- Compare domestic and international coverage of the same event
- Analyze how headlines evolved over several days
Skills you can build
Capabilities that travel beyond this project.
Source EvaluationEvidence-Based ReasoningCommunicationResearch SynthesisIntellectual Humility
College application value
Use the project as evidence, not decoration.
Demonstrates intellectual curiosity, analytical thinking, research ability, communication, media literacy, evidence-based reasoning, and the ability to evaluate multiple perspectives thoughtfully.
Critical ThinkingResearchCommunicationIntellectual CuriosityAnalytical Thinking
The goal of Behind the Headlines is not to manufacture an impressive activity. Do real work, keep evidence of the process, and reflect honestly on what changed.
Related college majors
Which fields connect to this work?
Use Behind the Headlines as a clue, then open a related major guide to compare coursework, career directions, reality checks, and other ways to test the field.
How this guide was made
Read editorial standards →Behind the Headlines is an original Compass educational starting point designed around real work, visible evidence, feedback, and reflection. It is not an admissions guarantee.
Ready to build it?
Try this project in Compass