Student Handout

How Did MySpace Become YourSpace?

Do you know who created MySpace and when it was created? Who currently owns MySpace? Why is MySpace such a popular place for advertisers who target teen consumers?

Objective:
Working in a team, you will create a three- to five-minute newscast to share your investigative reporting of the history and economics of MySpace.

Step I. Gather Information
To investigate the following topics, use library research and credible online sources, and be sure to keep track of the sources for your information. Come up with a list of answers and facts about the following questions:

• Group 1: History of MySpace
  
  Your group will explore the history of MySpace:
  
  
  • Who created it? Which company (companies) was involved?
  • Why was it created?
  • Who is the target audience of MySpace?
  • How did it end up as the number one social networking site?
  • Now that you know the history, what do you envision for the future of MySpace?
    
    
• Group 2: Economics of MySpace
  
  Your group will explore the current economics of MySpace -- that is, how MySpace functions as a business. Questions to consider include:
  
  
  • Who owns MySpace? When did they acquire it, and how much did they pay for it?
  • Why might this company be interested in owning MySpace?
  • What else does this company own?
  • What is datamining? How does it relate to MySpace?
  • What do you think will happen to MySpace?
    
    
• Group 3: Advertising on MySpace
  
  Your group will explore how MySpace makes money -- mainly, through advertising.
  
  
  • In what ways do you encounter ads on MySpace? Are there advergames?
  • How is advertising on MySpace different from advertising on other Web sites?
  • What kinds of things are advertised on MySpace?
  • What companies would be interested in advertising on MySpace? Why?
  • What do you think the future of advertising on MySpace will look like?
    
    

Step II: Plan, Organize and Practice
Organize your information into a three- to five-minute "news journal"-style presentation where everyone plays a reporter role. You can type out your broadcast word for word or use a bulleted list for a more extemporaneous format. Be sure to include transitions between reporters, and have the flow of the story make sense.
Make sure your story has the following elements:

• Newscaster Intro: "Welcome to Channel X. ... I'm Sherry Boberry."
• Hook: Catch the viewers' attention. Why is this important? Why should they not change the channel?
• Discussion of the issues in concise, factual format
• Controversy? Any dirt on your topic?
• Conclusion: What's next? What might the future hold?
• Transition to the next story or a commercial break

Step III: Present Ideas and Discuss
Sitting in front of the room at a news desk, the group should report its information about MySpace. The rest of the class plays the role of a live studio audience, and volunteers can act as the makeup/wardrobe person, cameraperson, sound person, producer or other roles you think of. After your broadcast, allow the studio audience members to ask questions. For example, if someone has a question about the information you provide, you can refer to your research sources. You should appear as the "expert" on the topic. After all groups have presented, come together as a class to reflect upon and discuss this experience.