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Assignment 2 

Note that this instruction and template document appears to be lengthy despite Assignment 2 being relatively short. The reason for the long document is to provide you with as much guidance as possible. If you still have questions that remain after reviewing this document, please consult the “Common Questions” section at the end of this assignment.

Instructions

1. Please read through this document carefully. This document has two functions:

· It provides all the instructions for Assignment 2.

· It serves as a template that you must use when writing this assignment. This means that you must fill in all the sections marked as [], making sure to delete the square brackets and the grey fill when you are done. 

2. Please fill in the template sections of this document. Please do not change the formatting of this document (e.g., font sizes, spacing, margins, etc.) 

3. Please export your assignment as a PDF when you have finished (in Word: “File” > “Save as…” > “PDF”). Please name your file LastnameFirstname_Assignment2.pdf (e.g., NieborgDavid_Assignment2.pdf).

AI Statement 

See pages 7 and 8 of our syllabus for the AI policy for this class.

[Explain if (and if yes, how) you have used generative AI or other external tools other than word processors to prepare for this assignment. Please remember that written assignments must be 100% original work produced by you, and you alone. You cannot use generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) to create assignments. You can use AI tools to translate or to summarize readings but be careful that AI tools may produce results that are wrong or misleading. You are responsible for everything that is submitted.]

Assignment 2

Your Name: [Add name here] 

Student ID: [Add student number here] 

Date: [Add date here] 

Deliverables

1. Wicked Problem Mind Map

2. 750-Word Pitch Letter to News Outlet

Instructions

For this second assignment, you will be completing two tasks, both of which involve researching a platform-related issue:

1. You will explore the platform-related issue as a “wicked problem” using a mind map.

2. You will develop a 750-word letter to a news editor pitching a news story about the platform-related issue.

Below, you will find detailed instructions, templates, and examples for both parts.

Part 1. The “Wicked Problem Mind Map”

1. Select a platform of interest that is involved in cultural production. Examples are provided in the “Common Questions” section of this document.

Chosen Platform: [Example: Instagram] 

2. Research a problem or change related to your chosen platform that connects to at least two themes covered in this course. Remember, each week we focus on a theme specific to the study of platforms and cultural production—e.g., “platform discourse” (week 2), “markets” (week 4), “platform governance” (week 6), etc. You are welcome to choose topics from later weeks even though we have yet to cover these themes, but only if you have done the readings for that week. Refer to the course syllabus on Quercus to remind yourself of course themes.

Problem or Change: [Example: Meta integrating AI-based editing tools into Instagram Stories and the associated impacts on creators]

Course Themes: [Example: “platform labour” (week 7) and “creativity” (week 8)] 

3. We can frame the issue/change that you have noted in step 2 as a “wicked problem” because it is an issue that is difficult to solve. A “wicked problem” is highly complex, constantly changing, and specific to the situation at hand.² Take a moment to consider how the problem or change you have mentioned in the second step constitutes a “wicked problem.” You do not need to explain here, as you will explore the problem or change as a “wicked problem” through your first deliverable for this assignment, the “Wicked Problem Mind Map.” Regardless, I have provided my internal thought process, building on the examples provided earlier, to help you think through how to frame your problem or change as a “wicked problem.” Remember to keep the course themes in mind.

At this stage, you will want to do research on your problem or change. You can refer to readings from the syllabus, peer-reviewed articles, and media articles. You can access academic sources using the University of Toronto Libraries Library Search tool. Please keep track of sources you use, as you are required to include in-text citations and a reference list.

Thinking About the Problem or Change as a “Wicked Problem” Keeping in Mind “Platform Labour” and “Creativity” 

[Examples:

· Integration of AI-based editing tools into Instagram promises efficiency and supposedly democratizes cultural production, that is, the production of shortform videos and images. In the platform economy, this means that there is a lower barrier to entry, so more content is produced, which results in more competition. For creators, the expectations for their cultural products shifts. What constitutes “good” content may also change. Creators may create new ideas as to what is needed to succeed in a platform economy where AI-based tools are becoming increasingly common.

· AI-based editing tools may change which creative skills are valued on Instagram. For example, creators before the introduction of AI-based editing tools may have been valued for their editing skills—their ability to manage the technical aspects of editing (e.g., balancing colours, removing backgrounds, syncing audio with video), to curate (e.g., selecting clips, pacing scenes), to construct a distinct aesthetic (e.g., choosing colour palettes, adding filters, adjusting tone), and to finetune their content (e.g., retouching videos, incorporating effects). AI-based editing tools are presumed to democratize these editing tasks, devaluing and decoupling the human labour behind content creation. If prompts are what guide the editing process for creators on Instagram Stories, then creative labour becomes a question of how well creators command the algorithms that underlie their tools.

· AI-based editing tools typically rely on generative AI—a kind of AI trained on datasets of existing text, images, videos, and audio. Generative AI uses data to spit out a statistical average. This means that when creators use the same set of tools to edit, they may possibly push the visual culture on Instagram toward a statistical average. In clearer terms, creators may witness the homogenization or flattening of Instagram aesthetics. In this instance, even though AI-based tools promise a democratization of creativity and innovation, they may at a structural level be encouraging a streamlining of content.

· To succeed in the cultural industries, creators must “self-brand” or present themselves in a way that is strategic. To position themselves strategically, creators try to develop a persona and content that audiences view as authentic.⁵ This work is highly gendered, affecting marginalized communities disproportionately. This question of authenticity becomes even more urgent with the integration of AI-based editing tools as generative AI is frequently associated with disingenuous content.]

4. Once you’ve had an opportunity to brainstorm a bit about your “wicked problem,” you can move on to develop a mind map. Think of this mind map as a brainstorming tool to break down the complexity of the “wicked problem” and help you prepare for the story you will pitch in the second part of this assignment.

You will be creating your mind map using a free, open-source tool called draw.io.

a. Open a new file in draw.io. You can use the online version or download the desktop app. 

 

Figure 1. Interface for online version of draw.io. 

b. Consider what kind of story you will share about your “wicked problem,” and plot this story using the different drag-and-drop tools in the lefthand column. Your resulting visual will be the “mind map.” If you are confused as to what to plot, there are plenty of guiding frameworks for how to structure your story to help. Please see below for ideas.  

· Inverted Pyramid: (1) Key information—who, what, when, where, why, and how; (2) “so what” statement (“nut graf” in journalism); (3) context of the issue in more detail; and (4) summary with discussions of possible next steps/solutions

· Diamond: (1) Anecdote or engaging opening, (2) larger questions associated with issue introduced through anecdote, and (3) return to anecdote

· Hourglass: (1) General context, (2) main argument supported by evidence, and (3) broader impacts

· Narrative Arc: (1) Exposition (setting the scene), (2) rising tension, (3) exploration of crisis, and (4) resolution

· Chronological Narrative: Sequential telling of a story

· Zipper or Braided Narrative: Moving back and forth between two or more stories, bringing them together by the end

· Broken-line/fragmented/nonlinear narrative: Deviate from a main story by jumping timelines, considering events in different places, or moving between perspectives

5. Convert your “Wicked Problem Mind Map” into a PNG file. To do this, go to File > Export as… > PNG (see Figure 2).

 

Figure 2. Exporting my very rough example of a “Wicked Problem Mind Map” that I built in draw.io. 

6. Change the settings of your PNG file so that the zoom is set to 1000% and you have checked “Selection Only” and “Transparent Background” (see Figure 3).  

 

Figure 3. Setting up PNG file for export.

7. Paste your PNG file into this document. To do this on Word, go to Insert > Pictures > Picture from file…. Then, select the correct file (see Figure 4). Alternatively, you can select Figure 6 (see below) and replace the figure. This requires right clicking Figure 6 and choosing Change Picture > From a File… (see Figure 5).

 

Figure 4. Inserting “Wicked Problem Mind Map” into this document.

 

Figure 5. Option to change Figure 6 picture (below) with your own “Wicked Problem Mind Map.”

Part 2. The Pitch Letter

1. Consider the story you have mapped in the first part of this assignment. In this second part, you will be using what you have brainstormed to write a 750-word letter “pitching” or selling your story to a news outlet of your choice.

2. Please use the template below to write your story. Again, ensure that you are covering at least two of the themes covered in the course.

[Subject Line: A headline and subheading—you may change these later for Assignment 3] 

Dear [Addressee: E.g., editor],

[Paragraph 1 (50 words): Provide a brief introduction as to who you are and your interest in the news outlet. Show that you are familiar with their work]

[Paragraph 2 (125 words): Explain what your news story will be about and why this is the right moment for the story]

[Paragraph 3 (150 words): Explain why your story is important. Why does your story matter? This part of the pitch is often referred to as the “nut graf” of the story in journalism]

[Paragraph 4 (150 words): Explain how you have researched your story. What resources did you consult? What did you find?] 

[Paragraph 5 (75 words): Explain how your story is different from previous information that has been published on your platform]

[Paragraph 6 (100 words): Explain how your story is different from previous stories that have been published about the platform and problem or change you are addressing Explain why you are the ideal person to write the story. What is your background and familiarity with the topic? What distinct perspective do you bring?] 

[Paragraph 7 (75 words): Suggest any visuals, data, clippings, or quotes you may incorporate] 

[Paragraph 8 (25 words): Include a closing]

[References: These would not typically be part of the letter. Please include these though for this assignment] 

Common Questions

On Rationale

Why am I doing this assignment? How does this help me?

Why the mind map? Learning how to brainstorm in a structured way is important for any project. It helps you learn to make connections. The mind mapping process helps you think through complex issues.

Why the pitch? Learning how to “pitch” an idea effectively is important. I ask you to deliver a pitch for two main reasons. Pitches develop a series of critical skills that are valuable beyond journalism settings, e.g., grant writing, fundraising, policymaking, research writing, even just making your point in a conversation. This is because when you write a pitch, you learn how to condense complex information in a way that is persuasive. In the process of constructing a pitch, you become more familiar with how to write effective hooks, prioritize information, create narratives, balance theory with more concrete examples, and be creative so that your ideas stand out. Pitching is not always about selling a story or raising money.

Why shouldn’t I just paste this assignment into AI? Isn’t that more efficient? I don’t think you’ll be able to tell.

I recognize that AI tools exist and can be valuable. This is why my syllabus leaves space for you to explore generative AI tools (see pages 7 and 8 of the syllabus). But as you can see in this document, in the syllabus, and in the following assignment, I ask that you not use any AI-powered tool to create your assignments and that you include an AI statement. You may be constrained for time, and AI tools can be enticing. However, besides posing an ethical dilemma, and being an issue of academic integrity, it’s not in your best interest to use AI.

AI hallucinates, as you may already know; it generates inaccurate responses. More recently, researchers have identified how AI-based chatbots are overly “sycophantic,” meaning they tell you what you want to hear—they are “people pleasers.”⁹ Because of this, AI may mislead you, causing you to believe that you are correct, unbiases, or writing a critically brilliant piece, when in actuality, there is more work to be done. Apart from the fact that AI can lead you astray, inputting assignments into generative AI chatbots also removes the value in completing the assignments, in doing the process work. We learn by doing, and in doing these assignments yourselves, you pick up skills that are transferrable—even in a world where many professional roles have been transformed to require AI. For example, we will always need people who can plan, who can think critically, and who can innovate.  

If I haven’t persuaded you so far, consider your final grade. You will likely produce a far more original and well-thought-out assignment than a generative AI-based tool, because your work will be a product of your unique experiences. Unlike you, generative AI behaves as a statistical machine, spitting out the next most likely word using probability. If you’re still unconvinced, think about the fact that you are paying over $6,000 a year as a domestic student or over $60,000 as an international student. While you are here, you likely want to learn, and, at the same time, have fun while doing it. There is plenty of research that shows that AI threatens the “joy of learning.”

On Content

I don’t know what platform to choose.

No worries, as there are plenty of platforms involved in cultural production for you to choose from. Please see below for examples. Recognize that though I’ve grouped the platforms by type, many are involved in multiple areas of cultural production. You are not required to choose from this list. You may choose any platform that interests you.

User-Generated Photos and Videos

· YouTube

· TikTok

· Instagram

· Niconico

Streaming

· Netflix

· Amazon Prime

· Disney+

· iQIYI

· Showmax

· Globoplay

Text

· Reddit

· Substack

· Twitter (now X)

· Webtoon

Audio

· Spotify

· Gaana

E-Commerce

· Amazon

· Etsy

· Temu

· Mercado Libre

Gaming

· Roblox

· Twitch

· Discord

· Unity

Funding

· Patreon

· Kickstarter

I’ve never pitched a story before. I’m not sure what to do.

That’s alright, as this is a learning experience. Consider that an effective pitch is selling a news outlet on a story, not a topic. You want to make sure that the story about the platform is narrow enough in scope and that it’s concrete. For example, “How Facebook Moderates Content” is vague. You want to anchor your story in particular moments, contexts, and situations. For example, consider this story published in The Guardian about Meta removing Facebook factcheckers. For more tips on effective pitches, consider this guide from VICE News Canada and this library guide from the University of South Carolina Upstate.

On Format

Aren’t news pitches usually shorter?

We’re thinking about a news pitch for a longer piece (long-form journalism). Popular tech magazine Wired, for example, suggests 500 to 700 words.

Do I need to include references for my mind map and pitch?

Yes, as with the other assignments, you do need to include references whenever you refer to external information.

How should I format my references?

You can use any citation style as long as you are consistent (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). I would recommend using Zotero, though ensure that you are double checking the formatting of your citations. If you are confused as to how to use Zotero, please consult this guide.