Journalist

Action

Group-prioritization, Issue analysis, Team – work, Vision

Big picture, Communication, Evaluation

Up to 60 min

6-15 persons, 16 – 30 persons

Beginner

Safe

Introduction

This is an exercise to use when the group gets stuck in details and struggles to see the big picture. Also good for defining a vision.

Set up a blank newspaper page for your participants as well as sections for the various articles and headlines. This is a great activity to work on collaboratively as its so visual – your group can see the front page come together in real time!
A group gets stuck in endless discussion of details or doesn’t develop a vision, make them draft the first page of a fictional newspaper:
1. First, they need to collect the potential stories at hand. Which are important enough to make it on the first page?
2. Make them decide which story is the most important. This will be the lead article.
For the rest of the exercise you may split the larger group into smaller teams for more articles. Once instructed, turn on breakout rooms so each group can work on their tasks:
1. Then they need to write the headlines for each article.
2. For the first paragraph, they have to get right to the point. What is this all about? Why is it important? What are the consequences? If you are limited in time, Keywords and bullet points are sufficient.
3. For the second paragraph, they need to collect the important facts.
4. They may actually design the whole page, if there is enough time. This will make them remember the things for longer.
After the group breakout groups are completed and participants return to the main room, debrief the exercise.

If you are not using an online whiteboard, we’d recommend using a collaboration tool such as Google Docs as the parking lot.
When facilitating group discussion, we would recommend that participants use non-verbal means to indicate they would like to speak. You can use tools like Zoom’s nonverbal feedback tools, a reaction emoji, or just have people put their hands up. The facilitator can then invite that person to talk.