QUESTION: Tips for improving media journals

[Antonio Lopez]

I teach an undergrad media, culture and society class and require my students to post on a class Ning site every week. They post on a forum with a specific question related to the week's topic. They are also required to write a blog post which serves as a media journal. The only guideline is to reflect on something they encounter about media during the week that relates to anything discussed in class.

A lot of the posts are pretty uninteresting and I would like to hear of any suggestions for ways to guide more insightful commentary. If any of you out there require media journals in your courses, what are some suggestions or guidelines that you offer to your students?

Thanks, Antonio