Friday, February 22, 2008
Saturday, February 02, 2008
All The President's Men
Please answer two (2) of the following four questions:
1. How do the editors of The Washington Post decide how an article is newsworthy to place on the front page? Give an example.
2. Think about the sources used by Woodward and Bernstein. How did they find them? How were they credible? What techniques did they use to develop these sources? Were these techniques always ethical?
3. Describe two techniques that Woodward and Bernstein used to successfully interview a source and to get them talking. Would you use these techniques? Why or why not?
4. Why do you think newspapers do less investigative reporting today? Give an example of the last investigate story you remember reading or hearing about. What problems do newspapers face now with investigative stories? What problems do reporters face?
1. How do the editors of The Washington Post decide how an article is newsworthy to place on the front page? Give an example.
2. Think about the sources used by Woodward and Bernstein. How did they find them? How were they credible? What techniques did they use to develop these sources? Were these techniques always ethical?
3. Describe two techniques that Woodward and Bernstein used to successfully interview a source and to get them talking. Would you use these techniques? Why or why not?
4. Why do you think newspapers do less investigative reporting today? Give an example of the last investigate story you remember reading or hearing about. What problems do newspapers face now with investigative stories? What problems do reporters face?
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Buying Into The War
Use this space to comment on Bill Moyer's film. What ethical issues did you see arising for the journalists in covering the war? What do you think journalists should have done? Or do you think they covered it appropriately?
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Use this space to comment on Control Room!
I hope you enjoyed this film. Control Room gives you an opportunity to think about several topics: how a broadcast newsroom operates; how journalists do their work during a war; the issue of objectivity; and, as a viewer, how the subject of war is presented, depending on the geographic place in which you live.
I offer four questions below that you can choose from. But if there is something else you would like to discuss, do it. I am looking for responses that are about 300 words in length (or longer), that give specific examples from the film as support, and that offers some insight or interesting point to offer to the rest of us.
1. Can you compare this documentary to Outfoxed in terms of media bias? Are there any similarities between the two? Do you feel that Control Room is a biased documentary? If yes, please explain. If no, please explain. Provide specific examples from the film to support your viewpoint.
2. Answer this question only if you knew something about Al Jazeera before you saw this film. What was your impression of this Arab news station before you saw this film? Where did you get this impression? Be as specific as possible. Has your impression changed at all since viewing the film? If not, why not? If yes, then explain why. Please provide specific examples from the film to support your viewpoint.
3. Consider one of these quotes from the film:
"History is written by the victors" - is this true? Do you agree? Give examples. How does journalism impact this writing of history? Does it at all? What can journalism do to ensure history is accurately written?
"This is the only true journalism in the world" - do you agree with this statement that the kind of journalism practiced by Al Jazeera journalists is the only true journalism in the world? How so? What do other journalists, such as U.S. ones, need to do, then, in order to practice this true journalism? What would you do as a journalist to be a "true" one? Give specific examples from the film to support your answer.
4. One of the issues in the film is about whether journalists should even locate themselves within a war zone. The military says no; it's unsafe. They cannot guarantee that they will not accidently bomb or injure a journalist, as they did with Tarek. First, do you think the bombing of Al Jazeera was an accident? Why or why not? Support your position with info from the film. Second, how exactly should journalists cover a war? Explain why your position would work in protecting a journalist's life while still getting needed information to the public. Provide examples from the film and from other wars, if you can.
I offer four questions below that you can choose from. But if there is something else you would like to discuss, do it. I am looking for responses that are about 300 words in length (or longer), that give specific examples from the film as support, and that offers some insight or interesting point to offer to the rest of us.
1. Can you compare this documentary to Outfoxed in terms of media bias? Are there any similarities between the two? Do you feel that Control Room is a biased documentary? If yes, please explain. If no, please explain. Provide specific examples from the film to support your viewpoint.
2. Answer this question only if you knew something about Al Jazeera before you saw this film. What was your impression of this Arab news station before you saw this film? Where did you get this impression? Be as specific as possible. Has your impression changed at all since viewing the film? If not, why not? If yes, then explain why. Please provide specific examples from the film to support your viewpoint.
3. Consider one of these quotes from the film:
"History is written by the victors" - is this true? Do you agree? Give examples. How does journalism impact this writing of history? Does it at all? What can journalism do to ensure history is accurately written?
"This is the only true journalism in the world" - do you agree with this statement that the kind of journalism practiced by Al Jazeera journalists is the only true journalism in the world? How so? What do other journalists, such as U.S. ones, need to do, then, in order to practice this true journalism? What would you do as a journalist to be a "true" one? Give specific examples from the film to support your answer.
4. One of the issues in the film is about whether journalists should even locate themselves within a war zone. The military says no; it's unsafe. They cannot guarantee that they will not accidently bomb or injure a journalist, as they did with Tarek. First, do you think the bombing of Al Jazeera was an accident? Why or why not? Support your position with info from the film. Second, how exactly should journalists cover a war? Explain why your position would work in protecting a journalist's life while still getting needed information to the public. Provide examples from the film and from other wars, if you can.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
OutFoxed, the movie
Use this space to comment on the movie, Outfoxed. Use the following questions as guidelines:
1. What was your overall reaction to the film?
2. Do you agree or disagree with critics who claim the film is too one-sided and uses questionable sources? Why or why not? Give specific examples.
3. Is Fox the worst? Or is all media like this? Back your answer up with specific examples.
4. Even if you think the movie was too biased, did you get anything out of it? Tell us what you learned about the media from this movie.
1. What was your overall reaction to the film?
2. Do you agree or disagree with critics who claim the film is too one-sided and uses questionable sources? Why or why not? Give specific examples.
3. Is Fox the worst? Or is all media like this? Back your answer up with specific examples.
4. Even if you think the movie was too biased, did you get anything out of it? Tell us what you learned about the media from this movie.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
About Daniel Pearl...
You've probably heard about the Almighty Heart film, with Angelina Jolie, who portrays the wife of Daniel Pearl, the journalist who was killed in the Middle East a few years ago. I thought you might be interested in checking out the movie's website for more information about the events leading up to Pearl's death. In addition, if you click on "In Memoriam," (across the top of the screen), there is an map of Iran and surrounding areas that you can click on to read about other journalists who were killed in this line of duty.
http://www.amightyheartmovie.com/
http://www.amightyheartmovie.com/
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