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.