Job Discussion Forums

[7969]

given all the nonsense going on lately, i think i'd like to give a lesson on the media and its role in society, and journalism ethics. i've also plan to gather stories on the same topic from various sources (chinese/foreign press) in order to make a side-by-side comparison to be able to point out to students the different angle different media use to present their story.

i have never given this kind of lesson before but i think it could be an interesting and useful one.

does anyone have any ideas on:

1. what to add or how to approach this?

2. any useful links to websites that govern how the media should behave? or

3. any ideas on recent news stories that would make a good comparison?

i have one example already:

chinadaily reports this:

[North China Laowei]

Not a direct comment on your post except to say that I had one experience where media items and comparative study like this almost proved to be a third rail. So as a result, I tend to eschew them for safer items.

[7969]

i know what you mean. its often a good idea to avoid this kind of topic, and the schools might say as much. but given all the misunderstanding and controversy lately, i cant see how just ignoring the situation and letting things fester without some understanding of how the media operates in a society with free press can help things. these students need to learn how the free press works. if there's a less inflammatory way of doing this, i'm open to hearing it.

[Girl Scout]

Being safe will get you nowhere. I glad you are at least going to try. I find topics that directly relate to their current lives or their immediate future garner the most real interest. Your Internet topic is a good example, while anything about TB just receives the standard party line.

I did one about plagiarism not too long ago. I do not have links for you, but I know China Daily ran an article a little more than a year ago.

[7969]

i should point out these are writing classes, not oral english. however since they've done their TEM4 exam already i promised them we would lay off the writing a little and discuss more interesting items. right now looks like a good time to do this one.

as for this media lesson, it'll be my last lesson of the term, and at this school, thereby minimizing the fallout on me by them.

[North China Laowei]

[journoteacher]

If you would like to do your own research before setting such a task, try www.poynter.org. This is the Holy Grail for journalists - a North American site, but useful for journalists world-wide.

Try www.newsu.org for some interactive exercises on how to become a journalist - it might take the lesson to a new level to work on a generic exercise which points the way to objectivity(yes, as far as this is possible), accuracy, checking of information, what constitutes news, etc.

[7969]