CREATING A NEW MEDIA IN THE ARAB WORLD
Critical Analysis
By Lisa Greeves , English and Journalism teacher

Overview:
The coalition forces are introducing a new television station and newspaper to the Iraqi people in the hopes of bringing them messages about the new future of Iraq. In English, the new Arabic TV network will be called "Towards Freedom". Explore with your journalism students the pros and cons of introducing government-sponsored media into a war-torn country and whether the news conveyed will be considered to be information or propaganda.

Time: This lesson will take 30 minutes. Extension ideas will take longer and require research and homework.

Materials:

Correlation to National Standards

Procedure:

1. Review with your students the 1st Amendment:
   
   
   Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
   
   Then distribute copies of the Newshour Extra article on the new Arabic TV network. Have students read it silently.
   
   
2. Assign students to write for 5 minutes in their notebooks reacting to the following question:
   
   How is this practice of coalition forces setting up a new media in Iraq consistent or inconsistent with our own constitutional provision for free speech and a free press?
   
   After students have written for five minutes, allow some students to share their reactions to the prompt and to the article aloud with class.
   
   
3. Distribute copies of the Online NewsHour transcript "Public Diplomacy" to students to read as background for the issue of U.S.-led information dissemination in the Arab world. After students read the article silently, divide students into three groups. Assign one of the following issues to each group to discuss among themselves:
   
   A. The pros of this coalition-sponsored new media. What are some possible benefits of introducing a new television network and newspaper to this country? How do Charlotte Beers' and Norman Pattiz's views from the article "Public Diplomacy" apply here?
   
   B. The cons of this coalition-sponsored new media. What are some possible repercussions? What are some detrimental things that might occur as a result? How do Mamoun Fandy's views apply here?
   
   C. Is this propaganda or information dissemination? Define propaganda and information. Determine what kind of coalition broadcasts would constitute "propaganda" and what would constitute "information."
   
   Allow groups 10 minutes to discuss their ideas. Then, when finished, allow each group to present their conclusions to the class. Encourage other students to raise questions and reactions to each others' findings.
   
   
   
4. After all groups have shared their ideas, assign the following prompt to students to write about for homework. Students should be able to write at least a page of reaction in response to this question.
   
   Why do you think the coalition forces are creating this new media? In your opinion, are these reasons valid or not? Explain.
   
   

Extension Idea :

Assign students to work in small groups to explore different issues and topics that have been presented via the media to the Arab world in the past. Based on what topics have been presented in the past, what ideas and topics do they think should be presented and covered in this new media now, after the war in Iraq, after the war on terrorism, after the world's reaction to September 11, 2001? Assign each group to create a 10 minute "broadcast" to be presented in front of the class where they assume the parts of anchor, reporter, and sources/interviewees. Their broadcasts should focus on communicating at least one viable point to the Arab world that they feel is important.

A good source for students to research is The Online NewsHour Package, Public Diplomacy - U.S. Outreach to the Arab World
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/media/public_diplomacy/index_2.html



Vocabulary:

information - something told; news; intelligence; word; knowledge acquired in any manner; facts; data; learning; lore

propaganda - any systematic, widespread dissemination or promotion of particular ideas, doctrines, practices, etc. to further one's own cause or to damage an opposing one

National Standards:

Journalism lesson plans will follow the guidelines set forth in the book Applying NCTE/IRA Standards in Classroom Journalism Projects -- Activities and Scenarios

Standard 1: Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information, to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.

Standard 7: Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purposes and audience.

Standard 8: Students use a variety of technological and informational resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.

Standard 11: Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities.

Author Lisa Greeves has taught high school English and Journalism classes for two Virginia school systems: Fairfax County Public Schools and Rockbridge County Schools. She has a bachelor's degree in English and Communication from James Madison University and a Master's Degree in English from Virginia Commonwealth University. She recently had a chapter published in the 2002 NCTE publication Applying NCTE/IRA Standards in Classroom Journalism Projects.

To find out more about opportunities to contribute to this site, contact Leah Clapman at extra@newshour.org.