Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra features stories can help students identify and interpret key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period, but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework, or in another period.

Warm Up: Use initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions on the reading comprehension handout.

Discussion: Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate different opinions.

Follow-up: Students can write an 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org] for possible publication.

Evaluation: Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions and/or their editorial.

Story: Entertainment Industry Targets Individual Downloaders, 9/03/03
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec03/swap_9-03.html

1. Have you downloaded music or movies from the Internet? When and how often?

2. Is downloading from the Internet wrong? Why or why not?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. Why is the entertainment industry going after individual Internet downloaders and the communications companies that provide them with Internet access?

The entertainment industry can't touch the file sharing services themselves - though that is currently in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals - so the music industry has targeted individuals and the communications companies that provide them with Internet access.

2. What organization is leading this anti-piracy campaign? What are they doing?

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is leading the anti-piracy campaign. Starting this month, the RIAA plans to start filing hundreds of lawsuits against individual listeners. People caught with copyrighted songs on their computer could be fined up to $150,000 per song.

3. How does the RIAA find out who is illegally downloading from the Internet?

The RIAA can log onto a network and match the files at any of the Internet Protocol addresses with their library of protected material. This way, the RIAA can tell where those files came from - whether it was a legally purchased CD or downloaded off the Internet.

4. What are some of the arguments on both sides of the Internet downloading debate?

Internet advocates argue that allowing the entertainment industry to use communications companies and other technology to identify users is an invasion of privacy. But the entertainment industry, which includes movie, music and television companies, says it isn't a question of privacy, but of property. They believe downloading copyrighted materials is stealing.

5. What are some colleges and universities doing to address this issue with their computer users?

Some schools warn about the dangers of downloading copywritten material. Students' access can also be cut off if they transfer more than five gigabytes worth of files per week. Other universities are cracking down by using software that blocks song-swapping on their network. And some are looking into making a download fee part of room and board, so that students can buy the music legally.

 

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Research both sides of the Internet downloading debate. Should downloading be legal? Why or why not?

2. Will the threat of lawsuits stop or keep you from downloading material from the Internet? Explain why or why not.