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AUTHOR Gage, Susan TITLE Media: Eyeing the News. INSTITUTION Victoria International Development Education Association (British Columbia). PUB DATE 90 NOTE 10p. AVAILABLE FROM Teachergram, Victoria International Development Education Association, 407-620 View Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 136, Canada ($1 Canadian each copy). PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Use Teaching Guides (For Teacher)(052) Collected Works Serials (022) Guides Classroom Use Instructional Materials (For Learner) (051) JOURNAL CIT Teachergram; Spr 1990

EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Audience Response; *Bias; *Critical Reading; *Critical Thinking; Developing Nations; Elementary Secondary Education; Ethnocentrism; Foreign Countries; *Global Approach; Instructional Materials; *Mass Media; *Mass Media Effects; Mass Media Role; Press Opinion IDENTIFIERS Canada; Journalists; News Perspective Bias; New World Information Order

ABSTRACT This issue of "Teachergram" addresses media-related issues such as the kind of world picture Canadians receive from mainstream media, the ability of television to describe the complexity of world events, and the claim of distorted and simplistic portrayal of developing nations. Students are encouraged critical perspective--to help thcm look at the media they watch, read,or listen to with critical ayes and ears. Also discussedare the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) call for a new world information order, examples of in the coverage of international events, two theories of media bias, two case studies illustrating how to read newspaper stories with a critical eye, five brief activities, and lists of audio-visual resources and organizations that provide a third-world perspective on the news.(RS)

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Teachergram Spring 1990

U S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Once ot Eclucabonat Resell Icn and hnotovernent EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER IERICI bocument has been teptobuced as eCeived trorn the person or organuation ongrnahng .1 O. Woo, changes nave been made to am:gore reproduction guahly

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Spring 1990 Media:Eyeing the News

To the teacher "Look, I saw it onT.V.,so it must be right, right?"

he worldview of Canadian stu- "Here it is in the newspaper! Who's going to dents is created from a variety argue against that?" of sources, one of the primary sources being the media. By January 8, 1990: New York Ms. Taylor's publicity stunt is an ex- the time most young North Ameri- A beautiful young woman sits in a treme example of media inaccuracy. But cans graduate from highschoo?, they plush hotel suite, sipping champagne, sur- every media story we see, hear or read is will have watched three years of T.V. rounded by microphones and television the product of reporters, editors, camera But what kind of a world picture do cameras. She has just announced that she crews, T.V. anchorrnen and women Canadians receive from the main- is the winner of the $35 million New York people who hold points of view which stream media? Educators such as state lottery. She is the toastof New York, may be different from our own, people Neil Postman express alarm about splashed across the pages and screens of who choose what events to cover, who to the ability of televisionan enter- New York media. Only after the T.V. cov- interview, and what words and pictures to tainment mediumto adequately de- erage, after the printed headlines reading use. In other words, the media story which scribe the complexity of world events. "$35 Million and She's Single" does the is presented to you is not necessarily "the Media analysts such as Noam truth surface. State lottery officials reveal truth", but rather one person's or a group Chomsky point to the dangers of that the $35 million prize is still unclaimed. of people's idea about the truth. This issue corporate control of the western For the young woman, an actress of Teachergram is designed to help you media. people claim that named Charlie Taylor, the stunt means look at the media you watch, or read, or their portrayal in the media is dis- valuable publicity which may lead to fu- listen to, with critical eyes and ears. torted and simplistic. This issue of ture movie roles. For the news media who Teachergram attempts to address covered the fake event, the stunt is a black QViewson Viewpoint. some of these issues, and to bacour- mark against mediacredibil ity; why didn' t "Our reporters do not cover stories age students to view the media from any of the reporters check out the story a critical perspective. with lottery officials? Why did they so from their point of view.They are gullibly accept this staged media event as presenting them from nobody's point representing the truth? For us, the con- ofview." Richard S. Salani, sumers of information in the "information former President, CBS News age", this incident reinforces an old say- ing: "You shouldn't believe everything "Think ofit as a dari< room, and you're you hear, read, or see." there with the flashlight. The room's full of dark corners; which dark corner (Sowhat am l are you going to shine your flashlight at? That's the agenda-setting aspect supposed to of the news, and that is absolutely believe? crucial." Randolph Ryan, Editorial Writer and Columnnist Our news: Through whose glasses do we for the Boston Globe view the world? 2 Teachergram Spring 1990

Getting the A Critical Look at Media Coverage Picture of the Third World

Who Makes the News? This means that most of our international "You don' t even know where the news is reported from an American or place is. You' re the only one on the Our news is brought to us by a surpris- European viewpoint. What's more, most plane because everyone else isike- ingly small number of organizations. of the international news we get is actually irzg the crisis." Three major T.V. news services about the U.S. and Europe. Here's where Joe Schlessinger, CBC Correspondent Viznews (British), UPI1N (British-U.S.) the wire servicecorrespondents areplaced: and CBS Newsfilm (U.S.)use micro- U.S. 34% "Reagan decides to bomb Libya wave and satellite to relay their camera Europe 28% footage to T.V. networks all over the world. Asia & Australia 17% and suddenly hundreds of corre- Because individual networks cannot af- Latin America 11% spondents sharing the sme hotels ford to send camera crews and reporters to Middle F-nst 6% file almost the same stories com- out-of-the-way places, most T.V. stations Africa 4% piled from the same sources." rely heavily on these three camera "giants". Robin Palmer. News our of Africa: Biafra to Virtually all the T.V. coverage that Third What Makes the News? Band Aid, 1986. World people get comes from these sources. "Too often, photographers end up "Bloody coup Installs new govern- The wire services which supply news- just waiting for and shooting pic- papers and radio/television networks with ment","Border War Claims Lives of Thousands":When the news media tures of confrontation." news consist of four"biggies". If you look Bob Gentille, Newsweek Photographer, closely at a newspaper, you'llnotice under cover international issues, what do they talk about? A 1989 Canadian study found quoted in The World is Watching (see the headlines of many of the international page 8). articles one of the following names: AP that little mention was made of key (Associated Press, U.S.-owned); UPI issues like population, energy, food and (United Press International, U.S.-owned); positive developments in health and edu- AFP(Agence France-Presse, French) or cation. Rather, news coverage focusses Reuters (British). These four wire serv- on meetings of diplomats, political prob- ices account for about 90% of the interna- lems, coups, civil unrest and internal tional news we read in olir newspapers, politics. Often, reporters are flown into 60% of it from AP and UPIboth U.S. crisis areas, where they do a quick story agencies. In Canada, you will often read and depart a day or two later. The stories CP under the headline. This stands for which come of this "fly by night" jour- Canadian Press, which is Canada's major nalism often don't reflect the issues wire service. CP gathers up news from which have led to the crisis, and don't across Canada to be used in Canadian describe the lives of the majority of the newspapers. For its international cove. people who live in the country. We, the age, CP relies on its agreements with AP, information consumers, are left with an AFP and Reuters, which allow it to image of a developing world which is "Canadianize" wire storieschanging the composed of violence and crisis. Televi- American spelling and adjusting other sion, because it's keyed to exciting vis- minor pointsand print them as CP sto- ual images, is particularly prone to a ries. confrontation-oriented style of report- ing. "Crisis reporting" has meant that many Cana- So what'sth-e dians have a picture of Africans as helpless, passive people. Most people who go to Africa. problem? however, are struck by the hard work, energy, 1 and optimism of the people. 4 TeachergramSpring 1990 3

The Critical Eye: subject? Whataspectsof thestory do they highlight? a Media Monitoring Checklist Message: What is the basic mes- Importance: What importance is sage? How is it being conveyed? When given to the item? Is it on the front page of After all the decisions have been made you've decided on the tiasic point being the newspaper? near the beginning of the about where to have what reporters, and made, think about how it was made. Were T.V. newscast? How much space/time what types of events they should report convincing facts and arguments made? does it rate? In your opinion, is the impor- on, the resulting stories can still look pretty Were things left out that you think you still tance given to the main items justified, in different when reported from different need answers to? Was the author's argu- relation to other news items? points of view. Imagine yourself a re- ment emotional or factual?Were the porter, reporting onlet's saya student Sources: What sources are used? opinions of the writer mixed in with facts? demonstration at your school. How would Are the sources carefully balanced, from How well does the headline reflect the you gather the material for your story? different points of view? Are the sources content of the story? Who wou Id you choose to interview? What named, or are they vague:"official Slant:Are "loaded words" used? pictures would you take? What quotes sources", "most people", etc.? Are ordi- It's important to remember that a group would you use? nary people in the situation asked for their labelled "terrorists" by some can be "free- If you chose to interview only student v iews? demonstrators, and featured a picture of a dom-fighters" to others. Are there veiled Pictures: If photographs or video personal attacks? Is one viewpoint given very angry-looking principal, your story images arc used, do they convey a favour- preferential treatment? would be very different than if you chose able or unfavourable treatment of the to interview only the principal, teachers, (Adapted from E. MacLean,BetweentheLthes) and non-participating students.If you took bits of quotations out of context, or Looking For Alternatives : prefaced your sentences with "Most ex- perts agree that ...", or "Any student can NWIO New World Information Order tell you that. . .", yourstory would be The 1970s brought an increasing desire of increasingly distorted. more control of media coverage by the developing nations to participate more in developing countries "respect for When we are presented with a news the world of media. They felt that the story, it's up to us to ask questions about each people's cultural identity and for media image of the Third World was a the right of each nation to inform the the way the story is being presented, the grossly distorted image created by west- sources used, the facts provided, and the world about its interests, its aspirations ern journalists ignorant of Third World and its social and cultural values." way words and images are used. realities. They worried that their citizens' were suffering from a deluge of western (SOwhat happened? ) ; media, a kind of "cultural imperialism", Lç which was making the whole world into Journalists from Britain and the U.S. were consumers of American goods and imita- bitterly opposed to the NWIO, arguing tors of the American lifestyle. The place that the Third World countries wanted to where these countries expressed their muzzle the freedom of the press, and to concerns was UNESCO, the United Na- control journalists. Third world nations tions Educational, Scientific and Cultural claimed that C is was not their intent, but Organization. In 1980, UNESCO passed that they wanted to have more control over a resolution calling for a New World In- the media coverage that went into their formation Order, with these features: countries and the media coverage that an equalization of the present media went out. In the end, Britain and the U.S. imbalance by more technology and train- both withdrew from UNESCO, largely ing for Third World journalists: over this issue, and there have been few licensing of journalists, and a code of available funds to allow media technol- responsibility to be adopted by all jour- ogy to be transferred to the Third World. nalists; The NWIO isn't exactly dead, but it hasn't got very far. 1The major disagreement over the NW IO relates to the fine line between 7ai;\ portrayal" and "muzzling the press." Can you see why a First World journalist and a Third World government might have different ideas on this? What kind of system \rlo you think would ensure fair, accurate reporting? 'However, the Chilean man-ln-the-street appears to have few complaints.' 4 Teachergram Spring1990

Bit of Bias: The coverage of international events can tellyou a lot about the opinions--and the governments of the reporters and editors involved: In each of these examples, what The Jet Set A Tale of Two Priests factors could have caused the dif- KAL 007 and Iran Air 655 March 18, 1980: Oscar Romero, arch- ference in media co verage? W hien September 1, 1983: A Soviet interceptor bishop of El Salvador, was murdered by a government involved is a friend of plane blows up a Korean passenger jet right-wing death squad associated with El the U.S.? Which isn't? Would New York Times Editorial:Murder in Salvador military personnel. In the fol- you expect to see a similar lack of the Air:"There is no conceivable excuselowing 18 months, Father Romero's death for any nation shooting down a harmlesswas the topic of 16 articles and no editori- balance in the Canadian media? airliner.., no circumstance whatever justi- als in theNew YorkTimes, 3 articles in Why or why not? fies attacking an innocent plane." Time andNewsweek,and 13 news pro- grams onCBS News. July 3, 1988: U.S. forces blow up an Iranian passenger jet October 19, 1984: Jerzy Popieluszko,a New York Times Editorial: "while hor- Poiish priest, was murdered by Polish rifying, itwasnonethelessan military personnel. In the following 18 accident....The onus for avoiding such months, Father Popieluszko's death was accidents in the future rests on civilian the topic of 78 articles and 3 editorials in aircraft: avoid combat zones, fly high, theNew York Times,16 articles in Time acknowledge warnings." andNewsweek,and 46 news programs on (information fromExtra!,July/August CBS News. 1988) (Herman and Chomsky,Manufacturing Consent,1988)

Why Media Bias? 2 Theories 1: The Corporate Coercion Theory

Many media observers are concerned by "media elite"the people who control manufacture) don't openly censor the the increasing concentration ofowner- the mediatend to be the same peopleas content of the media, they influence the ship of the media. In the U.S., just 29 cor- the "economic elite"the people who journalists who report the news, and those porations control most of the business in control Canadian business. In 1975,me- journalists and editors become self-cen- daily newspapers, magazines, television, dia researcher Wallace Clement found soring. Because they want to keep their books, and motion pictures (down from that "the overlap [of the media elite] with jobs and get ahead, journalists tend to 46 corporations in 1981). Thesecorpora- the economic elite is extensive, almost report news in a way which will be pleas- tions deal not only in media, but other one-half the members are exactly thesame ing to the large business interests of North products. General Electric, for instance, people." America and Europe. bought NBC (the National Broadcasting In addition, the media depend on ad- Corporation) in 1986. vertisers in order to survive. In 1970,ar How mightthe ownership of the- In Canada, the trend towards greater Senate Committee investigating the state media influence the.news which media ownership by a few large corpora- of the Canadian media found that the is carried by that media? tions is similar. Canada's two mainnews- media received 70% of its advertising paper chainsSoutham and Thomson, income from just 100 major companies, Why is it important to know that together control 47.5% of total daily half of which were U.S. controlled. the control of business and the newspaper circulation, reaching a total of One of the most famous modem media media isoften in the same 2,705,232 Canadian buyers. Theselarge analysts is Noam Choinsky. He talks of hands? publishing interests also tendto own T.V. "manufacturing consent", stating that, Do you think that the advertisers and radiooutlets. What is more, the although the giant corporations (many of which, like G.E., arc also involved inarms of a news program might influ- ence the news coverage? How?} Teachergram Spring 1990 5

2: The Nature-of-the-Medium Theory "Tlze idea is to keep everything The average America T.V. news story WHERE DO CANADIANS brief, not to strain the attention of is new one minute 15 seconds per item. GET THEIR NEWS? anyone but instead to provide con- What we think of as "good television" action-packed and entertainingtends to T.V. 38% stant stimulation through variety, reduce Third World people to stereotyped Newspapers 35% novelty, action, and movement. images, and to provide a distorted, violent Radio 16% You are required... to pay atten- picture of world events which doesn't help Magazines 4% Friends & colleagues 7% tion to no concept, no character, to explain the issues behind the immediate story. (1989 Decima Pole, quoted in and no problem for more than a Financial Post 500, Summer 1989) few seconds at a time." Robert MacNeil, executive editor and co- What media, do you think, portray international events mostaccu- anchor of the MacNeil-Lehrer Newshour, rately? least accurately? Why? speaking about television news. Consider the two theories of media bias discussed above. Doyou think that either or both are correct? Why or why not? Case Study 1: Reading witha Critical Eye Panama: The Official Story What are the sources of the news? z W hose deaths are emphasized? Whose aren't? The following articles appeared on the frontpages of the Vancouver Sun. What do they tell us about the perspective of the reporters? Whatdoes de facto mean? Is it a"loaded" term? Wednesday, December 20, 1989 How many is "some"? In the weeks follow- U.S. Troops attack Panama ing this report, different figures will ap- pear. Canadian Press with Associated Press, Reuter Most reports will use the figure provided by the U.S. State Department: 600 WASHINGTON U.S. soldiers and 39 were wounded in fighting so far. dead Panamanians. But other observers, died in battle in Panama today after Bush sairkome innocent Panamanianslalso including the forrner U.S. attorney-general President George Bush ordered have been killed. Ramse y Clark, claim that the figure is about troops into action in a bid to oust the White House spokesman Marlin- 4,000. (Globe & Mail, January 8, 1990) Central American country's Fitzwater said: "The president has made leader, Gem Manuel Noriega. every effort to resolve the situation peace- What are these efforts? The Defence Department said fully... Geit,49,Liega has rejected all nine members of U.S. forces died these efforts.".... What people are interviewed?

December 23, 1989 The U.S. fighters are described as "U.S. forces". How are the Panamanian forces U.S. forces strain for control described? How does this description in- over Dignity Battalions fluence your picture of them? Reuter What does the word "control" mean here? What other words might have been used, PANAMA CITY The top U.S. loyal to Gen. Manuel Ant9iii 'co Noriega. which would have changed the reader's military commander in Panama has Gen. Maxwell Thurman, head of the U.S. mental picture? conceded his forces are having aSouthern Command, said the civilian fight- tough battle trying to(ControQ._..hc_ers had caused "significant" mischief. Dignity Battalions, the armed bands Haw might a Panamanian feel on reading these reports? (Articles reprinted by permission of Canadian Press, Associated Press andReuters) 6 Teachergram Spring 1990

Grace Molisa, spokesperson for Father Case Study 2: Free Press? Walter Lini, Prime Minister of : You feel that the social progress of your South Pacific Forum on the Media country has been hampered by the distor- tions of a right-wing, sensationalist press, hostile to the socialist government of your The Time:July, 1989 detention, decide tosupportthe new country. You favour licensing of foreign The Place:Kiribati, a small Pacific na- government. The two papers covering the journalists. tion composed of many tiny islands whole Pacific region, Pacific Islands David Lange, Prime Minster of New The Event:A South Pacific Forum on Monthly and Islands Business, quickly Zealand: You understand the concern of small South Pacific natiors, but you are a Media, attended by representatives from adopt the government line, one of them featuring Rabuka as "Pacific Man of the firm supporter of the value of a free press. 15 South Pacific countries Year."The one newspaper which has Frank Senge, a young PNG reporter: You The Issues: staunchly refusedtosupport thc feel that freedom of the press needs to be government's view is the Fiji Sun. Thc strengthened, not diminished. However, Papua New Guinea Sun's publisher Harkness refuses to pro- you arc concerned about the concentra- An Australian T.V. station, broadcasting duce "censored newspapers" and shuts tion of ownership of the South Pacific into PNG, airs a report on a PNG demon- down the paper, which still remains closed. media, which you regard as unhealthy for stration. Unfortunately, its film footage is Jim Carney, editorial writer of the Sun, is a free and independent press. of nots which took place three years ago. deported. Joe Smith, a Queensland T.V. reporter: The foreign minister Michael Somare is Foreign journalists now need permits You can't see what these folks are getting quoted, but the photo accompanying the to enter Fiji. The government proposes so hot and bothered about.So you did quote is not of Somare at all, but of the licensing for newspapers and announces goof up a bit on that story about unrest in prirneministerof Vanuatu. Somare blames that there will be censorship on its planned PNG? Everyone makes mistakes! insensitive and ignorant foreign journal- T.V. network. Unofficial censorship al- James Brown, former Fiji Sun reporter: ists from New Zealand and Australia for ready exists on state radio. You have been arrested and detained by heightening the unrest in his country. the Fiji government for your articles criti- Who OWns the Media in the cal of the government. You feel very Vanuatu South Pacific? strongly that the best way to ensure de- Senior Vanuatu govemment official Grace Two foreign companies control most of mocracy is a free press, and oppose any Molisa complains that media have fo- the South Pacific's media. The two big- government regulation of the media. cused on alleged Cuban, Soviet and Lib- gest daily newspapers and the most influ- yan connections in Vanuatu, which has a ential regional news magazinePacific The Questions: socialist government. One major Austra- Islands Monthlyarc owned by Austra- Is the "free press" really free? lian newspaper report in 1983 claimed lian-turned-American media magnate How might a story show its bias for or that there were Cuban soldiers in Vanuatu Rupert Murdoch. All three daily newspa- against a particular government? and a Cuban adviser to the Prime Minister. There were no soldiers and the "Cuban pers in New Caledonia and French Poly- In what ways could the cultural back- adviser" was in fact a Jamaican on a nesia are owned by the French Hersant ground of a journalist influence his or group. Recently, the Hersant group also her reporting? Commonwealth loan program. tried to buy a controlling interest in the Is censorship ever justifiable? Molisa accuses some journalists of actually encouraging a coup attempt by Fiji Sun (see above), but the deal fell What ef feet does ownership of the media encouraging the rebel politician, Barak through. have on media coverage? Should con- Sope, with "false hopes of power". centration of ownership be controlled? "Let's face it," Molisa said. "How free Should the citizens of a country or re- is the free press really? Why should we gion own their own media? have the free press rammed down our Step into this Scene: How is the situation in the South Pacific throats when all that matters to them are linked with the call for a New World In- You are a representative at the July 1989 the profits at the end of the year?" formation Order (See page 3)? conference on Media in the South Pacific. Fiji Take one of the roles listed: The Task: Michael Somare, foreign minister of In May 1987, a coup overthrows Reach a consensus on a way to improve on the PNG: You are enraged at distorted cover- the accuracy and sensitivity of the western elected Prime Minister of Fiji and re- age of the events in your country by for- places him with a military regime headed journalists, yet at the same time, support eign journalists. You feel that journalists by Sitiveni Rabuka. Most of the media adequate freedom of the media. should have to adopt a regional code of editors and reporters, threatened with conduct, which will be strictly enforced. TO FIND OUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED, SEE NEXT PAGE. ACTIVITIES: TeachergramSpring 1990 7

I. The Unblinkered 4. The Good, the Bad,For More on the Media... Eye'? the Indifferent Between the Lines: How to De- On page 1 of this Teachergram, the car- Bring to school two examples of articles tect Bias and Propaganda in the toon in the lower left corner and the two or editorials on international topics: News and Everyday Life. Eleanor quotations in the lower right corner all one which you consider to be a good MacLean. Montreal: Black Rose Books, suggest ideas about the question of media one: balanced, containing good factual 1981. A classic in. the field, this book, viewpoint. Is it possible to report a com- material, and unbiased; written in down-to-earth language, gives pletely unbiased version of international one which you consider to be an ex- useful information about news bias, gen- events? After reading the rest of this issue ample of bad news coverage: unbal- erally using Canadian examples. of Teacherg,am, prepare to discuss the anced, distorted, lacking sufficient in- reasons for media bias, the ways in which formation, etc. Cross Currents: Tune into Knowl- media bias can be reduced, and the ways in Write an essay in which you refer to these edge Network at 9:00 on Thursday eve- which you as a media consumer can deal two articles, pointing out the differences nings to see this in-depth hour-long news with bias. between good and bad news coverage. program, which provides good background information on many current world situ- 2. Owning the Media5. The South Pacific ations. (Next series starts May 17.) "The communications and information industry will consolidate, in the same Forum The New Internationalist. An way as the oil, chemical and financial If your class decides to enact the South excellent monthly publication featuring service industries did in their time, to the Pacific Forum on Media (page 6), you short, readable articles and punchy graph- point where some 10 major corporations might be interested in what solution the ics, which give an alternative, Third World will dominate the global market." Pacific nations decided upon. A fter strong view of international issues. A must for (Robert Maxwell, owner of many British representation from New Zealand, Aus- school libraries.New Internationalist media outlets, quoted in "Media Wars", tralia and the Cook Islands, the 15 nations Publications, 1057 McNicoll Ave., Suite Mac leans, July 17, 1989) attending the forum decided that they 108, Scarborough, Ontario M1W 3W6. would not adopt a code of conduct for Phone: (416) 496-8413. "F reedom of the press is guaranteed only journalists, but instead would organize a to those who own one." workshop to try to educate journalists For further resources, turn the page. (A.J. Liebling, quoted in E. MacLean, about the reality of life in South Pacific Between the Lines) nations.

In small groups, read The Corporate CoercionTheory, page 4, then discuss the To All Teachergram Users: significance of the two quotations above. Teachergram is at present facing an uncertain future. Until now, the costs of printing and Why does it matter who owns the media? mailing have been born entirety by VIDEA and the B.C. Council for International Should media ownership be controlled? Cooperation. We are considering the possibility of publishing Teachergram 3 timesa Why or why not? year (instead of twice a year, as at present) and requesting a modest subscription fee to help cover costs. Would you be interested in subscribing to Teachergram in the future? If so, please send in this form: 3. Reading with a ElI want to continue to receive Teachergram: and would Critical Eye considering paying a modest subscription for three issues In small groups, examine Case Study 1: a year. Panama:The Official Story (page 5) and discuss the questions raised about the Name: perspective of the articles presented. As a group, decide upon a particular interna- School or Organization: tional news event or issue which you would Address: like to examine. Your local library will have back issues of newspapers and magazines which will help you track down Comments/Suggestions: the news coverage of a particular issue. Use "The Critical Eye" checklist on page 3 to help you ask some key questions. Return to V1DEA, #407- 620 View St., Victoria, B.C. V8W 116, or phone (604) 385-2333 8 Teachergram Spring1990 RESOURCES

A Organizations Between the Lines (1982 Canadian slide- The following B.C. organizations all offer alternative mediabooks, journals and tape, 18 min.) Based on Eleanor MacLean's audio-visual resources which provide a ThirdWorld perspective on the news. book, listed on page 7, this slide-tape critically examines the power of the media, and thelhird BCTF Global Education Project Canada 2524 Cypress Street World view that the large western media agen- 2235 Burrard Street cies which control the media are biased in their Vancouver, B.C.V6J 3H9 Vancouver, B.C. V61 3N2 coverage of world issues. It illustrates 4 pat- 1-800-663-9163/ 731-8121 736-7678 terns of news distortion, ard helps viewers to OXFAM Canada - Vancouver Island analyze their media critically.Rental S20, Canadian Catholic Organization for available from IDERA (see list on right). Development & Peace Outreach Project 150 Robson Street 205 620 View Street Consuming Hunger (recent 3-part set of Vancouver, B.C. V6B 2A7 Victoria, B.C. V8W 116 videos, produced in U.S., 29 min. ea.) These 3 683-0281 (loc. 256) 381-5226 videos, all on the media coverage of the Ethopian famine, can be used separately or as Canadian Red Cross Society, B.C./Yukon Save the Children, B.C. a series. Part I: Getting the Story looks at International Services Main Floor, 325 Howe Street how the tragedy in Ethiopia went from "just Suite 400 - 4710 Kingsway Vancouver, B.C. V6C 1Z7 another famine" to become headline news, ex- Bumaby, B.C. V5H 4M2 685-7716 ploring the "rules" of T.V. ncws.Part 2: 431-420(1 Shaping the Image raises questions about the South Pacific Peoples Foundation starving, helpless images ofThird World people CUSO 409 - 620 View Street being "saved" by wealthy, white celebrities 2524 Cypress Street Victoria, B.C. V8W 116 used in the Ethiopian coverage. Part 3: Sell- Vancouver, B.C. V61 3N2 381-4131 ing the Feeling examines the Madison Avenue 732-1814 treatment of problems such as hunger and Tools for Peace , and the lack of coverage given Global Village (Nanalmo) 1672 East 10th Avenue to the political aspects of such problems. Avail- 101 - 259 Pine Street, Vancouver, B.C. V5N 1X5 able for the cost of bus shipping and insurance Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2B7 879-7216 from Global Village (Nanaimo) (see list on 753-3322 right). Unitarian Service Committee (USC) Hope International Development Agency Canada, B.C. Provincial Office Developing Images (1988 British video, 18 210 - 6th Street #201 - 4381 Fraser Street rain.) This interactive video, with accompany- New Westminster, B.C.V3L 3A2 Vancouver, B.C. V5 V 4G4 ing teachers' notes and student worksheets, 525-5481 225-2304 helps students explore the often helpless and passive images of Third World people which IDERA United Nations Association (Vancouver) dominate the news. Students come to under- 2524 Cypress Street Suite #210 - 1956 W. Broadway stand how television current affairs and docu- Vancouver, B.C. V6J 3N2 Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1Z2 mentary programs arc made.Suitable for 738-8815 (Av rental) 733-3912 grades 6 to 12. Rental 545 from IDERA (see 732-1496 (other) list on the right). Kootenay Cntr. for a Sustainable Future United Nations Association (Victoria) The Reality of Media (1979 video: 60 min. Box 727 217 - 620 View Street each part) Part 1: One Recipe for the Media Nelson, B.C. V IL 5R4 Victoria, B.C. V8W 1J6 examines the role of the four major wire serv- 354-4035 383-4635 ice agencies which provide 90% of the interna- tional news appeaxing in world newspapers, Mennonite Central Committee Victoria Y International and their impact on the world. Part 2: One P.O. Box 2038 880 Courtenay Street, Recipe for the Rest of the World examines, Clcarbrook, B.C. V2T 318 Victoria, B.C. V8W IC-1 through acase study of a Bogota newspaper, El 850-6639 / 533-0035 386-7511 Tiempo, the effectof the South-North informa- tion flow on the people of the Third World, Northwest Development Education VIDEA who are the receivers of distorted and gap- Box 207 407 - 620 View Street filled information about their own countries. Terrace, B.C. V8G 4A6 Victoria, B.C. V8W 116 Rental 540 for each part.Available from 635-2436 385-2333 IDERA (see list on the right). The World is Watching 1989 video. 59 the Canadian International Development min.) Video focusirtg on television and news- Teachergram Agency.For additional copies, or for paper coverage of the Arias Central America Tcachergram is produced by VIDEA (Vie- thoughts and suggestions for future Teach- Peace Plan in the fall of 1987. Raises interest- toria International Development Educa- ergrams, contact: ing questions about the way news is "crafted", by the choice of what issues and regions on tion Association) in conjunction with the Teachergrarn, which to focus, by political agendas, and by the Schools Committee of the B.C. Council c/o VIDEA nature of the television mcdium, with its insis- for International Cooperation. Part of thc 407 - 620 View Street, tence on short action clips.Available from funding for this issue was provided by the Victoria, B.C. V8W 1J6 National Film Board offices. Public Participation Program of CIDA, (604) 385-2333

Teacher-gram may be copied for classroom asc. t o Text and layout by Susan Gage.