First Half Wrap Up

1. First Half Wrap Up Government Control versus Corporate Control? Is the free flow of information—access to information—a basic human right? I

2. The Index Card Name/Date Three takeaways from the class: what did you learn? One question that you asked in class today. Any concerns, questions about the course; things you want to know, don’t understand, etc. Hand in at the end of class.

3. Reading Discussion • What is your opinion of how Lee describes “Western individualism?” • “the sheriff in High Noon with six shooters at his hips, keeping bad hats down.” • “the individual is glorified as the freewheeling, unrestrained creative agent of progress?”

4. Reading discussion • What is your opinion of how he describes Confucian, or Asian, ideals? • Cultivate yourself and your family; then society will take care of itself • “Leaders are the decisive factor, people imbued with ideals who have the moral and political authority to bring about change?”

5. Reading discussion • Can you see Lee Kwan Yew’s point of view? • Does it make sense to you at all? • Does Singapore’s economic success make a substantial argument for Lee’s view of the world—including his view of the media? • Could you argue for his way of thinking about the press and free speech? • Leaders (not necessarily elected) are in control. Leaders know best • Leaders (again not necessarily elected) decide what is good and what is bad for their society and people • A free press is not to be praised, but to be controlled

6. Reading discussion Khanna’s piece on how the Chinese handled the SARs outbreak. What do you think? Irony that a Singaporean journalist would argue for more press freedom in a country where the free flow of information is controlled? Why did the Chinese government want to control the information about SARS? Do you see any corollaries to control of information in the U.S.?

7. Reading Discussion Does the Western media hurt its cause of extolling virtues of a free press by not covering fairly events such as those outlined in the article on Tibetan coverage? Does your reading of another country’s media give you a broader or deeper view of what is happening in that country? Or less? Should each country create its own press model…or is there universal idea or ideal of the press? Is access to information a basic human right that transcends national boundaries?

8. Corporate Control U.S. media operates under the umbrella of a free press But is it the press that our founders meant when they crafted the First Amendment? As A.J. Liebling once said “the press is free for the people who can own one.” What are the dangers of a free press in a free market?

9. Which is worse? Government Control or Corporatization?

10. Are the excesses of gov’t control easier to see than the excess of corporate owners?

11. Do we have the power to change corporate media control?

12. What happens when gov’t control begins to mimic corporatization? • Singapore example • Control of the press and information hidden by a plethora of newspapers, magazines, etc. that offer celebrity gossip, sports, fashion, crime (as long as it doesn’t deal with political figures. • Media is about making a profit—not about investigation, questioning—”giving voice to the voiceless.” • Regulations and punishments are financial instead of physical. Fines instead of prison; huge court costs instead of torture; threat of loss of job instead of the loss of life.

13. Midterm Minimum requirements. These are only guidelines. Journalist—5 pages (do not exceed) Why this journalist? Give a history as well as your personal reasons for choosing this journalist. How does this journalist symbolize what is happening in their country regarding press freedom—or lack thereof? Cite at least two specific examples of the journalist’s work and explain why you chose these examples. What do they reveal about the journalist’s role in their country’s press system?

14. Midterm Country—5 pages (do not exceed) Why this country? What is its relevance to the larger issues of press freedom that we have discussed in the course? What type of press does the country represent? Cite from lecture notes on the press model i.e. authoritarian, social responsibility, etc. Explore the country’s history with the press—has it changed over time, what are the reasons for the change?

15. Midterm Presentation—5 slides max—but don’t constrain yourself to PowerPoint (think videos or other presentation tools) What are the most important points that you feel the class should know about this country and this journalist? Pretend that you are the professor for a day. What would be the most salient, most teachable points that you would want to make? How will you make it interesting? Can you keep our attention for 10 minutes?  Citations—please note in the text of your papers your sources and provide bibliography.

16. Housekeeping • Midterm sign up sheet • All papers due March 9 at start of class • Presentation decks due day of presentation • Invite these students to read your blogs • Blog Assignment: • Compare and contrast any news article in your country’s media with a story in a U.S. media outlet