Making “News” In Your Family and Classroom
Editor's note: Since this article was authored a few years ago, some of the resource links mentioned have been discontinued or lead to "generic" areas of the target web site. We are hoping to offer an updated version of this article in the near future, that covers another media topic. Until then, we hope this information will still be of help and will give you some ideas of how you can use news and media in your home and classroom. -- Rod Gustafson
When current events come up for discussion over dinner at our home, invariably the topic turns toward the current crisis with Iraq. With newspapers and televisions filled with leaders threatening war, it’s difficult to know where to go to get a different perspective.
The good news is with the technology available in most homes, we can become our own news reporters and find answers to questions that may not be covered in a 90 second televised story. By teaching our children to find facts themselves, we offer them a sense of control and greater ability to make their own decisions about world situations. (Of course, adults can benefit from this as well!)
As I’ve mentioned in other articles, all media passes through a filtering process. When a major supermarket calls your local paper to place a huge two-page ad, the “insignificant” story that was going to get printed is suddenly dropped, or edited to a tiny fraction of what it once was.
The same things happen in a television or radio newsroom. News directors select stories they feel will have the greatest interest for their viewing audience. When a major story breaks an hour before airtime, plans quickly change and what used to be important is suddenly yesterday’s news.
So how can you get the facts and opinions you can’t find in your local media? There is no secret to reporting the news. Most journalist use the Internet and even other competing news sources forgathering information, which explains why every television newsroom I’ve seen has a local daily paper on someone’s desk. With your family, you can put those same tools to work in your home, and come to your own conclusions.
Your Family Newsroom Assignment: Iraq
If you are a cable or satellite subscriber, look beyond the traditional big US networks and discover other viewpoints, such as the BBC News from the UK or NewsWorld from Canada’s Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Also, networks like PBS as well as non-primetime current events programs on the major networks will often devote more time to a particular issue.
But the award for the best treasure of information belongs to the Internet. You can show your children how they can find various facts and commentary something every good journalist should do.
The greatest problem with the Internet is becoming overwhelmed with all the resources available. After reading websites for what seemed like only a short time, I realized the better part of my day had past and this article still wasn’t complete. So you may want to go after a limited perspective, or the less patient members of your family will likely leave you for something more exciting.
Information From Newsrooms Around The World
A good place to begin is with websites from the major news networks. CBS has a sizable section devoted to Iraq, including streaming video and a written transcript of Dan Rather’s complete interview with Saddam Hussein. NBC also has a focus page for Iraq.
Consider other news organizations like Associated Press, one of the largest “wire services” in the world. AP allows local newspapers to have international news without the expense of sending their own reporters. To read all the news that AP offers, go to www.ap.org and at the home page click on “AP News” and then select your state. From there you will receive a listing of AP stories.
News organizations in other countries along with their expected national bias can provide revealing points of view. The BBC is the most prominent source of English language news in the world, and has a page devoted to Iraq. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation also operates news bureaus in many countries.
Wondering about the “other” ABC? For the down under perspective on Saddam, check the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
For a list of virtually every other television network’s website, check the directory at www.tvradioworld.com, which lists all of the electronic media networks along with accompanying websites where available.
Probably the greatest source of regional viewpoints on the Internet belongs to the legion of newspapers that publish their writing via websites. Begin with the Internet Public Library’s newspaper section. From there you can link to some of the world’s largest and smallest papers. Obvious English language geographic choices for the subject we’re looking at would include:
The Islamic Republic News Agency
The Tocqueville Connection (one of the few on-line papers from France written in English)
The Arabic al-Jezeera news network has gained a high public profile because it is often the means for which terrorists like Osama bin Laden have communicated to the world. Yet to use the site, you must have knowledge of Arabic. An alternative is www.cursor.org, which has English commentary on al Jazeera news content. Or you can try www.ajeeb.com, a site that will do a fair job of translating Arabic web pages into English and allow you to visit al-Jezeera directly.
Likewise, hundreds more newspapers and news sources are available in their native languages. To read them, you can try another machine translator, like the one found at “Babel Fish”, which does a reasonable job translating most European languages in both directions.
Ask The Expert
One of the limitations of nearly every news reporter is time. Deadlines are always looming, and there isn't always time to complete the required research. Instead, they rely on experts from universities, think-thank organizations, and other groups. Using the Internet, you can have direct access to many of these organizations. Here are just a few that offer extensive commentary on the Iraq situation and related issues:
The Federation of American Scientists provides exhaustive details about various types of mass destruction weapons. Along with relatively easy to understand information about bombs and weapons, commentary from scientists enables readers (and hopefully politicians) to better understand the consequences of their use.
The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), a non-profit, non-partisan institution, is “dedicated to informing the public about science and policy issues affecting international security.” Like the FAS, these scientists hope to bring about a significant reduction in the number of nuclear weapons around the world.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies generates reports that are not only frequently used by media, but international leaders as well.
Just The Facts Ma’am
If you and the kids aren’t thoroughly exhausted yet, there are other sources of raw information.
For a true bird’s eye view of Iraq, check the incredible images from Digital Globe. A word of caution: these satellite images are so detailed, they may take a long time to load into your computer on a dial-up connection. However, you’ll be able to see Saddam’s palaces and the streets of Baghdad yourself.
And if you've ever wondered what those weapon’s inspectors are looking for, read and see the details of The United Nations Special Commission, the official name of the weapons inspection program.
The Official Word
Finally, what are major governments saying about the crisis?
For the official position of the US Government, along with photos and complete details of why President Bush is pushing for war, check out this department of the White House web site. Other countries with official English comments from their leaders can be found as follows:
Time To Make Some News
Now that you have everything you require, you can discuss your own views about Iraq, the US involvement, and opinions from other world leaders and researchers. And the next time you watch or read the news, you will be better equipped to know the whole story.
Rod Gustafson