CITIZENSHIP & NEWS IN TIMES OF CRISIS & PEACE: Understanding, then Action


"A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both."
--- James Madison

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity."
--- Albert Einstein

How do we find out what's going on? Pros and Cons.

For views from the commercial press:

These, of course, are the easiest to hear and find. Simply tune into any major network television, radio or internet site.

Pros: Easy to find, constantly available.
Cons: Since these are businesses, ratings tend to be emphasized over the public interest.

For views from the public press:

Tune into Public Broadcasting television news and National Public Broadcasting radio news (89.7 FM in Eugene/Springfield). Also visit their websites: [www.pbs.org] and [www.npr.org]. Also consider looking at the public British Broadcasting System [http://news.bbc.co.uk/]and the Candadian Broadcasting Corporation [http://www.cbc.ca/news/iraq/documents/].

Pros: Commitment to news in the public interest, with some searching can find a greater range of voices, more depth and background and less sensationalism.
Cons: Due to underfunding and competition with commercial press, these sources will often take on many of the same problems of the commercial press.

For views from faith communities:

Obviously these sources are filtered through the lens of faith. However, they present critical views in the present situation.

For views from working men and women:

For views from progressive newsmagazines, journals and leaders:

  • Common Dreams News Center. Pulling from both wire services and a plethora of progressive magazines and Web sites, Common Dreams is one of the best online sources for alternative news and views. [www.commondreams.org]
  • MediaChannel.org: MediaChannel.org is a nonprofit, public interest Web site dedicated to global media issues. MediaChannel offers news, reports and commentary from our international network of media-issues organizations and publications, as well as original features from contributors and staff. Resources include thematic special reports, action toolkits, forums for discussion, an indexed directory of hundreds of affiliated groups and a search engine constituting the single largest online media-issues database. [mediachannel.org]
  • Open Democracy. This is a non-profit organization committed to international dialog: [http://www.openDemocracy.net/forum/strands_home.asp].
  • Znet. This is a website sponsored my Mother Jones Magazine [http://www.zmag.org/ZNET.htm]

For views from conservative newsmagazines, journals and leaders:

For views from groups and organizations that study the news media:

  • Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. This is probably the best place to start. [fair.org]
  • Mediachannel.org. I mentioned this group above, but they run a daily column (Danny Schechter "the News Dissector") which is helpful to follow the twists and turns of coverage. [mediachannel.org]
  • Media Watchers and Activists, from the Communication Studies Resource Page, from the University of Iowa, ca comprehensive list of resources:
    [http://www.uiowa.edu/~commstud/resources/media/mediawatch.html]

For views from a wide range of alternative sources compiled by the American Library Association's Social Responsibility Roundtable:

"Alternative Resources on the U.S.-Iraqi Conflict":[http://www.pitt.edu/~ttwiss/irtf/iraq.html]

For specific views on why the American public knows so little about foreign affairs:

For views from international non-governmental organizations:

In response to the beginning of the bombings of Afghanistan, information from groups calling for new thinking about how to achieve justice without the further loss of innocent lives:

  • Green Party of the United States, "Statement and Press Release on the Sept, 11 Disaster--- A Call for Justice Under International Law." Oct. 8, 2001 [http://commondreams.org/news2001/1009-06.htm]
  • World Council of Churches (representing Christian denominations in 120 countries) , "WCC urges the United States of America and the United Kingdom to bring a prompt end to military action against Afghanistan." Oct. 8, 2001 [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/news/press/01/36pu.html]
  • Art of Living Foundation, "Long Term Remedy for Terrorism," a United Nations NGO, is an international nonprofit educational and humanitarian organization active in 132 countries. [http://www.artofliving.org/]

 

This list was prepared by Prof. Carl Bybee, Oregon Media Literacy Project, Communication Studies, School of Journalism and Communication, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon. 97403, cbybee@ballmer.uoregon.edu, 541-346-4175.
Back to top