International Conflict and the Media

ACTIVITY 15: The Role of the Press during Wartime



Introduction

If you have already completed Unit A, specifically Activity 7, you may wish to skip this activity. If you have not, this activity illustrates some of the issues raised in Unit A. Many students will not have seriously considered the importance of the role of the press and media during wartime. Other students may have firm and clear ideas. This activity encourages students to surface any initial opinions about this relationship. Teachers should not be overly concerned with the paucity of responses that students may offer. This activity will be repeated at the end of the unit in Activity 25 and will provide a means of evaluating how much the students have learned.

Student Objectives

Time

20 minutes

Materials

Poster paper and markers or a chalkboard

Recommended Procedures

  1. Tell the students that they are going to brainstorm three questions. Remind them about the rules of brainstorming. The purpose of this activity is not to criticize comments by other students, but to list possible answers to the questions that occur to them. Whatever the students say, record it on the poster paper. These responses will be used in Activity 25, and will be open to review, discussion and revision throughout the unit.
  2. Pose one question at a time. After the students have exhausted their responses, move onto the next question. Place their responses to each question on a separate poster sheet:

    3. What do the students think reporters do during war?

    Should reporters be able to say or write anything that they want during wartime?

    Should the government or the military censor the press and media during wartime?

  3. Save the poster sheets for use in Activity 25. If you have used the chalkboard, have the students copy the information.

Return to the Contents page for International Conflict and the Media.

Go to Activity 16.

Go to the Bibliography.