CMN 4100 Study Guide - Fall 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Canadians, Afghanistan, Winter Palace
12 Oct 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
CMN 4100
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
Lecture 1: What is conflict journalism and why does it matter?
September 5, 2018
Professor: Michael Petrou
SMD 238
*No textbook* [readings posted online]
*For Assignments: submit hard copy in class, email a digital copy as well*
Assignments:
Profile of Canadian War Correspondent - Oct 10th (25%)
Final Essay Outline and Works Cited - Nov 14th (10%)
Final Take Home essay - Dec 7 (40%)
Professionalism - Ongoing (10%)
Discussion and Class Presentations - Ongoing (15%)
Storytelling vs Journalism
- Iliad: partially true
- Trojan War: oral retelling before it was committed to print (storytelling)
- Herodotus ‘Father of History’: addresses the concept of bias (what is the point of
coverage, who is worthy of being covered, propaganda vs journalism)
- Thucydides: quote from The Peloponnesian War regarding bias and the challenges of
journalism in writing the truth (arguably who’s truth is being reported)
At what point does something shift from a protest, to an uprising, to a civil war?
Glorifying or chronicling war and its participants?
- Excerpt on the charge of the Light Brigade, as reported in The Times of London,
November 14, 1854
Themes of Course
- Bias (who’s perspective are you reporting from,
- Patriotism vs truth
- Censorship: imposed or self-imposed
- Independence vs collaboration
- Empowering or exploitative
o Refugee camp example (interviewing rape survivors who have escaped ISIS, at
what point does the interview process take advantage of the individual)
- Power and vulnerability
o Kidnap and ransom insurance example (freelancers don’t have this, whereas
larger media organizations will take out insurance on their designated reporters)
o Local journalists take different risks/risk exposed to their family is different than
for Western journalists
- Trauma (costs associated with reporting, different for local vs. international reporters)
- What is the purpose, what is the value, of conflict reporting?
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
o a warning?
o an homage?
o a first draft of history?
o a means of perpetuating war?
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
The most common reason given is national security. Leaking of the pentagon papers: extent to which americans were bombing in the north, war aims: deeply damaging for the american government, daniel ellisberg and national post. Security of the nation is not at the ramparts alone judge quote on rejection of injunction request by government. Roger bray: spokesperson for ex-soldiers and leader of the winnipeg strike: discontent in canada was not as significant as in other parts of the world. Mockery of women by press, negative reaction to women who want to vote. Old maids looking for husbands, force feeding information. Freedom afforded to quebec press when it came to publishing anti-semitic or anti-war stories. *for assignments: submit hard copy in class, email a digital copy as well* Profile of canadian war correspondent - oct 10th (25%) Final take home essay - dec 7 (40%) Trojan war: oral retelling before it was committed to print (storytelling)
