September 11, September 11, 20082008

Do-Now:Do-Now:How does an image

(like that of the world trade center attacks) transmitted by the media, affect policy?

How much influence does the media have on war? Explain.

Option:Option: Connections. How do the

following images affect you?

Objectives:Objectives:Recognize the power of

mainstream mediaIdentify the causes leading to the

Spanish American WarDefine and explore concept of

“Yellow Journalism”

Agenda:Agenda:Do now/discussionDo now/discussionHomework checkHomework checkVideo Clip(s)Video Clip(s)Delomme LetterDelomme LetterYellow Journalism Yellow Journalism

Free-writeFree-write

Homework:Homework:Finish / Develop / Finish / Develop /

Polish freewrite Polish freewrite assignment if not assignment if not completed in classcompleted in class

Yellow Yellow JJournalismournalism

Type of newspaper Type of newspaper coverage that coverage that emphasized emphasized sensational storiessensational stories

Name comes from a Name comes from a popular color cartoon popular color cartoon character, Yellow Kidcharacter, Yellow Kid• Cartoon gave its Cartoon gave its

name to the “Yellow name to the “Yellow PressPress

Causes of Spanish-American WarCauses of Spanish-American War

Yellow JournalismYellow Journalism• Exaggerated & false stories about Exaggerated & false stories about

events in Cuba events in Cuba • Strengthen American sympathy for CubaStrengthen American sympathy for Cuba• Demand for US intervention began to Demand for US intervention began to

buildbuild The De Lome LetterThe De Lome Letter Explosion of USS MaineExplosion of USS Maine

Read all about it!Read all about it!

Hearst Hearst PulitzerPulitzer Media sensationalized the events in CubaMedia sensationalized the events in Cuba Debate remains today…did the press Debate remains today…did the press

merely reflect the public’s desire for war, merely reflect the public’s desire for war, or, in fact, did it actually feed it?or, in fact, did it actually feed it?

““To Hell with SpainTo Hell with SpainRemember the Maine!”Remember the Maine!”

At 9:40pm on At 9:40pm on February 15, 1898, February 15, 1898, the battleship U.S.S. the battleship U.S.S. Maine exploded in Maine exploded in Havana HarborHavana Harbor

268 men were killed, 268 men were killed, shocking the American shocking the American populationpopulation

What or who caused What or who caused this explosion?this explosion?

http://www.homeofheroes.com/wallofhonor/spanish_am/02_maine.htmlhttp://www.homeofheroes.com/wallofhonor/spanish_am/02_maine.html

Waiting for the Waiting for the FactsFacts

Who is waiting?Who is waiting? Why should we Why should we

wait for the wait for the “facts”?“facts”?

Why might the Why might the United States want United States want to go to war?to go to war?

Why is it difficult to Why is it difficult to wait? What wait? What pressures exist?pressures exist?

William Randolph HearstWilliam Randolph Hearst Grew up in CaGrew up in Ca Used combo of investigative Used combo of investigative reporting and sensational reporting and sensational stories to increase stories to increase circulation of his paperscirculation of his papers

Improved paper by luring Improved paper by luring experienced journalists experienced journalists from other papersfrom other papers

Owned Owned New York Morning New York Morning JournalJournal

““Please Remain. You furnish Please Remain. You furnish the pictures and I’ll the pictures and I’ll furnish the war.”furnish the war.”

Joseph PulitzerJoseph Pulitzer Born in HungaryBorn in Hungary Owned the Owned the New York New York WorldWorld

Invaded people’s Invaded people’s private lives, private lives, invented facts, and invented facts, and sensationalized the sensationalized the ordinary with ordinary with exaggeration to exaggeration to increase circulationincrease circulation

Effects of Yellow Journalism Effects of Yellow Journalism on the Spanish-Am. Waron the Spanish-Am. War

Media sensationalized the Media sensationalized the events in Cubaevents in Cuba

Debate remains today…did the Debate remains today…did the press merely reflect the press merely reflect the public’s desire for war, or, in public’s desire for war, or, in fact, did it actually feed it?fact, did it actually feed it?

What positive effects or What positive effects or outcomes could come from a war outcomes could come from a war with Spain?with Spain?

Headlines and PicturesHeadlines and Pictures

““Thousands of Thousands of Children of the Children of the Reconcentrados Reconcentrados Perishing in Perishing in Island Towns.” Island Towns.” -(-(Journal, 2-14-1898)Journal, 2-14-1898)

Cuban Babes Prey Cuban Babes Prey to Famineto Famine• ((Journal, 2-14-1898Journal, 2-14-1898))

Headlines and PicturesHeadlines and Pictures

““The The MaineMaine is is Blown to Bits.”Blown to Bits.”

““The Question on The Question on Every Lip is, Every Lip is, ‘Did a Spanish ‘Did a Spanish Torpedo Do the Torpedo Do the Awful Work?”Awful Work?”

““Spanish Mine”Spanish Mine”

Evaluating BiasEvaluating Bias What is bias?What is bias?

If every single one of us If every single one of us witnessed the same car crash, witnessed the same car crash, would our individual reports on would our individual reports on the incident be the same?the incident be the same?• That’s unconscious biasThat’s unconscious bias

What if motive is involved?What if motive is involved?

Your AssignmentYour Assignment Find a controversial modern-day Find a controversial modern-day news story (e.g. Iraq war, global news story (e.g. Iraq war, global warming)warming)

Compose a headline and brief Compose a headline and brief article, and present a 1-sided, article, and present a 1-sided, sensationalized, even scandalous sensationalized, even scandalous version to help promote your version to help promote your opinion, as well as your paper opinion, as well as your paper sales.sales.

Take to heart that your goal is Take to heart that your goal is to provoke a reaction in support to provoke a reaction in support of your viewpoint… or at least of your viewpoint… or at least your newspapers sales.your newspapers sales.