Suchergebnisse

In October 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent journalist who was critical of the Saudi Arabian government, was assassinated at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. His was an extreme case of censorship: the act of suppressing people, platforms, and ideas that are contrary to the status quo. Why do governments, publications, and other entities censor information? Is motivation driven only by authoritarian power, or are there sometimes benefits to censorship, as in that of the U.S. press during times of war? In this collection, readers encounter cases of suppression in the arts, scientific studies, and the evolution of censorship in the internet age, particularly in nations such as China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. Media literacy questions and terms aid readers in analyzing how this complex topic is reported.

The debate over the ethics of assisted suicide has raged for the better part of a century. From Dr. Jack Kevorkian's controversial practices to international euthanasia laws, there is nothing easy about the decision to end a life. The articles in this book speak to the legal battles, the historical context, and the personal stories that shed light on the various perspectives and conflicts that go into understanding the current state and future of assisted suicide. Media literacy questions and terms will engage readers and aid them in considering the many facets of this complicated issue.

In August of 2017, a group of torch-bearing white nationalists marched in Charlottesville, Virginia as part of the "Unite the Right" rally. Confronted by hundreds of counter-protesters, the gathering soon turned violent, resulting in the death of a young woman. The Charlottesville riots vaulted the presence of white nationalists to national attention. However, the white nationalist movement has been a growing force in American culture for decades. The articles in this book speak to the origins, beliefs, and growing cultural impact of white nationalists on politics, civic life, and media. Features such as media literacy terms and questions deepen readers' understanding of the reporting styles and devices used to cover the topic.

To many Americans, the term big pharma evokes thoughts of greedy organizations that put profits ahead of people's health. It's difficult to put a price tag on drugs that improve or save lives. It's even harder to stomach the thought of being unable to afford medicines when we may need them most. With the price of pills reaching an all-time high, we are looking for justifications and turning to our government for solutions. The articles in this collection provide valuable coverage and insights into the practices of drug manufacturers, the driving forces behind the costs we face today, and what, if anything, can be done to satiate the hunger of big pharma. Media literacy questions and terms will engage readers beyond the text and aid them in considering the many facets of this complicated issue.

Despite human rights organizations' and the United Nations' calls to end the death penalty, the United States continues to use it, placing it in an unusual grouping with China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, among others. Yet, a 2018 Pew Poll reflected that most Americans still support capital punishment. This New York Times anthology includes over a century of perspectives on the subject, covering the advent of the electric chair and lethal injection, Supreme Court decisions on capital punishment's constitutionality, and today's renewed challenges to the death penalty in light of racial disparities in sentencing. Media literacy questions and terms challenge readers to further analyze reporting styles, devices, and the controversial subject of the death penalty.

Recent elections around the world have been shaped by populism, where flamboyant politicians gather large crowds and campaign on behalf of "the common people." From Brexit to Donald Trump to countless other movements in Europe and the Americas, populism has changed the political conversation, often to the far right. From its origins in farmers' and workers' movements in the 19th century, we find countless populist politicians, right, left, center and beyond, using humble credentials, sometimes for and sometimes against the interests of "the people." In the end, the story of populism is the story of democracy: its transformations, its strengths, and at times its greatest threats. Media literacy terms and questions round out this collection to engage readers beyond the text.

One of the core debates present at the founding of the United States has involved citizens' freedom to worship as they please. It is an issue that remains relevant today. This fascinating collection reveals religious liberty during the nation's earliest days, how religion influenced Sunday laws and liquor laws, and persecution faced by sects such as Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. Areas of church and state conflict include school prayer, gay rights, and abortion. Modern day issues of transgender rights and travel bans to majority Islamic countries round out religious liberty debates that continue to evolve through the twenty-first century. Media literacy terms and questions will engage readers to consider the topic beyond the text.

Students have protested high school dress codes and their obligation to recite anthems and pledges. Teen activists such as Jamie Margolin, the founder of Zero Hour, and Xiuhtezcatl Martinez have made their voices heard on climate change. Teens have rallied around transgender students Lila Perry and Gavin Grimm for the right to use their preferred restrooms. After the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, killed 17 people, the nation met a new group of teen activists, including Emma Gonzalez and David Hogg. It was hardly the first school shooting the nation had seen; for students, it was the last straw. Rallying for stricter gun laws, high school students must now balance their journey through adolescence with the weight of political activism. Readers will engage with this timely collection, complete with media literacy terms and questions.

The calling out of racism and racial injustice has become undeniably prevalent in the United States, but this wasn't always the case. During the civil rights movement, many black activists paved the way, advocating for social and legal action through means including sit-ins, protests, and marches. Ideologies and approaches differed at times, but what bonded these pioneers together was their determination for African Americans to be seen and recognized as humans and equals in the United States. Readers will discover how The New York Times covered such figures as Daisy Bates, the Freedom Riders, and Malcolm X as they fought for equal rights. Features such as media literacy terms and questions will enhance readers' connection to the story of civil rights.