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9-10
Analyzing Media Reports about the Saguenay Flood
Project type: Assignment
Related topic:
The Saguenay Flood
The Saguenay Flood
Subjects
History
Media Studies
Media Studies
Summary
Students compare news reports to identify and evaluate inaccuracies and discrepancies in news information over time.
Duration
1 to 2 lessons
Purpose
To evaluate media coverage of a news event
Before Exploring
Have students brainstorm a list of recent significant events that have received a lot of media attention (the terrorist attacks of September 11, the US election of 2000, the Ice Storm). Discuss the accuracy of initial reports of major events, and why facts change or accuracy improves over time.
Outline the Opportunity
Have students watch and listen to Clips 1 through 6 on the Saguenay Flood topic, and have them answer the following questions:
How many people did the flooding kill?
How many dollars in damage did the flooding cause?
How much money was raised by the Canadian Red Cross to help the victims of the flooding?
What caused the disaster?
What did the Provincial Government promise in compensation?
Next, have them watch and listen to Clip 7 and the extra clips, and note the answers to the same questions. They should examine the results and identify the places where there are differences in the information. Finally, students should formulate opinions about the reasons for these differences. Are some differences in information acceptable? Why are others not acceptable?
Next, have them watch and listen to Clip 7 and the extra clips, and note the answers to the same questions. They should examine the results and identify the places where there are differences in the information. Finally, students should formulate opinions about the reasons for these differences. Are some differences in information acceptable? Why are others not acceptable?
Revisit and Reflect
Have students discuss and explain why these discrepancies occur and comment on the reliability of media reports. Students should draw conclusions about how to listen to and view media reports critically and responsibly. They may wish to make a list of tips to use to be a critical consumer of media.
Extension
Observe reports of other disasters and identify the differences between early and later reports. Discuss the value to the public of early, perhaps flawed, reports in terms of speed versus accuracy.
