FREEDONIA'S Daily Press Under the previous regime, all of Freedonia's newspapers were subservient mouthpieces of those in power. Journalists were not permitted to challenge authorities or politicians in the ruling party. When they did, they risked being jailed tortured or executed Today, things have changed for the better. Human-rights abuses have diminished. Occasionally, reporters who anger the regime are still jailed or harassed by authorities, but limits on freedom of expression have eased considerably and a new breed of independent journal ists at fierce ndependent newspapers has emerged. These papers are quickly drawing readers away from the stuffy, old-style publications that continue to trumpet the government's line In the following exercise, participants will join reporting staffs at the following five of Freedonia's most independent and respected newspapers--fearless publications that are committed to reporting the truth, even when that means challenging the interests of those who hold power THE PALISADES POST THE OBSERVER THE GAZETTE THE GLOBE THE DAILY INQUIRER
3 FREEDONIA’s Daily Press Under the previous regime, all of Freedonia’s newspapers were subservient mouthpieces of those in power. Journalists were not permitted to challenge authorities or politicians in the ruling party. When they did, they risked being jailed, tortured or executed. Today, things have changed for the better. Human-rights abuses have diminished. Occasionally, reporters who anger the regime are still jailed or harassed by authorities, but limits on freedom of expression have eased considerably and a new breed of independent journalists at fiercely independent newspapers has emerged. These papers are quickly drawing readers away from the stuffy, old-style publications that continue to trumpet the government’s line. In the following exercise, participants will join reporting staffs at the following five of Freedonia’s most independent and respected newspapers -- fearless publications that are committed to reporting the truth, even when that means challenging the interests of those who hold power. THE PALISADES POST THE OBSERVER THE GAZETTE THE GLOBE THE DAILY INQUIRER
Lesson I(c): 5 minutes to hand out"Freedonia 1"sheet and read the press release aloud as students read along. FREEDONIA-1 MONDAY MORNING N THE NEWSROOM a press release has arrived shortly before deadline from the London-based firm Thonka Inc whose managing director is Mr Leonard Singer, a native of Freedonia. You have confirmed that this is a genuine press release from the company. It reads PRESS RELEASE.A NEW BEGINNING FOR GREEN PARK Last week in London, Thonka Inc signed a letter of understanding with Amari Hotels on the financing and construction of a five-star luxury hotel in the Palisades suburb known as Green Park A site has now been designated for the hotel, but needs formal approval from Mr David Suzdal, Minister of Planning. The site formerly served as location for the now defunct Tigers Battalion of Freedonia's Defense Forces and was recently acquired by Thonka Inc. from bombay traders Ltd Our companys negotiations with the Ministry of Planning are progressing, and we expect the documents of approval to be finalized early next month, said Mr Leonard Singer, managing director of Thonka Inc We are happy to announce that this development project is likely to create at least 800 jobs at the construction site. This will make the project the single largest contribution to the development of the tourism industry in Freedonia, and thus will be perfectly in line with the internationally acclaimed priorities of the Government of Freedonia, " Mr Singer added Work will commence immediately. Applicants, mainly masons, bulldozer drivers concrete workers and carpenters, are kindly requested to turn up at our recruitment office on 14 Willow Street, starting Monday
4 Lesson 1(c): 5 minutes to hand out “Freedonia 1” sheet and read the press release aloud as students read along. 5 FREEDONIA - 1 MONDAY MORNING IN THE NEWSROOM. A press release has arrived shortly before deadline from the London-based firm Thonka Inc., whose managing director is Mr. Leonard Singer, a native of Freedonia. You have confirmed that this is a genuine press release from the company. It reads: “PRESS RELEASE: A NEW BEGINNING FOR GREEN PARK” Last week in London, Thonka Inc. signed a letter of understanding with Amari Hotels on the financing and construction of a five-star luxury hotel in the Palisades suburb known as Green Park. A site has now been designated for the hotel, but needs formal approval from Mr. David Suzdal, Minister of Planning. The site formerly served as location for the now defunct Tigers Battalion of Freedonia’s Defense Forces and was recently acquired by Thonka Inc. from Bombay Traders Ltd. “Our company’s negotiations with the Ministry of Planning are progressing, and we expect the documents of approval to be finalized early next month,” said Mr. Leonard Singer, managing director of Thonka Inc. “We are happy to announce that this development project is likely to create at least 800 jobs at the construction site. This will make the project the single largest contribution to the development of the tourism industry in Freedonia, and thus will be perfectly in line with the internationally acclaimed priorities of the Government of Freedonia,” Mr. Singer added. Work will commence immediately. Applicants, mainly masons, bulldozer drivers, concrete workers and carpenters, are kindly requested to turn up at our recruitment office on 14 Willow Street, starting Monday
Lesson 1(d: 10 minutes for each participant to perform the following exercise on his own. 10 How do you deal with this piece of information? ()On your own, take 10 minutes to draw up two lists -one of the newsworthy information in the press release about which you are not in doubt, and a second outlining the things you need to check Lesson 1(e)20 minutes to divide into five and perform, in each of the groups, the following exercises 20 (2) Discuss the issue and write a news article including headline, sub-head and the lead paragraph, to be delivered in 20 minutes Lesson 1(f: 20 minutes for each of four groups to present its headlines, subheads and lead paragraphs, to the plenary, to be written up on blackboard 20 Lesson 1(g): 30 minutes, in plenary, for critiques, suggestions and defenses of each group's handling of the press release Lesson 1(h): 10 minutes, in plenary, to list main questions that have arisen and suggest possible sources to answer them 10 Main points to reinforce in Lesson 1: (1) Make no assumptions. Report only what you know for sure (2) Attribute ( define attribution for participants) (3 Be skeptical. Look for contradictions and inconsistencies. Don't be afraid to put them your story. It is your story, and you can write it as you wish. You do not have to choose the angle chosen by those who wrote the press release. (a very good lead can be found in the contradiction between" construction begins"and"awaiting approval. (4) Source suggestions and tips documents(eg: land registry, company registry, newspaper clippings, courthouse) the internet of land flips NGOS, labor organizations, human-rights groups, foreign securities commissions (5) Always ask yourself: Who wins? Who loses? Try to get Information from, or about both winners and losers
5 Lesson 1(d): 10 minutes for each participant to perform the following exercise on his own. 10 How do you deal with this piece of information? (1) On your own, take 10 minutes to draw up two lists -- one of the newsworthy information in the press release about which you are not in doubt, and a second outlining the things you need to check. Lesson 1(e) 20 minutes to divide into five and perform, in each of the groups, the following exercises. 20 (2) Discuss the issue and write a news article including headline, sub-head and the lead paragraph, to be delivered in 20 minutes. Lesson 1(f): 20 minutes for each of four groups to present its headlines, subheads and lead paragraphs, to the plenary, to be written up on blackboard 20 Lesson 1(g): 30 minutes, in plenary, for critiques, suggestions and defenses of each group’s handling of the press release 30 Lesson 1(h): 10 minutes, in plenary, to list main questions that have arisen and suggest possible sources to answer them 10 Main points to reinforce in Lesson 1: (1) Make no assumptions. Report only what you know for sure. (2) Attribute. (define attribution for participants) (3) Be skeptical. Look for contradictions and inconsistencies. Don’t be afraid to put them in your story. It is your story, and you can write it as you wish. You do not have to choose the angle chosen by those who wrote the press release. (a very good lead can be found in the contradiction between “construction begins” and “awaiting approval.”) (4) Source suggestions and tips: · documents (eg: land registry, company registry, newspaper clippings, courthouse) · the internet · beware of land flips · NGOs, labor organizations, human-rights groups, · foreign securities commissions (5) Always ask yourself: “Who wins? Who loses?” Try to get Information from, or about, both winners and losers