MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work

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Instructions
Begin by asking participants the question posed by the taster: how should we distinguish
between “freedom fighters”, “rebels”, “insurgents”, “terrorists”, “paramilitaries”
and any other terms that are used? Which of these terms is negative and which, if any,
is positive? Why do media outlets sometimes use one and sometimes another of these
terms?
Explain that they are going to look at an event that has been reported in different
ways by different media channels. The task of each group is to establish the
“facts” in the news report they are given, and to establish any opinions that are
implied or stated explicitly. Groups should spend their first 20 minutes noting
and discussing:
– facts that can be deduced from the report (anything it is hard to dispute!)
– opinions presented in the report as opinions (i.e. words or phrases that make
it clear that the author is only expressing his/her opinion)
– words, images or phrases that have been used to give the report a particular
slant or interpretation and that “hide” as facts (like “terrorist” or “freedom fighter”)
Divide participants into groups, trying to ensure gender and regional diversity
within each group. Give each group one article and (if you wish) a copy of the
handout “Reporting on reporting”. Tell the groups they have 45 minutes for the
whole task and that they should leave at least 20 minutes of this time to produce
the flipchart.
Explain that at the end of the session their flipcharts will be displayed as a series
of “reports on reports”. Emphasise that there will be no verbal presentations, so
the flipcharts need to be self-explanatory. The flipcharts need to contain:
– essential information about what happened: what is the report meant to be
about?
– the editorial position: what attitude (if any) does the news outlet adopt to
this event?
When the groups have finished, ask them to display their flipcharts so that they
can be viewed. Give everyone time to walk around and look at the different
reports.
Bring the group together for the debriefing and evaluation.
Debriefing and evaluation
What are your general impressions after the activity? Are there any questions for the
other groups?
How different were the reports on the same event?
How much of the report that you studied was “fact” and how much appeared to
be interpretation or opinion?
How easy was it to distinguish fact from interpretation or opinion?
Are you surprised by the “objectivity” of these different media outlets, or are you
more surprised by the lack of objectivity?
Was any of the bias regional in scope, for example, reflecting a southern or
northern, European or Mediterranean perspective?
MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work