I am very happy that I got the opportunity to watch "Shattered Glass" tonight in the Cronkite Theater. It is a great film to show in Journalism I when covering ethics. Also, I feel that the character of Stephen Glass can be easily identified by my students. He seems to be a young, normal, and intelligent journalist that wants to get his word out, yet we find out that he is an attention-seeking journalist that will do anything to gain acceptance. I think that this a feeling that many teenagers go through. By showing this film, I believe that it will teach students not only about ethics but also how going too far can damage a person's reputation.
After viewing the film I talked to several teachers about how they incorporate the movie into their journalism classes. One of my favorite ideas came from Tracy. She gives them an article that her students have to fact check after viewing the film. I think this is a great assignment because it involves skills that everyone will use in college. As more and more information is added to the Internet the easier it is to be tricked into believing information that comes from an unreliable source.
It is nice to have an film that relates so well to the ethics that we deal with in journalism and to today's teens. I was planning on showing my students "All the Presidents Men", but now I have changed my mind. I also found this lesson on the hsj.org website that seems to be helpful:
http://www.hsj.org/modules/lesson_plans/detail.cfm?LessonPlanId=435
Katie Kroeze
Lincoln High School
Sioux Falls S.D.
I liked Tracy's idea as well. It would be good for my students to see what it's like to be the safety net.
ReplyDeleteSteve Elliott
Arizona State University
Phoenix
Dang you Steve Elliott, you took my idea!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I've shown this film before with handouts for students to complete while watching and a discussion of the ethical issues presented in the film after viewing. I had never thought of giving students an article to fact check. Tracy, that's brilliant.
It ties in with the idea to start class each day with some ethics activity or a style guide/ writing activity. I really want my students to understand how vitally important these two areas are not just to our yearbook, but to every product we produce.
My compliments to Tracy for such a great "Shattered Glass" assignment, too. I shared this movie with my students for the first time just this spring, and they couldn't stop talking about it. They kept trying to analyze Glass and find some psychological term for whatever was wrong with him. They were astonished that he wouldn't (couldn't?) just give it up after he'd been caught.
DeleteMy students did the same thing, Elizabeth! Though, I DO think something is wrong with him. In the 60 Minutes interview, I just don't buy his "remorse" (if you can even call it that!). I can't understand how someone who did something so AWFUL and hurtful and unethical can even show his face! And I don't get the impression that he's trying to atone for what he did. I think he is turning his transgressions into a new career. It's sickening.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of fact checking an article after watching the film. For a too-brief time (before the magazine was sold), I was Research Editor at Natural Health magazine, and I was responsible for fact checking the entire thing. I did have two interns, and writers were expected to highlight all facts to be checked and include source info., but it was a daunting and stressful task nonetheless! I remember talking to research scientists in India about the chemical composition of the spice turmeric and how it contained an agent that slowed the growth of tumors! It was such an awesome and important experience for me. Our students can learn a lot from fact checking.
Having never seen the film before, I found it fascinating how much could get past so many people. It makes me wonder what we could do in the classroom to fact check our information. For me, it relates back to something Steve had said earlier in the week; Google is not research. I think I will try to incorporate this into my class on two levels.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I intend to use the film to illustrate how important it is to have an ethics code and to follow it regardless. Many of my journalists are grade conscious students. I don’t want them to resort to this type of behavior to either please the editors or for grade grubbing.
Second, I want to use this film to convey that in this digital world, nothing is beyond reproach. It is important to both go out and get the best story, but also to get it right. I also think that Tracy's lesson idea is great. From talking to some other people after the showing, it seems that there are numerous resources available on the web, and from one another here at the Institute.
Brandon Michaud
Winnacunnet High School
Hampton, N.H.
Thank you for all of the great comments!
ReplyDelete