Mass Communication discussion questions

1. On September 12, 2001 on the second page of The New York Times, the paper published photographs of people jumping to their deaths from the burning World Trade Center. No one could be identified.

Some people felt that it was disrespectful to those who lost loved ones, while others argues that The New York Times is the newspaper of record and its purpose is to record history.

What is your perspective on how the reporting should be done?

Do you think it is disrespectful to show pictures of the victims of any tragedy?

Give a recent example of a newspaper that reported respectfully, but accurately, on a recent tragedy.

2. While books are the least "mass" of the Mass Media -- more people saw the movie Gone With The Windin its opening weekend than read the book in the previous twenty years, books can have a profound effect on individuals, groups and the course of history.

What books can you name that have changed the course of a generation or  the world, either for the better or for evil?

What particular book had a profound effect on you and why?

Why do you think books have such a profound effect?

Please answer each question in 7-8 sentences.