News Magazine: 

 Special Issue on Iran. 

(It's about Perspective)

 

 Background | Task | Resources | Assessment

Jeff MacFarland and Joyce Valenza

Background and context for learning:

Over the course of the last couple of weeks, we've viewed the film Control Room, read interviews with the head of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), read chapters from Reading Lolita in Tehran and the graphic memoir, Persepolis.  We've examined the history of Iran from the Shah's modernizations, to his expulsion, to Khomeini's regime, to recent events relating to President Ahmadi-Nejad's interest in nuclear arms.

Task:

With a partner, your task is to create an issue of a weekly news magazine. This particular issue of your magazine will have special focus on political and cultural issues in Iran. 

In the film Control Room we examined the editorial and strategic choices made by both Al-Jazeera and the U.S. military.  Real journalists make decisions based on their own vision of truth, the political climate, the limitations imposed by government control, their audience's interest and the economic decision-making involved in publishing.  You will be guided by your perspectives of these cultural issues and restrictions, as well.

Our goal in this project is to both synthesize what we've learned about Iran and to understand how different countries and cultures might view and report the same stories. Make your own editorial decisions based on your selected country's cultural norms, political concerns, government restrictions.

What to include:

Assessment: 

Cover Page: (10 points)

            -Image is relevant to theme of magazine

            -Clever, yet meaningful title

            -Minimum of two additional subtitles

Table of Contents: (20 points)

            -Organizes magazine section

            -Presents a clear rationale behind each choice the “editors” make

            -Displays cohesive theme throughout the assignment

-States intended audience targeted and rationale for how this section should reach this demographic

Primary Source Interview: (10 points)

            -Interview relates to topic covered in at least one news story

            -Interview set up by editors to draw audience in

Editorial Cartoon: (10 points)

            -Cartoon relates to topic covered in at least one news story

            -Interview set up by editors to draw audience in

News Story: (15 points)

            -Objectivity maintained as best as possible – free from opinion

            -At least two sides to story discussed

            -Primary source quote used in the article

            -Minimum of three pages double spaced

Editorial / Opinion Piece: (10 points)

            -Clear thesis displayed in article

            -Strong arguments backing up thesis

 Works Cited: (10 points)

            -Minimum of eight high quality sources

            -Formatted in MLA style

Advertisement: (5 points)

            -Appropriate advertisement for intended demographic

Creativity / Originality / Professionalism: (10 points)

Resources:

Flagrant Disregard Magazine cover feature

Sources for Western / US news:

General news sources:

Sources for International News:

Political Cartoons:

Also:

Back to Virtual Library