Week 2 Discussion

You have one short reading:.

• Christopher B. Daly, in Martin Conboy, ed., How Journalism Uses History (New York: Routledge, 2012).

Discussion questions:

1. What are the tensions with the “Marketplace of Ideas” and free speech?

2. What are the two reasons neutrality appeared in American journalism?

3. How did historians protect Thomas Jefferson until the 20th century and what was later revealed?

4. How and why was coverage of WWI and the Russian Revolution incorrect?

Finally, in this assignment, I would like you to compare the media coverage of Kobe Bryant’s and Donald Trump’s rape cases.

Note that Kobe’s accuser remains unidentified, while Trump’s accuser is E. Jean Carroll.

First, determine the details of each allegation (please answer for each case):

5. When was the rape reported? What is alleged? Was physical evidence or DNA found?

6. Were the men criminally charged? What was the resolution?

7. Were the men civilly charged? What was the resolution?

Second, consider some of the media fallout:

8. Read WAPO articles about Kobe and

and- how did the case cause tensions at theWashington Post?9. Read the

of Trump’s defamation case – how has coverage caused problems at ABC?

Finally, your analysis and opinion:

10. Do you think the media coverage of these two cases has been comparable? Why or why not?

11. If you were an historian writing a book about either man, do you think their rape cases should be included and can either be called a “rapist?” Why or why not?

12. What did you find most interesting this week?