Extra, extra! Read all about it! Yellow journalism is reaching its peak in New York City, and muckrakers across the United States seek to expose corruption and promote progress. As the demand for information increases, newsies line city streets selling sensational stories to rile up an eager public. Set in a time before codified ethical standards in journalism, this committee aims to address concerns about the place of the press in American society. Delegates will take on the roles of figures from various American newspapers which all put their own spin on world events.

topic and questions to consider

topic: The Influence of Media in Society

Questions to Consider

1. How does the press fit within society?How influential should they be and how can the general public trust what they publish?

2. What ethical standards should be expected from individual journalists as they write stories? Should they be held accountable for spreading misinformation, intentional or not?

3. How do we ensure that the public can trust journalism as an art after having been exposed to exaggerated disinformation for so long?

4. Where should the line be drawn between propaganda and exaggeration?

5. How can we identify when a story is factual versus inflated with hyperbole meant to draw on readers’ emotions?

meet your dais!