SI Days and Times

Unless otherwise noted, the Fall 2016 SI meetings will be:

M 12:30 - 1:30 PM CR 137 NAREK GHARAKHANI

T 12:30 - 1:30 PM CR 231 SHUSHAN GABRIELYAN

Bring your class notes and textbook. SI is optional and extra credit.

How Do You Watch Debates?

In 1960, John F. Kennedy beat Richard Nixon on style. In 1976, Gerald Ford insisted that there was no Soviet domination in Eastern Europe. And last week, Hillary Clinton responded to Donald Trump with a shoulder shimmy.

Presidential debates are important, especially in years where the election is close. Until this year, the debates were almost exclusively a broadcast television event. This year it has evolved to encompass the various ways we watch television. NPR reports.

Questions...

•Who has streamed a live event that was also on television?

•What do you look for in a presidential debate?

•What do you think is the fairest way to set up a debate (should the microphones always be on, should the candidates' height be equalized, should there be crowd reaction, etc.?)

•What is the role of the moderator? Should she/he fact check?

•Who should question the candidates: journalists, average voters or someone else?

Good Reporting or Manipulation?

Journalists know that great stories can come from anonymous sources or leaked documents. But information obtained by hackers--sometimes on behalf of foreign governments--adds a digital twist to this old controversy. NPR reports.

Questions...

•In general, how do you feel about anonymous sources in news stories?

•Is it ethical or constructive for American news organizations to report from information leaked by a hostile government?

•What types of embarrassing personal behavior of our leaders is it fair to report? What is irrelevant?

•Is it good or bad that our media has wildly differing standards of appropriateness, professionalism and newsworthiness?