Your Cellphone: Not a Stoolie

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to MC101 classes in June 2018.

A "Stoolie" (AKA "Stool Pigeon") is archaic American slang for a police informant. In the 1940's movie version, the cops arrest a petty thief and threaten to charge him with something serious unless he tells all he knows about the murder that police are trying to solve. The petty thief cooperates. That's a stoolie.

According to a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision last week, your cellphone (under most circumstances) will not act as a stoolie. Police will have to obtain a search warrant from a judge before they can search a cellphone. NPR reports.

Questions...

•How much does your cellphone know about you? What does it know about you?

•What do you think about this ruling? Why?

•Police do not need a search warrant to search your car or a homeless person's tent. They DO need a search warrant to search your home or your cellphone? What's the difference?

•Could someone explain the differences between Libertarians (usually conservative) and traditional conservatives? How does that apply to this ruling?

"Enemy of the American People"

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was first presented to MC101 students in March 2017.

Perhaps the single most startling statement of President Trump's short time in office is his proclamation that the media is the "enemy of the American people." While it is true that there have been a huge number of negative stories about Mr. Trump in the media, it is also true that the news media has always taken on an adversarial role toward the President. But the question is, is that adversarial role good for America? Two past Presidents--one a Democrat, the other a Republican--talk about the need for a news media that is free to criticize anyone, especially the President.

Questions...

•What set of rules would you create for the White House Press Corps, no matter who is in office?

•What do you wish the American news media did better? What is the American news media good at?

•What are appropriate ways for the President to respond to news stories he feels are untrue or unfair?

•How do you feel about the President's Twitter account?

Signup Link for Location DTLA Field Trip, Nov. 26

Our last field trip of the semester will visit several iconic film, television and advertising locations. THE SIGNUP LIST IS NOW FULL.