The Scottsboro Trials and the Role of the Press

CNL News Lesson

Lesson Outline

July, 2010

A News Literacy Summer Institute Lesson

Written By: Georgiana Jones – Rocky Mountain High School – Fort Collins, CO

News Literacy Summer Institute 2010

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No crime in American history produced as many trials, convictions, reversals, and retrials as did an alleged gang rape of two white girls by nine black teenagers on

the Southern Railroad freight run from Chattanooga to Memphis on March 25, 1931.(from UMKC School of Law)

Using the historical context of the Scottsboro trials of the 1930’s students will evaluate the role of the media in society and it’s role in shaping public opinion.

News Literacy Concepts:

News Literacy Lesson 5: What is News and Who Decides? -- News is determined by four factors: Universal News Drivers, Editorial Judgement, The Audience, and Profits and Competition

News Literacy Lesson 7: Balance, Fairness, and Bias -- Use the V.I.A. acronym to discriminate a fair and balanced news report from one which is biased.

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