Newspaper Analysis – Ian Hunter

Ian Hunter, “A Tale of Truth and Two Journalists”, March 27, 2000

IN REPORT MAGAZINE

Appropriate for students:

Grades 10 – 12

Curriculum Fit / Specific Expectations / Learning Outcomes:

Please select outcomes you wish to cover from either social studies or history and prepare an assessment to share with students at the outset.

Materials Required:

1. Copies of the article for each student. See 2.13.6
2. Copies of the questions for analyzing an article. See 3.2.6, Activity 2

Set-up Required:

N/A

TASK

Read Ian Hunter’s article, “A Tale of Truth and Two Journalists”, March 27, 2000 in Report Magazine and answer the following questions:

Student Handout

Questions for analyzing an article

Read Ian Hunter’s article, “A Tale of Truth and Two Journalists”, March 27, 2000 in Report Magazine and answer the following questions:

1. What event led to the writing of the article?
2. What is the main idea of the article?
3. Select several facts/arguments (3 minimum), which support the main idea.
4. Does the author provide enough factual material to support his ideas (quotes witnesses, provides statistics, states his sources of information? Was he an eyewitness to events; or was the information obtained through a news service?
5. Is the reportage, in your opinion, true, balanced or biased? Explain.
6. Are different viewpoints presented? Is this article an editorial (author’s own ideas), is it informative, is it convincing, is it balanced?
7. What do you think of the article and its point of view? Explain.

Questions for analyzing Ian Hunter’s article, Specifically.

1. How did Muggeridge and Duranty present events in Ukraine in 1933?
2. What explanation is given for the discrepancies between the two journalists? Who, in your opinion, told the truth?
3. Write a short letter to the editor about how you feel about Duranty and his Pulitzer Prize for journalism?

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