Special Topics (390-0-70)

Topic

Conflict Reporting Literacy

Instructors

Marda Dunsky

Meeting Info

Northwestern Qatar Room 1-212: Mon, Wed 2:30PM - 3:45PM (AST)

Overview of class

Media Literacy on Conflict Reporting responds to persistent, ongoing global interest in mainstream media coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The present course is being developed in real time during the Israel-Hamas war of October 2023. Widespread and commonly expressed perceptions and analyses posit that mainstream media coverage of the conflict produced in the West is suffused with - and frequently overtaken by - narratives that support the interests of Israel and U.S. policy. Consequently, Palestinian human rights and humanity are diminished if not omitted altogether from mainstream media coverage to harmful effect on Palestinians living under Israeli occupation as well as in diaspora communities, and by extension to Arabs and Muslims around the world. Effects of media coverage also impact Israelis and their supporters. The course focuses on reported news coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict using tools of media literacy including theory and framing of news, Global South perspectives on Palestine, case studies of Western media coverage, biases of omission resulting in decontextualized coverage, data analysis, the roles of empathy and fact-checking in news production, and the divide between fact and opinion. Students will engage in interactive classroom discussions, small-group team projects and an individually written final course essay.

Registration Requirements

Prerequisites: None

Open for cross-registration

Open to Juniors and above

Satisfies Media and Politics Minor & Middle East Studies Minor

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Registration is reserved for NU Qatar Juniors and Seniors Only