THE POWER OF A PHOTOGRAPH: appropriate for A2 study when considering the issues surrounding media and democracy.

This article from the Media Guardian published on Monday 5th July 2010 is an appropriate resource for discussion when considering the power of the visual image and how this power relates to media freedom, democracy and censorship. Click on link below to access article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jul/05/javad-moghimi-iran-journalists-jailed

Javad Moghimi's harrowing experience could be linked to a wider consideration of the demonstrations in Iran last summer and how social media/new media was used to evade government censorship. The link below is a BBC report from Feb 2010 that considers the use of digital technology and how it is being used in post-election Iran.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8505645.stm

Another article from the BBC World Service explores the link between young Iranians, technology and freedom. Click on link below.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/worldagenda/2009/09/090907_worldagenda_channeling_iran.shtml

The demonstrations in Iran last summer used social networking sites to smuggle information beyond Iran and this is a perfect area for debate and analysis when examining the impact of digital media.

This CNN news feature allows Clay Shirky to discuss the impact of digital media upon the Iran demonstrations in 2009.Click on link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGnNF0d8Uis&feature=PlayList&p=675BBE8AEC141FE6&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=17

PRESS TV is a 24 hour English Language global news network owned by the Iranian government and this BBC Newsnight interview discusses the implications of its content during the Iranian demonstrations in 2009. Click on link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToCUt4lljpM&feature=PlayList&p=979D066721F95919&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=12

Below is a news segment from PRESS TV's 'IRAN TODAY' which explores how the Western media represented the 2009 post-election demonstrations. Click on link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM27Xw_dcsc

Compare these two News reports from the 24th June 2009. The link below is from the Iranian government funded Press TV:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAa9sABU3Ds

This news report from the 24th June 2009 is from CNN. Click on link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTj-1MLuw2w&feature=related

Obviously these two broadcasts could be used to explore issues of representation, media and democracy, institution and ideology, mediation and globalisation. The demonstrations in Iran last year provided a wealth of material that is appropriate for discussion within the media classroom.


Click on link below to access BBC article from June 2009 relating to Iran's firewall:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8101299.stm

Click on link below to access BBC article from June 2009 relating to how digital media was used to make information available during the Iran demonstrations in 2009:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8186761.stm