Beckett Chapter 4.

Beckett states that "Terror groups like Al Qaeda have an ideology which is antithetical to all values of a liberal, free media...This is why the more extremist demonstrators against the Danish Cartoons denouncing freedom of speech. Journalism must respond to the terror threat by upholding freedom of speech in a responsible fashion that acts as a model for liberal values that others will wish to embrace."(130) After seeing the Danish Comics (posted below) I agree that freedom of speech must be upheld, but in a "responsible manner" for example, imagine if Jesus had been portrayed in a similar manner, there would have been an equivalent uproar in the west. The publishing of these cartoons also proves Beckett's argument of "Islamaphobic" journalists in the west. Beckett goes on later in the chapter to explain that the cartoon debate "represents many of the challenges of an un-networked media world." However, I disagree with his argument of an un-networked media as the cause of the cartoon debate. The publishing of the cartoon was due to the neglect of the Danish newspaper editors. Networked journalism was in fact, responsible for spreading the cartoon and making it a global issue. Networked journalism did act as a solution in showing the other side of the argument in the protests against the cartoon, and the "global argument among Muslims" (141)























I believe that propaganda has always existed relevant to countries in mainstream media and that governments see it as an important tool, like the Palestinian children's program as a propaganda tool, the U.S. has also used children's programs in the past to achieve public support, example would be anti-nazi cartoons made by Disney during WWII as well as anti-japanese Bugs Bunny cartoons.
Questions:

1. Do you agree with Beckett's argument that Networked Journalists are more informed and have more "open minds" or do you think that Networked Journalism can lead to bias and prejudice spreading faster and wider?

2. What is more important? Propaganda as a means of encouraging nationalism, patriotism and the moral of nations, or the public's right to know and journalists obligations to truth and accuracy?

3. Has networked journalism made the use of propaganda obsolete?

4. Is Networked Journalism better than traditional journalism in covering terrorism, or does it equally compound the problem (example: the Danish Cartoons being sent across the world over the net)

5. Do you believe the American media should concentrate more on global issues like France 24 and Al Jazeera English, etc?