Propoganda Poster

Rationale 

This propaganda poster aims to portray the main characteristics of the learner profile “reflective.”  It builds on the ideology of reflection and considering the past, in order to support their learning and personal development. We mainly employed devices such as, common folks and glittering generalities. Firstly, the propaganda displays an ordinary girl reflecting on ordinary past experiences in order to strive for a better future, and thus promote the reflective ideology. The young woman in the middle is looking into the mirror and her desired future, but simultaneously reflecting on her past experiences with schoolwork. Struggles regarding academics and future planning are an ordinary thing that everyone faces in a certain point of their life, so it is easier for the viewer to relate to the propaganda and understand the ideology. It also suggests that everyone has an equal opportunity to build their futures and develop.  A statement or slogan has also been asserted saying, “Reflect on the past, build on the future” This statement includes a glittering generality as it briefly states the ideology in the slogan but it is open for interpretation according to the viewer's personal experience. 

Propoganda 4 Corner Reflection

"It is acceptable for a government to try to shape public opinion through information campaigns. "

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, it was evident to see specific political ideologies being expressed throughout the media. This sparked worldwide controversy as news companies were being criticized for their biased approaches when communicating with the public. Fox news was seen to hold views of a American conservative bias. On the other hand, Al Jazeera news was criticized for depicting an anti-american Bias. Though both these channels have denied these allegation, and made it clear that they aim to provide neutral reporting, I personally believe that possessing a certain bias is inevitable. It is part of human nature to seek approval, either it being explicitly or implicitly expressed. On the other hand, I believe the government does have the responsibility to present the public with a fair representations of the realities of a situation. I thus disagree with this prompt, I believe it is not acceptable for a government to try to shape public opinion through information campaigns. Although moral and ethical issues are raised, I believe it is wrong for a country to change the publics opinion via information campaigns. Unfortunately, it is often something that is practiced today, especially in instances such as the Iraq War. However, as previously mentioned I do believe it is a part of human nature to strive for social acceptance and support. Usually, the government aims to shape the publics opinion in order to gain the publics support by antagonizing the other side of the conflict. This leads to the government being able to easily justify their actions. In the case of the Iraq war, a large majority of Americans believed that Iraq's regime was evil and that Americans were helping the Iraqis achieve freedom. Moreover in the case of Jessica Lynch, the public believed that she was kidnapped and that she was mistreated and heroically saved by the American soldiers. Several sources later on revealed that that story might not be the case, some nurses from Iraq even went on to say that they took care of her as their daughter. This sparked controversy because it signifies how 
the government tried to twist the truth. The Jessica Lynch story gives the American public two impressions: firstly that the Iraqis seem like rebels who are fighting against Americans. Secondly, the American soldiers seem like heroes. This obviously advances the countrys agenda enables locals support, although they do possess a distorted image of the war- something that America would want but could  be detrimental in the long run. 

Media Bias Article Selection

Rationale 

This article is a modified version of an article previously read on Al Jazeera America that headlines, "Autopsy of Sandra Bland reveals no signs of murder."  Sandra Bland was a woman found hanged in a jail cell in Waller County Texas; her death was classified as a suicide but an increased amount of awareness against racial profiling and police misconduct has ignited national debate against the true cause of Sandra's death. Family and friends called for an independent autopsy, and stated that it was unlikely that Bland would have killed herself, mentioning how she was upbeat about the job she was about to begin. This raises many questions as to how consumers of the media should view the situation; should we listen to news reports and suggested facts, or the personal accusations provided by Bland's family? In the article written particularly by Al Jazeera, provides a detailed account  of the analysis of Bland's autopsy report, submitted by Waller County prosecutor, Warren Diepramm.  This rewritten article will offer a more emotional and personal insight regarding the situation of Bland's imprisonment, which reflects the main ideas of family members and local activists. 

Article:

Bland- a 28 year old African American women- tragically died in Waller County jail just three days after a Texas trooper pulled her over during a routine and "normal" traffic stop. Officials classified her death as suicide by hanging, but those who know the Illinois woman treated that classification with skepticism. 

Activists claim her death is the latest example of racial bias and excessive force by US law enforcement. Now theories have emerged on social media, suggesting the Chicago woman may have been dead when her mugshot was taken. police dashboard camera footage shows the traffic stop incident in the most clear manner possible; shows the incident escalating from a warning for failure to signal a lane change to her being placed in handcuffs and a physical altercation with the white trooper. The video of Sandra's brutal arrest confirms she was subject to a violent, racist and traumatic encounter with the police. And though we still don’t know what happened next, one thing is clear: a traffic stop for a failure to signal should not lead to death.

An autopsy conducted by Haris county Institute of Forensic Science concluded that Bland dies through asphyxiation and immediately classified her death as a suicide. Police stated that Bland had used a plastic garbage bag to hang herself. The autopsy report showed Bland had multiple abrasions on the right side of her back, slight abrasions on her wrists, and 25 to 30 healing, parallel cuts on her left forearm that predated her arrest. This autopsy was inspected by the US prosecutor against Bland's family members case. They have previously requested to conduct an autopsy but did not anticipate that the autopsy would be presented by the main Prosecutor in the case. 

Moreover, Bland's prison intake form included a check mark for "yes" on epilepsy, and she can be heard in the video telling the arresting officer that she suffered from the illness. However, the autopsy  did not include a test for epilepsy, and the sheriff’s office said Bland “was offered Emergency Medical Services prior to being transported to the jail” but that she “refused any medical treatment.”