Weekly Media Journal Assignment
Starting week 2, and each week thereafter, students will collect at least two newspaper
articles or editorials for a personal media journal on a Third World country of his/her choice.
Students will choose articles that illustrate, relate to, or otherwise engage with class themes of
international development. All news articles must come from newspapers or other media sources
that originate in the student’s chosen country. You are not restricted to English language sources if
you are sufficiently fluent in another language.
The first task will be to locate media sources to use for the rest of the quarter. Attached is a
short list of web pages for news articles from different countries. Alternatively, typing your chosen
country’s name and the word “newspapers” (or some such) into a Google search may be sufficient
to help you find available online news sources from your chosen country. However, it may be the
case that your chosen country does not have any media sources on the web in a language that you
can read. In that case, you might check with the Suzallo Library reference librarian for help locating
sources in the library, or you may decide to choose a different country.
Deliverables:
Each week you will turn in the articles you have collected along with a short write-up. The
articles and write-up will be due on Friday of each week before 4:00 pm. The write-up will be
stapled on top of the collected articles and will be in two parts, as follows:
In Summaries section, students will summarize each article in one short paragraph (3-4
sentences). Use a full citation as the header, then compose a paragraph explaining what the article is
about, what issues it addresses, its point of view (if you can tell), and any other information that you
think is relevant about article. See the sample attached.
The Discussion section is more substantial. It will be at least three paragraphs about how
one or both of these articles relate to issues we have discussed in the class so far, or how they
illustrate particularly interesting themes in state-society relations in the country you have chosen.
Personal reflections are welcome in the discussion section.
These assignments constitute a substantial portion of your final grade, so I want you to take
them seriously. I will focus on your ability to read the articles you collect in a deep and critical
manner, and to link them to issues and themes in the class. Citing class readings, lectures, or fellow
students’ classroom comments in your Discussion is not required, but doing so may help you make
your connections.
Geog 335: Geographies of the Developing World
Autumn 2007
p. 1
-- SAMPLE --
Joe Hannah
GEOG 335 / SIS 335 - Spring 2007
Week 1 Media Log
October 31, 2007
Full citations of both articles,
single spaced, 12 point font.
Summaries
Nwachukwu, Joe. “FUTO: Rescuing Nigeria from technological backwardness.” Nigerian Tribune
[Ibadan, Nigeria] 21 March, 2007 <http://www.tribune.com.ng/21032007/igbo_feat.html>
This article explains how the ministry of Education in Nigeria and the Federal Universities of
Technology are the focus of the Nigerian government’s efforts to improve technological capabilities
in support of Nigeria’s development… [Continue for 2 or 3 more sentences…]
One paragraph (3-5 sentences), single- or
double-spaced, summarizing the content of
the article.
Martins, Farouk. “Lives on our Roads: In the Hands of our Vulture Class.” Biafra Nigeria World
News. [Lagos, Nigeria] 21 March 2007. < http://news.biafranigeriaworld.com/>
In this editorial, the author decries the danger and violence found on the nation’s public
roadways…[Continue for 2 or 3 more sentences…]
NOTE: If you need more information about the correct format for
newspaper and other bibliographic references, the MLA style guide is
available online at http://www.lib.washington.edu/help/guides/44MLA.pdf
Discussion
Both articles I have chosen this week illustrate issues of development in Nigeria. Dreams of
technological advancement in the first article clash with realities of state-sponsored violence and the
failure of the state to provide basic road safety in the second… [Continue for 3 or 4 full paragraphs]
Three or four double-spaced paragraphs
relating the articles, either individually or
together, to class themes.
Geog 335: Geographies of the Developing World
Autumn 2007
p. 2
-- SAMPLE --
Article 1
FUTO: Rescuing Nigeria from technological backwardness
Joe Nwachukwu writes on the contributions of federal universities of technology to technological development in
Nigeria, focusing on the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri.
The establishment of federal universities of technology in the country was informed by the absolute desire of the
federal government to achieve growth in technology.
This is because of the well-known fact that no country can achieve greatness without growth in technology. Hence, the
establishment of these universities of technology.
Since science in this new era has made the world a global village with new discoveries, scientists have continued to do
more research in different aspects of science. Each country of the world is doing her best to improve on discoveries that
will assist mankind…. [include entire article]
Article 2
Lives on our Roads: In the Hands of our Vulture Class
by Farouk Martins, Omo Aresa --- Our roads are so bad, they claim so many unreported lives as a result of
foreseeable accidents. Even more dreadful are deaths at the hands of robbers and armed forces. There are very few
people in Nigeria that has not been accosted by gun flinging policemen or witness a case.
My experience during the war at face to face with the barrel of the gun during a soldier’s spot check still leaves a
disgusting memory. A few years ago, my wife also saw a pointed gun up close. We heard about school children being
shot aimlessly because drivers did not submit to 20 Naira bribe. Appalled, a visiting friend was slapped so hard two
years ago by a soldier, passersby had to calm him down for his own sake.
The total lack of respect for the sanctity of live bothers every human being, even those who perpetrated these massacres
……. [include entire article]
Geog 335: Geographies of the Developing World
Autumn 2007
p. 3