Category: Uncategorized

The Christian Science Monitor is an online and print news organization that aims to provide a global perspective without the “sensational” factor of other news sources. According to its “About” page, the Monitor strives to “inspire people to think about what they’ve read long after they’ve left the page. To share what they’ve learned with others. And do something that makes a difference.” As a result of what the Monitor calls its “independent voice, devoid of the corporate allegiances and pressure that critics say too often skew today’s media,” the Monitor won seven Pulitzer Prizes and over a dozen Overseas Press Club awards.

Despite its name, the Monitor is not a Christian newspaper. The name is meant to symbolize honesty and a loving and caring character, which the founder described as some of the basic principles of Christianity. The Monitor also does not hide the fact that it has been supported by the Christian Science church.

According to AllSides, a news website that rates bias of other news sources and aims to provide information on multiple sides to each issue, The Christian Science Monitor is a fairly unbiased news source that falls on the center of the political spectrum. According to AllSides, “The Christian Science Monitor has maintained its reputation within the news industry as a well-run, high quality news organization with minimal bias. Rather than narrowing its focus like much of current mainstream media, its primary aim is to provide fair and in-depth analyses from multiple perspectives, seeking to provide meaningful instead of sensational news.” It has also not been a source of any major controversies.

The Monitor does not endorse political candidates, as its editors believe that readers should make a decision about a candidate on their own, with the “About” page stating that “we [the Monitor] strive to provide all the information necessary for voters to make a political decisions most appropriate for them, their communities, and the nation.” During the 2016 presidential election, the Monitor’s coverage of politics was much calmer, giving fair coverage to Trump’s executive orders, nominees, religious support and Supreme Court nominee, along with plenty of articles of anti-Trump protests.

As for its global coverage, the Monitor divides its World section into six sub-sections: Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific, Asia: South & Central, Europe and the Middle East.

As an example of its world coverage, and article titled “In Niger, Christian and Muslim leaders push harder to counter creeping radicalism” discusses the relationship between Christians and Islam in Niger following the attack on Charlie Hebdo that took place in 2015. The article mostly covers the attacks that took place on the country’s Christian and French communities, and how Christians and Muslims strived to promote tolerance.

Another article, titled “Following protests, Romania will repeal corruption decree,” talks about the country’s intent to repeal a decree that would decriminalize some types of political corruption. Instead of taking a clear-cut side in the argument about corruption, the Monitor’s journalist interviewed people from both sides of the argument, providing arguments for and against the decree. It also spoke about other groups that the decree affected.

http://www.csmonitor.com/About

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2017/0205/In-Niger-Christian-and-Muslim-leaders-push-harder-to-counter-creeping-radicalism

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/2017/0203/As-countries-eye-the-new-US-president-many-see-good-moment-to-test-him

http://www.allsides.com/news-source/christian-science-monitor

When I think of National Geographic, I first think of the photos. Growing up, my family would receive the magazine subscription in the mail and the beautiful pictures from around the world shined on the glossy pages.

Nat Geo is known for using photos to make their stories incredibly moving. Nat Geo’s work focuses on culture, the environment, nature, and animals around the world rather than breaking news topics. However, during historical moments, such as war or political turmoil, Nat Geo will capture what human life was like during these times. Nat Geo stories are longer, feature articles. The extensive time and research that goes into crafting these stories and capturing the photos constitutes lengthy articles.

One of the most well-known Nat Geo photos is the green-eyed Afghan girl that was on the cover in June 1985. The refugee girl was photographed at age 12 during the war in Afghanistan and has since been identified and located. In 2002, Nat Geo set out looking for her and upon finding her, published an article telling her story. Even more recently, Sharbat Gula was arrested in Pakistan for illegally obtaining a Pakistani identification card. The photo of young Sharbat Gula resurfaced in the years since 1985 around 9/11 and the subsequent war in the Middle East.

One controversy at Nat Geo is from 1982, when a cover photo of the Pyramids of Giza was altered. This is regarded as the first major scandal of the digital photography age.

2002 rediscovery of Afghan girl:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2002/04/afghan-girl-revealed/

Afghan girl arrested October 2016:

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/27/world/asia/afghan-woman-in-famed-national-geographic-photo-is-arrested-in-pakistan.html?_r=0

Altered pyramids image:

http://www.alteredimagesbdc.org/national-geographic/

I’ve been considering the Asian community as the focus of my beat, specifically the Chinese. I’m curious to delve into the opinions of members of this community concerning the direction the U.S. government is going in under the Trump administration. I think it would be interesting to hear thoughts on the blockage of refugees, the Muslim ban, and the Mexican wall from a group of people who aren’t directly affected by the changes. Of course, there’s the opinion of young Americans, but I think most people know this perspective because it is constantly discussed in the media and through social media. So it would be great to get the view from another country’s perspective. I can also do a story about how the Chinese feel about being maligned by Trump during his campaign and eventually write a story covering the possible change in business relations between the U.S. and China. I think there’s potential for multiple stories about China. It would even be great to cover a bit on the culture and beliefs since these things affect a person’s outlook on the world as well.