Who Controls the Media?

Use the following link to take you to a chart that diagrams who owns the major media outlets in the United States. After reviewing this information, what's your reaction to these charts? Is too much power over the media concentrated into too few companies? How does this affect the news an average "media consumer" receives? Explain your response.

http://www.nowfoundation.org/issues/communications/tv/mediacontrol.html
http://www.thenation.com/special/bigten.html
http://www.mediachannel.org/ownership/chart.shtml

Should the U.S. Auto Industry Be Bailed Out?

Do you think the government should bail out the United States auto makers (namely General Motors and Chrysler)? Explain your reasoning. Also, do you think President Obama’s decision to force out/fire the CEO of General Motors? Why or why not?

Click on the video links below to help you respond to the prompt:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#29963441
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#29963441
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#29963478

Reaction to "Children of the Mountain"

Describe your reaction to what you saw in the movie “Children of the Mountain.” Do these people have an equal opportunity to succeed? Explain. What can/should be done to help these people pull themselves out of this cycle of poverty?

Is Our Justice System Fair?

Read the article (link found below) about Tim Masters, the Colorado man who was put in prison for over ten years for a murder he did not commit. When DNA evidence surfaced proving his innocence last December, he was released from prison. After you read the article answer the following questions: (1) How should Tim Masters be compensated for the ten years he spent in jail? (2) Do you think our justice system is fair? Explain.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_11317809?source=pop_section_news

What Can Be Done to Help Our Ailing Economy?

Using the research on the economy that you did for homework and the discussions we have had in class, please watch the following video clip and read the short article (links found below) to help you answer the following questions. Once you have done this, decide what you think could be the solution to our economic problems. Do you agree with President Obama’s economic stimulus package or do you think the government should do something else to help the economy? Please feel free to respond to your classmates’ comments.
Video Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#28842993
Article Link:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/28/politics/100days/economy/main4759742.shtml?tag=topHome;topStory