Why is it so difficult to develop a clear understanding of the events surrounding the shooting of Michael Brown by a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer? To answer this question class members listen to a NPR discussion of the findings of the Department of Justice reports, analyze excerpts from the report, and watch a video that focus on the challenges journalists faced in reporting about the events. Finally, class members consider what they can do to "bridge . . . gaps in understanding" among individuals, police, and journalists.

Concepts

racism, broadcast journalism, investigative journalism, journalism, photojournalism, electronic media, cross-media analysis, media bias

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Do provide class member with the transcript of the NPR radio conversation so that they can take notes as they listen to the broadcast

Classroom Considerations

• The 10th in an 11-resource case study of the social media and professional news reporting of the shooting of Michael Brown by a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer

Pros

• Excerpts from the DOJ report and the "Hands Up, Don't Shoot! Build on a Lie" news article clarify some of the misconceptions about the events in Ferguson
• Links are provided to all required materials

Cons

• None

Common Core

RI.9-10.1 RI.9-10.6 RI.9-10.7 RI.11-12.1 RI.11-12.6 RI.11-12.7