Session 4 Discussion: What stories leave out

Name one major issue in your country that is rarely covered in international news. Why do you think it gets so little attention? What would need to change for it to be covered?

Try to use: underreported, newsworthiness, agenda-setting, structural bias, platform

A newspaper has limited space and unlimited potential stories. How should editors decide what to cover? What principles should guide those decisions?

Try to use: editorial judgment, newsworthiness, gatekeeping, representation, silence

Whistleblowers like Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning revealed information that many considered vital for public understanding — but they broke the law to do it. Were they right? What is the cost of silence?

Try to use: whistleblower, accountability journalism, fourth estate, chilling effect, access

Whose voices are consistently missing from the news you consume? What would it take to include them — and what would we learn if we did?

Try to use: marginalized, representation, platform, perspective, structural bias

Some argue that social media has democratized news — giving a platform to voices that traditional media ignored. Others say it has just created new gatekeepers. Who do you think is right?

Try to use: gatekeeping, platform, visibility, agenda-setting, access

Think about a news story that was NOT covered — a story that should have been told, but wasn't. What was the story? Why wasn't it told? What are the consequences of that silence?

Try to use: omission, silence, self-censorship, chilling effect, accountability journalism