Exploring Controversy at the Library

This September, the Digital Journalism class at Saint Martin's University explored the controversy surrounding Olympia Food Co-op's decision to boycott Israeli products. Over the span of several weeks, the class conducted research and designed Power Point slides that represent various perspectives on the issue.

SMU's O'Grady library displayed the slides on a digital monitor in the library alcove. Close by, the librarians set up a display of books for visitors inspired to further investigate the topic of Israeli and Palestinian relations.



The library was pleased to see that the ALA's American Libraries magazine took note of the project in an article by Greg Landgraf . In addition to the library installation, the class also published an online version of the slide show posted above.

Using the slide show as material for their own class assignment, students from PHIL 301, Ethics: Theory and Practice reviewed the slides and wrote responses to the project, which they plan to share with the Digital Journalism students later in the semester.

This installation was inspired by the The September Project. For more details about the assignment, see the post below.

An Assignment in the Library

This year, students in the Digital Journalism class co-taught by myself and Prof. Nathalie Kuroiwa-Lewis, are participating in the September Project. The September Project is a grassroots effort among libraries all over the world to organize events that explore and exercise freedom, justice, democracy, and community.

Journalism students are researching multiple perspectives about a controversial topic and then creating an installation of those perspectives in the campus library.

Here is the assignment:

ENG 302/SOC 395: Digital Journalism
Exploring Controversy: The Olympia Food Co-op Boycott of Israeli Products
Co-taught by: Professors Nathalie Kuroiwa-Lewis and Irina Gendelman

You will create a visual display for The September Project. The project will be jointly and publicly presented at the O’Grady Library during the last week of September in the form of rotating slides on digital monitors.

For this assignment, you will explore a controversial topic using library resources and digital tools. You will research the controversy surrounding the Olympia Food Co-op’s decision to boycott Israeli products (on a local scale) and the related issues surrounding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict (on a global scale).

As you do this, you should ask yourself the following questions: Why has the Olympia Food Co-op's decision been so controversial? What are the possible perspectives that exist about the topic? What are the research resources that are available to journalists today? How can journalists explore and represent multiple perspectives? Which sources are legitimate? Are there biases that you encounter as you conduct your research? Do modern journalists succeed as agents of the democratic process?

Your tasks:

1. A librarian will visit our class on Thursday Sept 9, to talk about the different ways that we can research a controversial topic. Come to class prepared to ask questions.

2. Find at least 10 credible sources about the topic (online and in the library). Your collection of sources should represent multiple perspectives related to the Olympia Food Co-op’s boycott of Israeli products. You must find a minimum of the following types of sources:

• 6 online articles (such as: credible online versions of print papers, blogs, websites, etc.)
• 2 books
• 2 database articles

3. If you need research help outside of class, ask the reference librarians at O’Grady Library to help you research the topic. Likewise, if you are not sure which sources are credible, ask a reference librarian.

4. Create 10 slides in Power Point. Each slide must represent one source and include the following:

• headline
• lede
• quote from the article
• citation of the source
• you may also include an image (optional)

5. Bring a sample slide for class discussion on Sept 14. We will review the slides, agree on some standards and decide on the final look of our slide show.

6. The final project must be submitted in digital format (uploaded to class forum) in class on Sept 16. Selected slides will be displayed as a digital slide installation in the O'Grady Library by September 20.