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//“Truth is always the first casualty of history.” //

The truth is always the first thing to be changed when a life changing event has happened. We only listen to what we want to hear, we only read what we want to absorb. During the WebQuest, I have learned many different things that have changed my perspectives on things and how much the truth is really changed in an event. The truth may be the first casualty of history, but have you ever thought that the media may be the second?

The media helps shape our world in many ways, some better than others. For example, when the United States invaded Iraq, it was reported as a mission to disarm the country. The media liked to think otherwise. We invaded Iraq in 2003 in search of weapons after Saddam Hussein had been overruled. Once the media had found out, the figured out a way to change the story. The media had said that we had not found any weapons and that made public support go way down. In this case, the media has said one thing to make us think another. This changed our thoughts and opinions. The media helped shape our opinions on one event. How many other events have it made you think twice about?

Secondly, what people/media say, do, or act affects many in different ways that they may have no idea about. Who exactly was affected by the end of Saddam’s reign? The answer is simple, but one you may have to think about- all of us. We were all affected by it, whether we are aware of it or not. The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Poland and Spain were all involved; therefore, they were all affected. From an American’s point of view, we probably did a great thing since we blamed Saddam for his wrongdoings. But, many people such like them of Sikh religion were killed, because they had turbans and appeared the same as the Muslims. They had done nothing wrong, but because of what the media said, they were killed and hated. The media affects how people think and their opinions on things.

Finally, media can help and harm how a country’s actions are supported and how they make the story seem truer. For example, in the video we watched, the photographers got a picture of two flags over the statue’s face but, one at a time. Why is this? Was it to prove a point? The flags were being spread over the face to get a better shot for the media. The crowd was mostly media people and soldiers, so, without the reader or listener knowing so, the pictures looked legit and real. There is one example of how a country’s decisions are supported.

All in all, I learned many things from this WebQuest. I learned how media changes history, how opinions and beliefs are changed and many other things that happen. Who are you going to believe when you see the next big headline? If truth is always the first casualty of history, why don’t we tell the truth in the first place?


 * ~  ||~ What To Do On Monday ||
 * Step 1: || Organize what information you need to gather. ||
 * Step 2: || Read & Find information about your 2 points of views ||
 * Step 3: || Analyze your data ||
 * Step 4: || Find information about the war today. ||
 * Step 5: || Organize the data found into an essay form. ||

Questions: a. What do you think the Sikh boy was feeling when he was being discriminated? b. What feelings do you think the Sikh had when he was honoring the victims of the attack? c. How is the DC police's perspective different from Sikh's and how does it affect them in the same way?

__**Step 1- Monday**__ 1. Examples of media are: Newspapers, Television, Radio, Magazines, Podcasts, Internet, Social Media, Billboards, Skywriters

2. The purpose of all media messages is to entertain, inform, persuade and explain.

3. The media is influenced by different opinions, beliefs and other people's perspectives and point of views. The other the media may be influenced or affected by may be the cultural state of the country, what they believe in, how strongly they believe in a topic and how far they are willing to go.

4. There could be many effects on the groups of people who did not get to share their side of the story and are not represented which may be that they look bad, they seem like they are afraid or like they don't care.

__**Step 2- Monday**__ 1. In the video, the American's point of view is better showed than the Iraqis. It made it seem like the American's were doing the better of the two sides by helping overtake the statue of the dictator. The Iraqis point of view was not really showed and in which made the dictator seem like he was doing everything terrible and that the Americans were doing the better thing.

2. Iraq Culture- Major Cities: Baghdad, Mosul, Basrah, Irbil and Kirkuk Religion: 97% Islam, 3% Christian and other religions Government:Federal Parliamentary Representative Democratic Republic Social structures: wealthy and middle class?

3.Similarites- similar headlines Differences- different pictures, they show that US is doing good and the other says it's not.

4. The choices were that what pictures they wanted and what they wanted them to show and what headlines they wanted to grab attention.

5. The pictures, etc. made me kinda choose sides and made me think about the good and bad of both points of view.

6. The choices the media made in interpreting the event were the different headlines they wanted, what the article said, what side they were on, how they said the words and what pictures they wanted to show. They chose an attention grabbing headline and what pictures showed depending on what side they were on. I think the intention in portraying in this event was to get you on one side.

7. I think the images were doctored because then it shows that both sides were accomplishing something.

8.The purpose of doctoring the images may have been to get the sense of accomplishment.

9. I believe that by altering the images, both sides gain from it. It makes the US look like they helped overrule something bad and it makes the Iraqis look like they are free again, but both sides lose also.

10. I suppose an altered image can change history. I believe so because if the images are altered, they are kind of lying or stretching the truth.

__**Step 3- Monday and Tuesday**__ 1. The newspaper editors have chosen to portray the war in such a way it has made me think. a. The image sizes are different. The one printed in America seems to be way larger and it covers most of the front page, the one printed in Australia, the picture is words engulf the picture. b. There is only one color for all the print and the font size is different too. The Rocky Mountain size is wayyy big and has very few words and the Sydney Harold is medium sized with small lettering for the article. c. The article sizes are also different. On the left, there is really no article, just little assumptions. On, the right, the article almost takes half of the page.

2. The audience of the papers are American's and Australians.

3. Iraq and America is not being represented in the articles. Yes, there is some sympathy for Iraq but, their side is not being represented. Since they are receiving the sympathy, it makes America look bad for killing the Iraqis..?

__**Step 5- Analytical Writing Task**__ The last task for this Webquest is an individual analytical writing task. **Each student is to write their own essay answering the following question:**

Question:

"//Truth is always the first casualty of history//"

Assess how the media assists in shaping and influencing the way events are portrayed and recorded. Consider how a government or country's actions can be supported and 'legitimised' through the media. What impact do these perspectives have on historical accounts and sources for a particular event? Use the knowledge and sources you have analysed in the Webquest to support your answer. Post your essay on your webquest wiki page, and please provide images that you feel represent your experience with this webquest (Introduction, 3 body paragraphs - 8 to 11 sentences, conclusion).