Historically, wars have generally taken place far away from American soil, in places that few Americans really understand. Because of this, Americans depend on the governement, news outlets, and the entertainment industry to understand war in all its complexity. By the end of this lesson students will be able to address the following questions—What is the role of media in society: Is it to keep citizens informed? Is it to tell the truth at any cost? Is it to influence change? Can it play several roles at once?

The discussion guide below and the presentation and additional questions included in our support materials review how information on war was reported over the course of the 20th century. Students will analyze and debate the validity of information coming from different news sources, spanning from Vietnam to today, and will discuss the role of free press.