In the December meeting of the Media Club, Renee Hobbs will model a lesson from the New York Times Learning Network in a viewing and discussion of "Pick a Side. Pick a Side. Now,"  a four-minute Opinion video that explores the role of social media in the current Israel-Hamas war, and whether it allows any space for nuance or neutrality. “The insistence on picking a side,” the Times filmmakers argue, “threatens the public’s ability to take a holistic view of what is happening, to recognize and acknowledge atrocities irrespective of their perpetrators and to honor and mourn those who lost their lives.”
How persuasive is the film? Do you agree that social media is only making the current crisis worse? Have you felt pressured to post your reaction to the Israel-Hamas war online — and to pick a side?
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Date: Monday, December 4, 2023
Time: 12PM EST/ 7PM CET/ 9:30PM IST
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Host:Â Renee Hobbs
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About the Opinion video:Â Posted on October 25th, 2024. See the link to the video:Â https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/opinion/israel-palestine-social-media.htmlÂ
There is precious little space on social media for nuance or neutrality when it comes to the war between Israel and Hamas. No matter what you think of the conflict, expressions of solidarity aren’t just appreciated; they are expected. But as we argue in the video above, the insistence on picking a side threatens the public’s ability to take a holistic view of what is happening, to recognize and acknowledge atrocities irrespective of their perpetrators and to honor and mourn those who lost their lives. If truth is the first casualty in war, empathy is the second.
Video by Mr. Zach Goldbaum (a filmmaker), Mr. Alex Kingsbury (a member of the editorial board), and Mr. Alexander Stockton (a producer with Opinion Video). Alex Kingsbury has been an editor with The Times and a member of its editorial board since 2018. Previously, he sat on the editorial board of The Boston Globe and was deputy editor of The Globe's Ideas section. @akingsburynyt. Alexander Stockton is a producer and editor with Opinion video. @astocktonfilms
Please get in touch with us if you want to host future Media Club meetings to discuss a cool book, podcast, video or any media related to our interests.
Jocelyn Young, Webinar Series Manager |Â jocelyn@mediaeducationlab.com
Devina Sarwatay, Webinar Series Manager |Â devina@mediaeducationlab.com
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