ERIC Number: ED269819
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1986-Feb
Pages: 12
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
News Information in Forensics: A Case for a More Intelligent Use of Sources.
Theobald, John M.
In many college and high school forensics tournaments, the topic agenda is derived from "Newsweek,""Time," and "U.S. News and World Report." This use of three profit-oriented, widely circulated magazines as the agenda setting basis of extemporaneous speaking competition is philosophically and substantively damaging. First, using news information from three homogenous sources is inconsistent with forensics' focus on a variety of contexts and audiences. Other sources, such as the "National Review,""American Opinion," or major metropolitan newspapers should be considered. Philosophically, the use of weekly news magazines diminishes the value of forensics by providing an "easy out" for the student. Substantively, the use of such magazines encourages well-polished speakers to limit needlessly their horizons of thought. Extemporaneous speaking should be a tremendously broad forum but generally is not. It is time for alternatives, and the only limitation to developing them is the creativity of tournament directors. (DF)
Publication Type: Opinion Papers; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A