Read about the digital divide and the power dynamics of technology. We learned there are four corporations that control 90% of what is read, watched, or listened to via the media (Chayko, p. 197). When searching for information online, we tend to find information and sources that support our own views. Along with media as a business, the need to sensationalize content can skew perceptions.
Imagine you are an intern for a local gubernatorial campaign. You have been tasked with researching one of the campaign’s controversial topics. The candidate will use your memo to help them decide how to position their debate on the topic.
Contemplate some of the most controversial topics in media these days:
Gun control (can incorporate school shootings with this subject or have it as a stand alone)
Abortion
Vaccines
Privacy rights
Gender identity
Global climate change
Marijuana legalization
Immigration
Student debt crisis
Censorship
Animal testing
E-cigarettes & vaping
Religion & public schools
Book banning in schools
Childhood obesity
Concussions in football
Minimum wage
Select 1 of the controversial topics above. If there is another controversial topic in the media that you are interested in objectively presenting for this assignment, please reach out to me and run the topic by me prior to completing the assignment.
Find 2 opposing viewpoints for your selected topic.
Write a 1,200- to 1,350-word 'memo'. This is to be an objective, academic assignment. Please leave feelings/emotions/your own personal biases at the door, be ready to present the facts & cover all required elements of content below.
Respond to all of the following in your memo:
Identify and explain/give some background on the controversial topic you picked.
Research the first viewpoint.
Describe the viewpoint.
Identify the source of this information.
Evaluate the credibility of the source (is it credible or not? why/why not? what makes it credible/not credible?).
Research the alternative viewpoint.
Describe the viewpoint.
Identify the source of this information.
Evaluate the credibility of the source (is it credible or not? why/why not? what makes it credible/not credible?).
Describe how each viewpoint uses sensationalism. Present at least 3 examples of this for each viewpoint.
The controversy is fueled by a high frequency of mass casualty events, particularly school shootings, and the significant number of gun-related deaths (homicides, suicides, and accidents) each year. The central tension lies between the right to self-defense and the responsibility of the government to ensure public safety. Key policy areas include:
Assault Weapons Bans: Restricting the sale or possession of certain semi-automatic rifles.
Universal Background Checks: Requiring background checks for all gun transfers, including private sales.
Red Flag Laws: Allowing temporary removal of firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others.
Permit-to-Carry Laws: Regulations regarding concealed or open carry of firearms in public spaces.
The debate is further complicated by the fact that firearms are deeply intertwined with American culture, identity, and the principle of limited government.
II. Viewpoint 1: Emphasis on Regulation and Public Safety (The Brady Campaign)
A. Description of Viewpoint
This viewpoint holds that the widespread availability of firearms, particularly high-capacity weapons and semi-automatic rifles, is a direct cause of gun violence, and that the Second Amendment is not absolute. Proponents argue for common-sense gun safety laws that prioritize the public’s right to live without fear of gun violence.
Sample Answer
Memo: Analysis of Opposing Viewpoints on Gun Control
To: Gubernatorial Candidate, Campaign Strategy Team From: Intern, [Your Name] Date: November 3, 2025 Subject: Objective Analysis of Opposing Viewpoints and Media Sensationalism on Gun Control
This memo provides an objective, academic analysis of two major opposing viewpoints regarding gun control in the United States. It identifies the sources and evaluates their credibility, focusing specifically on how each side utilizes sensationalism in the current media environment to capture attention and sway public opinion. This analysis is designed to assist the campaign in positioning its debate strategy on this complex and highly controversial topic.
I. Background on the Controversial Topic: Gun Control
The issue of gun control is one of the most polarizing and persistent controversies in American public life. At its core, the debate centers on the interpretation and application of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."