6/1/2020: YouTube is deleting comments with two phrases that insult China’s Communist Party - Coronavirus pandemic sparks rise in car thefts across the country

Today's Article: YouTube is deleting comments with two phrases that insult China’s Communist Party
From: The Verge
Readability Score: 12.5

Should American companies censor speech for Communist dictatorships? Is sacrificing free speech worth entry into massive markets? Who decides?

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https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php

Today's Alternate Article: Coronavirus pandemic sparks rise in car thefts across the country
Readability Score: 9.4

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4/17/2019: Military Stores Asked to Stop Showing 'Divisive' News on their TVs - The Incentives That Influence Our Decisions

Today's Article: Military Stores Asked to Stop Showing 'Divisive' News on their TVs
From: NPR.org
Readability Score: 10.5

People are talking everywhere about how divided our nation is becoming or has become. Now the agency running the largest military retail exchanges has encouraged stores to stop showing news. Instead, the stores are encouraged to show sports programming. Is this a smart move or a form of censorship? Talk about it!

Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php

Today's Alternate Article: The Incentives That Influence Our Decisions
Readability Score: 7.7

Planning for an Earth Day lesson next week? Start with our video Sustainable Oceans & Seas and show students how responsible fishing can benefit both humans and nature.

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3/19/2019: Facebook backtracks after removing ads calling for FB breakup From: Politico.com - Amid Tourism Push, Concern Grows Over Indonesia's Komodo Dragons

Today's Article: Facebook backtracks after removing ads calling for FB breakup
From: Politico.com
Readability Score: 10.5

Did Facebook censor ads calling for their breakup? What exactly constitutes censorship?

Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php

Today's Alternate Article: Amid Tourism Push, Concern Grows Over Indonesia's Komodo Dragons
Readability Score: 9.2

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New Release from izzit.org - Read All About It!

We just released another new educational video, Read All About It! Members can stream and download this video now from izzit.org. You can also watch this video from YouTube and Vimeo.

Don’t stop the press! 

Once upon a time, it was forbidden to criticize the king. All information was kept close to the king, in his inner chambers, far, far away from the people he ruled. 

Why? Because knowledge is power. And the king didn’t want the people to have power. He certainly didn’t want them to criticize the way he ran things. 

Enter the concepts of freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Most people think these started in America. But another country actually codified freedom of the press in its constitution before the U.S. did. Find out which country, and explore why this matters more than ever in today’s age of information overload. 

Learn about the power of a free press to keep citizens informed and government in check.

2/5/2019: YouTube to curb recommending conspiracy videos - Trump Administration Begins Production Of A New Nuclear Weapon

Today's Article: YouTube to curb recommending conspiracy videos
From: USA Today
Readability Score: 13.7

YouTube: Free speech or censorship?

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https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php

Today's Alternate Article: Trump Administration Begins Production Of A New Nuclear Weapon
Readability Score: 9.6

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5/30/2018: Trump can't block Twitter followers, federal judge says - Guinea Pig and Party Dress Rentals

Today's Article: Trump can't block Twitter followers, federal judge says
From: CNBC.com
Readability Score: 11.7

Does blocking people on your social media accounts equal censoring them? What if you're a public figure like the president? Today's current event involves nuances of your freedom of speech and freedom of association. Check it out!

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http://www.izzit.org/events/index.php

Today's Alternate Article: Guinea Pig and Party Dress Rentals
Readability Score: 8.1

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1/5/2018: Connecticut city mocked on ABC sitcom American Housewife - Glow-in-the-dark Plants Put Green Power in a Whole New Light

Today's Article: Connecticut city mocked on ABC sitcom American Housewife calls on parent company Disney to apologize and stop 'bullying high schoolers'
From: Daily Mail
Readability Score: 10.4

A sitcom has pushed one city too far with its portrayal of its citizens. They have taken steps to end what they see is harassment. Use this lesson to talk about censorship and offense.

Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
http://www.izzit.org/events/index.php

Today's Alternate Article: Glow-in-the-dark Plants Put Green Power in a Whole New Light
Readability Score: 8.7

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