PAT You are going to have a meeting with Sam, a respected and talented TV journalist. Sam is worried that many news items give a harmful impression of developing countries because only disasters are reported, and people are always made to look like helpless victims. Sam has suggested a news item on the flood in Mozambique that shows how the people are taking action in the face of this disaster. Sam wants to interview people in Mozambique so they will speak for themselves about the problems, and would like more air time to show the background issues. You are worried that it might be too long and complicated for a short news item. Viewers respond to what grabs their feelings more quickly than they respond to things they have to think about. You are planning to discuss it with Sam and try to reach an agreement. What will you say?

SAM You are going to have a meeting with your editor, Pat. As a TV Journalist, you are worried that many news items give a harmful impression of developing countries because people are made to look like passive victims. But you know that in many places you visit, people are taking responsibility for themselves and dealing with problems in a courageous, effective way which is not reflected in the news. You are going to suggest an item that talks about the action people in Mozambique are taking in response to a disastrous flood. You want to explore the background issues of poverty and environmental destruction that have made the flood a real disaster, and you want to have people speak for themselves about it; perhaps with subtitles on the footage. You are even considering the idea of having Mozambican journalists create some of the story. You suspect Pat will object because she thinks the more usual approach makes a good story. How will you try to persuade Pat that your ideas will work?