Exhibits
Link to download discussion questions and archival images.
![This is a photo of scans of a three-page letter to Senator James Eastland. The letter calls for the investigation of some news broadcasters.](https://exhibit-production-digitalcommons.s3.amazonaws.com/images/fake_news_archives_letter_eastland.width-500.png)
Fig. 1. Handwritten letter dated 14 July 1955 from Cecil L. Horton to U.S. Senator James O. Eastland.
Discussion Questions: Accountability and Investigation – War on News
At what point does fake news become the responsibility of the public? Can we trust news outlets to regulate each other?
How has the relationship between the media and the government changed over time?
![This is a photo of a scanned archival document. The letter is from Jamie Whitten, and discusses the dangers of media bias.](https://exhibit-production-digitalcommons.s3.amazonaws.com/images/fake_news_archives_letter_whitten_blue.width-500.png)
Fig. 2. Carbon typed letter dated 17 December 1963 from Mr. & Mrs. Prentiss Spurgeon to "Dear Friends." Jamie L. Whitten Collection (Series 35, Folder "Media/Press 1963"). Archives & Special Collections, University of Mississippi.
Discussion Questions: Media Bias in the 1960s
Whitten makes several key statements regarding media bias.
How many of these points still hold up today? What has changed about the media and their portrayal of news?
![This is a scan of a letter from U.S. General Phillip Corso. The letter contains a list of inaccuracies and corrections relating to a newspaper article published about Corso.](https://exhibit-production-digitalcommons.s3.amazonaws.com/images/fake_news_archives_letter_whitten.width-500.png)
Fig. 3. Typed letter dated 30 March 1965 from Phillip J. Corso to Editor, Washington Post. Jamie L. Whitten Collection (Series 35, Folder "Media/Press 1965"). Archives & Special Collections, University of Mississippi.
Discussion Questions: Corrections and Retractions
How has the internet (particularly social media) made the process of tracking and correcting false statements more difficult? Has it made the process easier in any way?
How do prominent public figures address these issues today? Do news sources still publish corrections or retractions?
![This is a photograph of three different scans. Each scan is one part of a postcard sent to Jamie Whitten from a woman and her husband concerned about a small number of media organizations manipulating the news.](https://exhibit-production-digitalcommons.s3.amazonaws.com/images/fake_news_archives_letter_whitten_handwritten.width-500.png)
Fig. 4. Handwritten letter dated 14 November 1969 from Mrs. Fred L. Beard. Jamie L. Whitten Collection (Series 35, Folder "Media/Press 1969"). Archives & Special Collections, University of Mississippi.
Discussion Questions: More Sources = Better News?
Does having a greater number of news outlets automatically improve the quality or objectivity of the content?
Do you think there are still a few large corporations controlling most of our news? What or who comes to mind?
![This is a photo of a scanned letter written by Jamie Whitten in response to a postcard expressing concern about limited news options for the public. This letter discusses the effort that must be made by individuals to find objective reporting.](https://exhibit-production-digitalcommons.s3.amazonaws.com/images/fake_news_archives_letter_from_whitten.width-500.png)
Fig. 5. Carbon typed letter dated 18 November 1969 from U.S. Representative Jamie L. Whitten to Mrs. Fred L. Beard with attached handwritten letter dated 14 November 1969 from Mrs. Fred L. Beard. Jamie L. Whitten Collection (Series 35, Folder "Media/Press 1969"). Archives & Special Collections, University of Mississippi.
Discussion Questions: Needle in a Haystack
Here, Whitten asserts that citizens have to make a point of searching for objective news, relying on their own efforts and capabilities to find unbiased reporting.
Is that still true today?
What are some factors of our information environment that make it easier or harder to find real news?
- Handwritten letter dated 14 July 1955 from Cecil L. Horton to U.S. Senator James O. Eastland. James O. Eastland Collection (File Series 3, Subseries 1, Box 123, Folder 68). Archives & Special Collections, University of Mississippi.
- Carbon typed letter dated 17 December 1963 from Mr. & Mrs. Prentiss Spurgeon to "Dear Friends." Jamie L. Whitten Collection (Series 35, Folder "Media/Press 1963"). Archives & Special Collections, University of Mississippi.
- Typed letter dated 30 March 1965 from Phillip J. Corso to Editor, Washington Post. Jamie L. Whitten Collection (Series 35, Folder "Media/Press 1965"). Archives & Special Collections, University of Mississippi.
- Handwritten letter dated 14 November 1969 from Mrs. Fred L. Beard. Jamie L. Whitten Collection (Series 35, Folder "Media/Press 1969"). Archives & Special Collections, University of Mississippi.
- Carbon typed letter dated 18 November 1969 from U.S. Representative Jamie L. Whitten to Mrs. Fred L. Beard. Jamie L. Whitten Collection (Series 35, Folder "Media/Press 1969"). Archives & Special Collections, University of Mississippi.