Possible Subjects and Tips
Here are some very broad ideas to get you started. When you have a focused idea, let us know and we'll see what we might have.
- Check the National History day page for suggestions on focusing your topics, especially the 2021 Handbook.
- Methods of communication - media, news, newspapers, advertisements, telephones, telegrams, signal flags, sign language, body language, dance, music, theater, visual arts, computers, political cartoons, spy codes, technological advances, translation tools, political party/candidates communication, propaganda posters, graphic novels, social media, and more.
- Style of communication - language and words. Autism, regional differences, synchronous/asynchronous, etc.
- Oral tradition or Written Word
- First Amendment
- Specific events (famous speeches and/or protests).
- Bearing Witness
- Slang
- Restriction or suppression of communication (ex. banning indigenous languages in federal "Indian" schools, censorship, challenging books in school and public libraries, etc.)
- United States Information Agency (USIA) and United States Information Service (USIS)
- United States Office of War Information (OWI) - VOA; Hollywood film industry, Psychological Warfare Branch (PWB)
- Voice of America (VOA)
- Withholding information for national security.
- Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, or other journalist and news broadcasters.
- Censorship
- Fashion as means of communication
