International News and Educational Reform. Coverage of the school reform was also found in Euronews’s “Protest action in Riga against school reform”. The article gives a general overview of what the reform will consist if passed, in addition to describing the main feature of the reform: “starting from the academic year 2020/2021, general subjects in Latvian schools will be studied only in Latvian”.245 The article goes on to describe a large protest in front of the Ministry of Science and Education, emphasizing the number of participants, the keynote speakers, and the implications of the reform, as described in the protest. The journalist reports on statements made by the rally’s leaders which stress that national minorities will only be able to learn in their ethnic or native language in specific literature, culture, and history 244 Best, “The Ethnic Russian Minority”; Cheskin, “Exploring Russian-Speaking Identity from Below” 245 Smirnov, “Акция протеста в Риге против школьной реформы” classes if the reform passes.246 The article provides general statistics about the linguistic makeup of Latvia, discussing what the author views as the prevalence of the Russian language in Latvian society. The article also shares what supporters of the reform view as the benefits of reform, in addition to what opponents view as the negatives of the reform. Supporters believe that the reform will increase the participation of national minorities in the labor market and bring about cohesion in Latvian society.247 Those who oppose the reform fear forced assimilation and the erasure of the non- Latvian minority’s identity.248 The journalistic piece then delves into the political situation in Latvia, providing a general and factual overview of the political landscape— highlighting that politics in Latvia are defined by ethno-linguistic ties and that the left is supportive of the Russian-speaking minority while the right is made up of predominantly Latvian nationalists. The article concludes by highlighting the passage of similar legislation in Ukraine and sharing the international community’s dismay at and disapproval of that law. Euronews’s article on Latvia’s educational reform law features both the arguments for and against educational reform. The author grabs the reader’s attention through the title and first paragraph, placing a spotlight on protests to the reform, sharing the change intended by the reform and then refocusing on the outcry and disapproval to the reform. The article then provides an overview of Latvi...
