Definitely agree with that statement. Choose maybe 3-5 themes in Othello and explain each one briefly linking it to a modern event or way of thinking (e.g. racism in Othello to Cronulla riots). Or go all out and do one major theme and have each paragraph as an aspect of that theme (e.g. for manipulation you could have facades, motivations/psychoanalytical aspects and something else as your aspects of that one theme).
What I am trying to say for the one theme thing is have maybe manipulation as used by Iago as the major concept or thesis if you like. Then each paragraph goes into depth about the aspects/means by which Iago achieves his manipulation of those around him (i.e. putting on facades of honesty, what are his motivations for his hatred of Othello? could it be jealousy, inherent racism, homosexuality etc?) - then link this to the Cronulla riots, explaining that althougth it is approximately 400 years on and the lifestyles of the Renaissance and the contemporary world have major contrasts, many of the aspects of life and experience remain the same - making the themes of Othello universal and transcendent through the ages (timeless). Example: racism - in Shakespeare's Othello, Iago's strong hatred of the Moor is purely irrational and is a learned vice. Much the same is the violence and racial abuse of the Lebanese during the Cronulla riots of the 21st century (I do understand there are two sides to the Cronulla riots but to better suit the task you are doing I am bending the truth).
If that doesn't work maybe try another modern text, a good one being Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird.' It has phrases like 'Nigger-lover' and definitely highlights the irrationality of society's inherent racism as also present in Othello. This shows how the thematic concerns in Othello affect the modern world, thus emphasising that these themes are relevant for contemporary society.
To put it simply: the themes of Othello are still present in today's society (racism, facades, self-interest, military/war things, the nature of relationships (both physical/sexual/emotional and professional), murder, suicide, death etc).
