Mass Mеdia
Mass Mеdia
Pre-reading task
Do a quick survey in your class:
Where do you look for the news? How often do you read/watch the news?
What paper or magazine do you read and what do you like about it?
What sections of a newspaper are you most interested in?
What do you look for in a newspaper: entertainment, human-interest stories or
comment and analysis?
How often do you watch TV? Describe the main purpose of watching it.
Mass Media
The role of mass media in the life of the present society is difficult to
overestimate. The mass media in many countries are privately owned and help
businesses to earn an extra buck, which they do mainly by selling space or air time to
advertisers. Both print and electronic media determine which events are newsworthy,
a determination made on the basis of audience appeal. The rise of mass-circulation
newspapers in the 1830s produced a politically independent press in the United States
and Europe. In their aggressive competition for gripping readers` attention, those
newspapers often engaged in sensational reporting, a charge sometimes leveled at
today's media.
The broadcast media operate under technical, ownership, and content
regulations set by the government, which tend to promote the equal treatment of
political contests on radio and television more than in newspapers and news
magazines.
The major media maintain staffs of professional broadcasters, newscasters,
anchors,newsgathers,journalists, reporters, correspondents and even hacks in major
cities across the world. They all recognize rules for citing sources that guide their
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reporting. What actually gets reported in the media depends on the media's
gatekeepers, the publishers, editors, subeditors and continuity persons.
The mass media transmit the immediate information to large, heterogeneous,
and widely dispersed audiences and cater simultaneously for people of different
interests. The main function of the mass media is entertainment, but the media also
perform the political functions of reporting news, interpreting news, influencing
citizens` opinions, setting the political agenda, and keeping citizens posted about topical
political issues.
Printed media or published mediaprovide information through the publication
of written words and pictures. Prime examplesare newspapers and magazines. There
are popular (tabloid)and quality papers, which come out daily, weeklyandfortnightly
and can be presented byglossies, periodicals orserials, fashion-papers, etc.Magazines
do not focus on daily, rapidly changing events. They provide more profound analysis
of events of proceeding week. Magazines are designed to be kept for a longer time so
they have cover and binding and are printed on better paper. Magazines can be
distributed through mail, through sales by newsstands,bookstores, newsagentsor other
vendors or through free distribution at selected pick up locations. Sometimes the
subscriber gets a better editionof the one being sold, because they have either
postersor something extra to add. Many magazines are available both on the Internet
and in hard copy,usually in different versions, though some are only available in the
internet version (known as online magazines).
Broadcast media provide information electronically through sounds or sights.
Prime examples of broadcast media are radio, television and the Internet. People can
start their day listening to live broadcasts on favouriteFM
channels: news, music programs, radio translation of
sports events and others. However, nowadaysradio is not
as popular as it used to be some 50 years ago but it is still
popular due to its portability: it can be easily carried
around. People like to listen to the radio in the park, at the
seaside, in the car while driving. With the appearance of
television it has become an essential part of our life. TV gives us food for thought,
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introduces us to new ideas and activities. It helps us to relax after a hard day`s work
and to escape from reality. Can we imagine a day without TV news,current affair
programs, special reports, live footage, quizzes, chat shows (talk shows), panel
discussions,vox-pop, interviews, educational and children program, weather forecasts,
sports programs, music programs, variety shows, sitcoms, slapsticks , soap operas,
reality shows and even all those commercials. People severely criticize the “one-eyed
monster”, grumble at the poor quality of programs and the appearance of presenters.
They are annoyed and irritated by frequent commercials interrupting their favourite
films and programs. Still they cannot live without it.
The youngest kind of mass media is the Internet.The Internet is, indisputably, the
most amazing phenomenon of the 21st century, a new generation of mass media.
Gradually it replaces all other means of communication and mass media. This global
computer network embraces hundreds of millions of users all over the world and helps
us to communicate with each other due to its e-enables. Various documents and other
services such as chat-rooms (newsgroups), live communication through Skype, e-
mail, e-learning, e-signatures, interactive forums, online shopping, e-commerce,
online hotel and ticketbooking, "googling", blogging,social networks.
The Internet gives access to so many interesting information resources and
newsflashes practically in no time. Thanks to the Internet, we can use the resources of
electronic/digital libraries, online dictionaries and encyclopedias, academic
repositories and archives. Moreover, unique archive documents are now digitized and
are available to be studied by everyone through the Internet. All this allows us to save
time and make out work resultant and efficient.
Exercise 4. Find the antonyms for the following words from the text.
Exercise 5. Distribute the following words and phrases in two columns and
define each of them.
Article, story, feature, scoop, editorial, exclusive, coverage,
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reporter, journalist, correspondent, political/ foreign/ education
etc correspondent, editor, fashion/ sports/ political etc editor,
hack.
erected to help tourists coming to see a solar eclipse in the area was headlined Dark
deeds. In this collocation darkusually carries the meaning of wicked, but the headline
is cleverly playing with the word darkbecause at the time of an eclipse the sky goes
dark.
Another example is the use of the headline Ruffled feathers to describe an incident
where a wife was angry with her husband, a wildlife expert, for allowing a Russian
steppe eagle to sleep in their bedroom. We use the idiom to smooth someone's ruffled
feathers, meaning to pacify someone after an argument. It is apt to use it here as the
story is about a bird (although, of course, it was the woman's feathers which were
ruffled).
2) Read these headlines. What do you think the stories might be about?
1. MOSCOW BLAST TERROR
2. I’M TO REVEAL SOCCER LOUT PLANS
3. TOP MP IN LONE BATTLE
4. CRACKDOWN ON PORN
5. THUGS BESIEGE TEEN STAR
6. COPS TARGET LOUTS
J. Buying a car
K. Ringing the bells
L. Gift for the blind
M. Like a bird in the sky
N. Journey into space
O. Laughter and tears.
Exercise 8. Fill in the gaps in the sets of sentences below using the words given
with each set.
1) A. If you want to receive our organization`s free monthly …, please tick this box.
B. Harry is a big Kylie Minogue fan; he`s got all her CDs, and he subscribes to her
most popular … .
C. They published a two-page … for advertising purposes.
- fanzine - flyer - newsletter
2) A. The station wanted to broadcast the show in the morning, but the … insisted
that it be aired in the afternoon.
B. He has thorough knowledge of jazz music, but his voice is not good enough for
him to be a(n) … .
C. He`s been a(n) … with Radio Wales for years, but he`s just not as good on TV.
- newscaster - producer - announcer
3) A. He hosted a current affairs programmes which featured many heated …
between politicians.
B. During his … with Jonathan Stevenson, the Minister was unable to come up with
satisfactory answers.
C. In tonight`s programme, criminologist Ian Crown will attempt a thorough … of the
alarming rise in crime.
- interview - debate - analysis
Exercise 9. Take any recent story you`ve heard, seen or read, choose and
appropriate headline and make up a newspaper article.
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There is simply no way that we can get any kind of objective reporting anywhere.
Current affairs programmes are biased and uninformative. Newspapers are more
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interested in gossip than anything which can be called “news”. TV news
programmes are more concerned with showing sensationalist details than reporting
the facts. Where is this going to lead?
1) Say whether you agree or disagree with each point.
2) How could you support your views?
3) Suggest words and phrases that would be suitable to use in expressing your
opinion.
Exercise 13. Translate the following sentences into English using the vocabulary
from text A.
1) Якщо ви вважаєте, що матеріал не заслуговує на висвітлення у пресі, ви
можете спитати думки у колеги або іншої особи. 2) Щоб захопити читацьку
увагу, ви повинні переконатися, що читачі емоційно занурені у вашого
персонажа і його ситуацію. 3) Вибори, перша політична боротьба між
правлячою правою стороною і опозиційною лівою,почалися спокійно. 4)
Гетерогенні продукти – це продукти із складниками, які значно відрізняються
один від одного, що робить важким заміну одного продукту іншим. 5) За
винятком випадкової ситуації, яка трапилась з ним, коли він працював в
редакції глянцевого журналу, розмір фотографій може бути повторно змінений
на кольоровому ксероксі і це не вплинена їх корисність. 6) Іноді вдома для
обгортання книг ми використовуємо прозорі пластикові книжкові обкладинки –
обкладинки професійного рівня, які використовуються в бібліотеках. 7) У теле-
або радіомовленні, глядацьке голосування – це інтерв'ю з представниками
широкої громадськості. Глядацьке голосування – це латинська фраза, що
буквально означає голос народу. 8) Шутлива жорстокістьзавжди була
перевагою ексцентричної комедії (фарсу), і, належним чином, така форма
виступу отримала свою назву від однієї зі своїх основних зброй. 9) Екстренне
повідомлення повідомлює вам всі останні новини, які щойно трапились,
поєднуючи заголовки з багатьох джерел в єдиний потік новин. Екстренне
повідомлення дозволяє швидко сканувати і слідкувати за головними новинами
дня, які організовані по тематикам, які вас цікавлять, будь то новини, бізнес,
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Pre-reading task
1) Have you ever been in England? If yes, could you describe what sources of mass
media did you use?
2) Have you ever read any English newspapers or magazines? Where do you take
them from?
3) Do you read on-line English newspapers or probably do you watch on-line news
(for example, BBC)? Do they differ from our types of mass media?
There are many national daily newspapers, and competition for readers is
incredibly stiff; although some papers are printed outside the capital, they are all
pretty London-centric. There are two broad categories of newspapers, most
commonly distinguished as broadsheets (or ‘qualities’) and tabloids, although the
distinction is becoming more about content than physical size as most of the major
broadsheets are now published in a smaller, easier-to-use tabloid size.
The main London newspaper is the centre-right Evening Standard, a tabloid
that comes out in early and later editions throughout the day.
Free newspapers, distributed at tube stations and on the streets wherever
commuters can be stopped and a paper shoved in their face, also vie for the attentions
of Londoners – London Lite and Metro (both owned by the Daily Mail parent group
Associated Newspapers) are light-weight, easy-to-digest reads with a firm focus on
celebrity, and can be found littering buses or tube carriages all over London.
National newspapers in England are almost always financially independent of
any political party, although their political leanings are easily discerned. Rupert
Murdoch is the most influential man in British media and his News Corp owns the
Sun, the News of the World, the Times and the Sunday Times.
The Sunday papers are as important as Sunday mornings in London. Most
dailies have Sunday stablemates, and predictably the tabloids have bumper editions
of trashy gossip, star-struck adulation, fashion extras and main-spirited diatribes. The
qualities have so many sections and supplements that two hands are required to carry
even one paper from the shop. The Observer, established in 1791, is the oldest
Sunday paper and sister of the Guardian; there`s a brilliant Sports supplement with
the first issue of the month. Even people who normally only buy broadsheets
sometimes slip a copy of the best-selling News of the World (sister paper to the Sun)
under their arm for some Sunday light relief.
The BBC is probably the most famous broadcasting corporation in the world
and one of the standard bearers of radio and TV journalism and programming. Just as
the British Parliament has the reputation for being ‘the mother of parliaments’, so the
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BBC might be said to be ‘the mother of information services’. Britain still turns out
some of the world`s best TV programs, padding out the decent home-grown output
with American imports, Australian soaps, inept sitcoms, and trashy chat and game
shows of its own. There are five regular TV channels. BBC1 and BBC2 are publicly
funded by a TV licensing system and, like BBC radio stations, don`t carry
advertising; ITV1, Channel 4 and Five are commercial channels. These regular
channels are now competing with the satellite channels of Rupert Murdoch`s BSkyB
– which offers a variety of channels with less-than-inspiring programmes – and
assorted cable channels. Many viewers feel that the investment in new technology is
damaging to the core channels and that the BBC is spreading itself too thinly, trying
to chase ratings and compete with the commercial channels rather than concentrating
on its public-service responsibilities. The entire country is gradually switching over
to digital TV.
The BBC broadcasts several radio stations, including BBC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and
7, catering to young, mature, classical, intellectual, talkback, mixed and
comedy/drama audiences respectively. XFM is the best chance of hearing interesting
music these days. In 2007 the government announced Channel 4 was to be awarded a
license to broadcast 10 more national digital radio channels, a huge shake-up for an
industry in need of winning back loyal audiences.
Task 4. Study the material and learn the vocabulary units that you have been
unfamiliar with.
1
descriptions of the lives of famous people who have just died
2
an article giving the newspaper editor's opinion
3
pages of advertisements in different categories
4
separate magazines included with the newspaper
5
an article or set of articles devoted to a particular topic
6
sections in a paper or magazine that deal with readers' private emotional problems
7
person, typically a woman, who answers letters in the agony column
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dealing with a specific topic, often a pamphlet on the future of
political private education.
leaflet single sheet or folded sheets of I picked up a leaflet about the
paper giving information about museum when I was in town.
something
brochure small, thin book like a magazine, Do you have any brochures
which gives information, often about Caribbean holidays?
about travel, or a company, etc.
prospect small, thin book like a magazine, Before you choose a university,
us which gives information about a you should send away for some
school college or university, or a prospectuses.
company
flyer single sheet giving information I was given a flyer about a new
about some event, special offer, nightclub which is opening next
etc, often given out in the street month.
booklet small thin book with a soft cover, The tourist office has a free
often giving information about booklet of local walks.
something
manual book of detailed instructions how This computer manual is
to use something impossible to understand!
С. Without looking at the text, test your memory for words that mean ...
1. the small advertisements in different categories found in newspapers
2. a person you write to at a magazine to discuss intimate emotional problems
3. the section of a newspaper which has tributes to people who have just died
4. an article in a newspaper which gives the editor's opinion
5. a separate magazine that comes free with a newspaper
6. an article or set of articles devoted to a special theme
Task 5. Almost every sentence below contains a mistake (a
vocabulary, grammar or spelling one). Correct the mistakes or put
a tick if a sentence is correct.
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1. By giving substantial coverage to environmental issues, the mass
media calls attention to them. __________
2. The circulation of a local paper multiplied in 3 times since last __________
year.
3. Large newspaper chains usually subscribe to great news-reporting __________
servises.
4. This tabloid devotes considerable place to celebrity photos. __________
5. CNN collects news items from every corner of the earth. __________
6. Nowadays most newspapers try to include human-interest stories
to caption an ever-wider reading public. __________
7. You definitely played the violin better than Paul did. You outdid
him at his own game. __________
8. The more articles written in a “catchy” style a newspaper
contains, the more it appeals to the general reader. __________
9. I dislike many modern newspapers for their exessive __________
sensationalism.
10. The fact that newspapers begin to be printed in greater numbers
and for lower costs can be explained by publishers’ desire to attract
the largest possible number of readers. __________
11. Mass circulation is stimulated by the rapidly developing art of __________
advertizing.
12. The special success of this newspaper rests on the ability of its
feature writers to get the most sensational news before anyone else
and play them up for all they are worth. __________
2. _____________________ over whether men and women are equal in the rights.
3. Japanese cars account for 30% of the U.S. car market. In other words, they have
_____________________.
4. For many people success _____________________ money, power and social
standing.
5. ‘Popular papers’ _____________________ as the gutter press. They
_____________________ and sensational headlines.
6. I enjoy reading newspapers _____________________.
7. The value of Russia’s export of wheat has been cut down
_____________________.
a) with a high standard of reporting gained about one third of the market
b) There have always been controversies for the sake of a higher national interest
c) rely on eye-catching layout are often referred to
d) has become synonymous with and one doesn’t speak of
Task 7. Read the text, mark the key ideas and make a summary of it. Write
down an article with your attitude to the points mentioned in the text.
"It's not about what you published but about what you communicated," said
Tory MP Mark Reckless, referring to the fact that the Guardian had shared the
Snowden material with U.S. outlets The New York Times and ProPublica. Snowden
himself gave material to The Washington Post.
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Rusbridger has said many times that he shared the data because he feared an
injunction in the U.K. could have gagged his paper. U.S. outlets, which are
constitutionally protected against prior restraint by the First Amendment, would
ensure that the Snowden stories were published.
In a clear attempt to intimidate journalists, at least two other MPs besides
Reckless have said the paper has likely broken the law.
Rusbridger told the committee he had published only 1 percent of the more
than 50,000 Snowden files and despite government bullying would continue to write
stories critical of government spying.
"We're not going to be put off by intimidation, but nor are we going to behave
recklessly," he said.
Indeed Rusbridger was at pains to assure his audience that the paper had not
disclosed information that could harm intelligence operations or operatives. The
paper consulted government and intelligence officials more than 100 times before
publishing stories, he noted. He quoted Norman Baker, the British Home Office
minister; a member of the U.S. Senate intelligence committee, who asked not to be
named; a senior Obama administration official; and a senior Whitehall official all
saying the paper's disclosures had not damaged national security. He said the
information from Snowden was in safekeeping and had been given securely to the
U.S. news organizations.
He said the Guardian had been put under pressures that were unheard of in
many democracies.
"They include prior restraint; they include a senior Whitehall official coming to
see me to say: 'There has been enough debate now'. They include asking for the
destruction of our disks. They include MPs calling for the police to prosecute the
editor. So there are things that are inconceivable in the U.S.
"I feel that some of this activity has been designed to intimidate the Guardian,"
he said.
At one point during the hearing, committee chairman Keith Vaz, asked
Rusbridger if he loved his country.
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"I'm slightly surprised to be asked the question, but yes, we are patriots and one
of the things we are patriotic about is the nature of democracy, the nature of a free
press, and the fact that one can in this country discuss and report these things,"
Rusbridger said.
The whole episode was chilling and in stark contrast to the treatment that
Britain's three spy chiefs received when they appeared before another parliamentary
committee last month. Most MPs did not probe assertions by the heads of GCHQ;
MI5, Britain's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency; and MI6, the Secret
Intelligence Service that focuses on foreign threats, that the Guardian had
harmed national security.
In fact, MPs and others charged with oversight of Britain's intelligence
agencies have probably learned more from the Guardian than from their own efforts.
As the terms "national security," "social responsibility," and "patriotism" enter
the public debate, the government can deflect attention from the creeping tentacles of
U.K. and U.S. spy agencies and onto the mechanics of the journalistic processing of
whistleblower material.
The Guardian and its former correspondent Glenn Greenwald, who broke
many of the Snowden stories, have served the public interest. They may have
embarrassed governments and thwarted attempts by securocrats to keep the
maximum amount of information secret, but no one has demonstrated that they have
acted recklessly or negligently. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has said he has no
plans to prosecute Greenwald, a U.S. citizen living in Brazil.
British authorities, however, showed their hand in July by using terrorism
legislation to detain Greenwald's partner, David Miranda, who was in transit at
Heathrow Airport and seize the journalistic materials he was carrying. The use of
Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 runs the risk of putting investigative journalism
on par with terrorist activity. Press groups have brought a legal challenge in the
Miranda case, which the court should uphold. And David Anderson QC, the
independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, has updated hisadvice to the British
government on the use of Schedule 7 after the Miranda case, requiring grounds for
suspicion of involvement in terrorism before a person can be held at a border.
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Task 8. Use additional sources of information and make a review of the majority
of British press. Make a report.
Task 9.
1) Різниця між таблоїдами та широкоформатними газетами дуже велика. Вони
виглядають по-різному, вони містять різні новини, вони мають різний стиль
написання, і вони прагнуть привернути увагу різних читачів. Однак,
конкуренція за читачів дуже жорстка; таблоїди і широкоформатні газети
можуть викрадати хитрощі один одного, щоб виграти війну за тираж. 2)
Досягненням пана Мердока було розширення тематики бульварної преси від
висвітлення скандалів відомих людей до виконання злочинних діянь. Деякі з
останніх, наприклад, злом телефонів жертв злочинів та їх сімей, були жахливі.
3) Рекламодавці та групи активістів борються за найбільший вплив на медіа-
каналах. 4) Зміст веб-сайту включає питання розсилки новин. 5) Він сказав, що
підозрював щось недобре, коли він побачив його некролог в газеті.6) Здавалось,
що навіть колонка редакції газети Дейлі Телеграф, майже піддалась масовій
тенденції друкувати таку інформацію. 7) Цифрове телебачення є передовою
технологією мовлення, яка пропонує найкращу якість зображення і звуку. 8) І
якщо говорити з досвіду, я знаю, що написання колонок про розшук людей цє
надзвичайно складна річ. 9) Коли конкуренція за читачів стала жорсткою серед
цих журналів, романи з продовженням стали ефективною стратегією ринку для
симбіотичних відносин між журналами для жінок та популярною фантастикою.
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York and in most big cities. The paper with the largest circulation is The Wall Street
Journal, which specializes in business news.
In general, freedom of speech is considered an integral American value, as
protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. This freedom
has caused controversy at times. For instance, it is legal to express certain forms of
hate speech so long as one does not engage in the acts being described or urge others
to commit illegal acts. However, more severe and hurtful forms of hate speech have
led to people or groups, such as the Westboro Baptist Church, being successfully
sued.
The mass media has been referred to as ‘the new parent’. Television and
Internet now displace parents as the chief source of information as children get older.
Governments throughout the world use the schools in their attempt to instill a
commitment to the basic values of the system. Both democratic and authoritarian
governments want students to learn positive features about their political system
because it helps ensure that youth will grow up to be supportive citizens. The media
is an intricate part of American government, intertwined with the practice of
democracy, but to what extent does the media influence public opinion? To answer
that several aspects of media coverage have to be explored. The media is America’s
basic resource for all the news concerning American politics. Also, the opinion
expressed by the fourth estate influences the opinion adopted by the public. Lastly the
issues the media deem important help set the national agenda and to affect the
public’s opinion of voting. The most basic way the media influences public opinion is
by offering knowledge about government decisions and access to government
information.
observer
abundantly
designate
profit
conventional
broadcast
inevitably
voting
integral
subscribe
Exercise 5. Choose any newspaper or newsmagazine you like and prepare a talk
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Exercise 7.
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a) Read the article about printed and broadcst media in the US. Elaborate.
Radio in the USA
National Public Radio is the nation’s primary public radio network, but most
radio stations are commercial and profit-oriented.
American radio broadcasts in two bands: FM and AM.
AM has shifted mainly to all-news format. Talk radio usually features a host, a
celebrity or an expert on some subject, and the opportunity for listeners to call in and
ask questions or express opinion on the air.
The call-in format is now heard on nearly 1 000 of the 10 000 commercial
radio stations in the US.
FM came to dominate the music side of the programming. Besides the 10 000
comercial radion stations, the USA has 1 400 public radio satations. Most of these are
run by universities and other public institutions for educational purposes and are
financed by public funds and private donations.
Television in the USA
There are three basic types of television in the United States: broadcast, or
“over-the-air” television, which is freely available to anyone with a TV in the
broadcast area, cable television, and satellite television, both of which require a
subscription to receive.
Broadcast television. The three major commercial television networks in the
U.S. are NBC and CBS, which date to the early days of television (in fact, they both
began in the 1920s as radio networks), and ABC, which began its life as a radio
network spun off from NBC in 1943.
Major network affiliates run very similar schedules. Typically, they begin
weekdays with an early-morning locally produced news show, followed by a network
morning show, such as NBC’s Today, which mixes news, weather, interviews and
music. Syndicated programming, especially talk shows, fill the late morning,
followed often by local news at noon (Eastern Time). Soap operas dominate the early
afternoon, while syndicated talk shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show appear in
the late afternoon. Local news comes on again in the early evening, followed by the
national network’s news program at 6:30 or 5:30 p.m., followed by more news.
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Newspapers
Magazines
Radio AM
FM
TV Broadcast
Non-commercial
Exercise 8. Read the text about the history of American press. Make questions to
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Exercise 9. What changes have there been in the newspaper industry since the
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beginning of the 20th century in Europe, the U.S. and Ukraine? Prepare a short
report about changes in the newspaper industry since the beginning of the 20th
century in these countries. Follow the steps.
Step 2. Decide whether the changes in the newspaper industry have been
mostly positive or negative, in your opinion. Then, join the students who hold the
same opinion.
Exercise 10. Here are some examples of American newspapers. Which of them
would you like to read? Why? Which of them are similar? In what ways
are they similar?
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VOCABULARY
новини
41. gloss - глянець
42. gossip column - отдел светской хроники (в газете или журнале; помещает
сведения, основанные на слухах и сплетнях, о жизни аристократии,
политических деятелей, актёров)
43. high standard of reporting – высокий стандарт подачи информации,
сообщения новостей
44. highly reliable – сверхнадёжный
45. house magazine n– фирменный журнал (журнал, издаваемый компанией и
освещающий последние новости из ее жизни; существуют два типа фирменных
журналов: предназначенный для персонала, акционеров и т. п. и
предназначенный для потребителей, потенциальных партнеров и т. п.)
46. human interest story - душещипательный рассказ, рассчитанный на
сочувственное отношение читателя
47. illustrated announcement
48. illustrated edition - иллюстрированное издание
49. in black type - жирным шрифтом
50. independent - независимый
51. issue - выпуск, издание
52. journal n – газета, журнал (обычно научно-популярный, общественно-
политический)
53. journalism n - 1) профессия журналиста 2) журналистика 3) пресса, печать
54. latest news - последние новости
55. lay-out - макет (книги, газеты), схема; расположение
56. leading article (leader) - передовица
57. libel n ['laɪb(ə)l] – клевета
58. libellous adj ['laɪb(ə)ləs] – клеветнический, очерняющий, порочащий
59. literary supplement – литературное приложение
60. local interest stories
61. local news
62. local paper – местная газета
42
SUPPLEMENTARY SECTION
Exercise 2. Do you know the parts of a newspaper? What information can you
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agony
featur
column
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commen
busine t and
ss analys
is
overse
obitua
as
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news
classi
letter
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fied
ads
review
s
Exercise 3. Here is the article from the Washington Times. Write a short essay
based on its main points.
We must spend some time analyzing our own habits, and stepping into our
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kids’ worlds to find out which messages are being pumped into their still-developing
brains and how much pressure they are under from manipulative marketers trying to
get their cash. Greedy companies (note: not all companies, just the greedy ones) will
do anything to get you and your kids hooked on, and spending money pursuing the
adrenaline high that comes with viewing sexualized and violent media.
The mass marketers are after your children 24/7. They attempt to slam their
inboxes with pornography. They prominently display products and a lifestyle of
betrayal, moral relativism and sex, sex, sex in television programs. They are never
too busy or too tired from a long day’s work to “talk” to your children. And they
know how to get teens to spend money: Take advantage of the fact that they are
already on hormonal roller coasters by feeding them adrenaline-pumping, nonstop
messages of sex, violence and rebellion.
The reality is that most of us don’t want to pause and consider whether or not
the media that we are consuming is good for us. Why? Because if we find
objectionable media habits, then we’re faced with either having to do something
about them, or live with the guilt of being hypocrites.
Put simply: It’s easier to remain ignorant or complacent. We often choose an
uneasy peace over principle. We value a quiet home with wary smiles more than we
value developing the character of our sons and daughters, risking possible conflict, or
even worse, risking having to give up our own bad habits along the way.
The ugly truth is that in many cases the American home has become a septic
tank for the culture’s toxic sewage. After all, it’s often in the privacy of their own
bedrooms — or sitting in the living room with their moms or dads — that teens
consume hour upon hour of the sludge that is perverting their views of sexuality,
relationships and life in general. It’s time for us to pay attention to the messages we
are sending when we simply accept the messages the media sends us. The minds of
children are like sponges. They’re ready to be filled with good things or with bad
things, and it’s up to moms and dads to provide a healthy mental diet. We’ve heard it
said, “Garbage in—garbage out.” Children will largely become what they consume.
It’s up to parents to provide their children with the materials that will build
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courage, fortitude, fidelity, sound judgment and strong character. But if you are
consuming garbage, or if you have no idea what others are pumping into their
developing minds, how on Earth are you going to protect them?
After honestly evaluating and adjusting your own habits, walk one week in
your child’s tennis shoes. What is your daughter listening to, watching and reading?
Have you ever actually sat down and played one of your son’s video or online
games? Take a trip to the mall and look at the posters that scream out to them from
the music and clothing stores — what do the images portray? My guess is that in
many cases, your heart will break over what you find.
According to a Kaiser Family Foundation’s report on media usage, teenagers
consume 7.5 hours to 10.5 hours of media each day due to multitasking (such as
listening to music while surfing the Internet or playing a video game while watching
television). “Children’s bedrooms have increasingly become multi-media centers,
raising important issues about supervision and exposure to unlimited content. 71
percent of all 818-year-olds have a TV, while one-third have Internet access in their
bedrooms. Outside of their bedrooms, in many young people’s homes, the TV is a
constant companion: nearly half say the TV is on ‘most’ of the time, even if no one is
watching.”
Even while many polls show that parents are concerned about what their
children watch and learn from the media, according to the Kaiser report, over two-
thirds of all 8- to 18-year-olds say their families have no rules about how much TV-
watching they’re allowed. The same goes for time spent playing video games and
time spent on the computer. Yet, studies indicate that parents who do impose rules
and enforce them actually end up reducing the amount of time their children devote
to media.
So the good news is: You may not have full control of your children’s media
consumption, but you do have a lot of influence. The question is: Will you use it to
create a healthier diet or not?
(By Rebecca Hagelin and Kristin Carey – Tuesday, October 14, 2014)