The game “Guess”.
Your task is to match the words and their definitions:
Television
Newspaper
The Internet
Radio
1. a paper printed and sold usually daily or weekly with large pages, serious
news, etc.;
2. the process of sending and receiving messages through the air;
broadcasting programmes for people to listen to;
3. a way to communicate with your partner who might be a thousand miles
away using the computer (e-mails);
4. broadcasting programmes (the news, plays, advertisements, shows, etc.)
for people to watch on their television sets.
MASS MEDIA IN OUR LIFE
The mass media play an important part in our lives. Newspapers, radio
and especially TV inform us of what is going on in this world and give us
wonderful possibilities for education and entertainment. They also shape our views
and influence the way we see the world. There are a lot of different TV programs
and newspapers: a quiz show, a review, a commentary, an entertainment program
on TV and a quality newspaper (a broadsheet), a tabloid, a local paper.
Of course, not all TV programs and newspapers report the events
objectively, but serious journalists and TV reporters try to be fair and prove us
with reliable information. It is true that the world today is full of dramatic events
and most news seems to be bad news. But people aren’t interested in ordinary
events. That’s why, there are so many programs and articles about natural
disasters, plane crashes, wars, murders and robberies. Good news doesn’t usually
make headlines. Bad news does.
Some people say that journalists are given too much freedom. They often
intrude on peoples’ private lives, they follow celebrities and print sensational
stories about them, which are untrue or half-true. They take photos of them in their
most intimate moments. The question is- should this be allowed? Do you
remember hoe paparazzi pursued Diana, Princess of Wales, to the scene of her
death in Paris on August 31, 1997? Who was guilty of this accident? It is quite
possible that journalists were, isn’t it?
The main course of news for millions people is television. People like TV
news because they can see everything with their own eyes. And that’s an important
advantage. Seeing as we know is believing. Besides, it’s much more difficult for
politicians to be in front of the cameras than on the pages of a newspaper.
Still, many people prefer the radio. It’s good to listen to in the car, or in the
open air, or when you do something about the house. Newspapers don’t react to
events as TV, but they usually provide us with extra details, comment and
background information.
The Internet has become another important source of information. It’s main
advantage is that news appears on the screen as soon as things happen in real life
and you don’t have to wait for news on TV.
Post-Listening Activity.
T: Listen to the statements, put “+” if it is true and “–” if it’s false.
1. The mass media is an essential part of life of modern people.
2. Newspapers, radio and TV prefer to make reports, or give information
about extraordinary events.
3. Sometimes newspaper’s journalists and TV or radio reporters use
inadequate information and facts.
4. It’s much more difficult for politicians to be in front of the cameras than
on the pages of a newspaper.
5. People say that some journalists assume the right to meddle with other
people’s lives.
6. All journalists print various stories about the famous people and don’t
care about it.
7. People like to watch TV news more than listen to the radio and read
newspapers because TV is a thrilling sight.
8. Politicians don’t like to take part in a quiz show or talk show on TV
because of falsehood.
9. You can listen to the radio everywhere you want and you don’t disturb
the public peace.
10. Newspapers, radio and TV react to events together at the same time.
T: Complete the sentences with the words and phrases.
1….. play the important part in our lives.
2. ……, …. and especially … inform us of what is going on in this world.
3. …… is a newspaper with small pages and short articles, a lot of pictures
and shot stories about famous people.
4. Serious journalists and …. try to be fair and prove us with reliable
information.
5. Good … doesn’t usually make headlines.
6. People say that journalists often …. on people’s private lives.
7. When something is not true it is called …. .
8. People like to watch TV because TV is … .
9. The reporters follow … and print … information about them.
10. The paparazzi … Diana, Princess of Wales, to the scene of her death in
Paris on August 31, 1997.
