MASS
MEDIA
The mass media play an important part in our lives.
Newspapers, radio and especially TV inform us of what is going on in the world
and give us wonderful possibilities for education and entertainment. They also
influence the way we see the world and shape our views. Of course, not all
newspapers and TV programmes report the events objectively, but serious
journalists and TV reporters try to be fair and provide 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 is why there are so many programmes 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 people’s private lives. They follow celebrities
and print sensational stories about them which are untrue or halftrue. They
take photos of them in their most intimate moments. The question is — should
this be allowed?
The main source of news for millions of 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 lie in front of the
cameras than on the pages of newspapers.
Still, many people prefer the radio. It’s good to
listen to the radio in the car, or in the open air, or when you do something
about the house.
Newspapers don’t react to events as quickly as TV, but
they usually provide us with extra detail, comment and background information.
The Internet has recently become another important
source of information. Its 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 time on
TV.
True or False.
1. Three sources of information are mentioned in this article.
2. All the mass media report all events objectively.
3. People would like to know about extra ordinary events.
4. People are sure that journalists are given too much freedom.
5. Newspapers give us more details about events than TV.
6. TV reacts to events as quickly as the Internet.
Choose the correct answer.
1. The mass media gives us the opportunity ... .
a) to find a job b) to see the world c) to do homework.
2. People prefer to know about ... .
a) bad news b) good news c) all news.
3. To attract people’s attention to their reports some journalists write
... about celebrities.
a) ordinary stories b) true stories c) untrue stories
4. People prefer TV because they can .. .
a) see everything b) feel everything c) touch everything
5. When some people have picnics they enjoy ... .
a) TV news b) radio c) reading newspapers
6. When you use the Internet you get the news ... .
a) in a day b) just after appearing them c) simultaneously with TV news
