III. Fill in the gaps. Use the text “The Mass Media”. (See below. The text was given to the students in advance as a home assignment).
1. The role of the mass media is difficult to …………… . 2. They have become a daily and essential …………… with …………… men. 3. The mass media …………… about various aspects of life, form and …………… public opinion. 4. The mass media …………… press, radio, TV and the Internet. 5. The …………… was created in 1983. 6. Many people ………. the Internet for getting …………… , making friends and chatting. 7. British newspapers can be classified into …………… and …………… newspapers.8. Today Russia can be proud of the …………… of newspapers ……………throughout the country. 9. Radio …………… earlier than TV, but it has not lost its …………… . 10. Television ………… an important role in our …………… , not only as an entertainer and …………… , but also because of the ………… it has on many people.
IV. Memory work. Reproduce the sentences from ex. III.
V. Answer the questions. Dwell on the importance of the mass media in the life of modern society. Use the questions as a plan and go on speaking.
What do the mass media report about? 2. What do the mass media comprise? 3. When was the Internet created? 4. Is the Internet only an academic medium? 5. How can people employ the Internet? 6. Do people have full information about political, economic, cultural events in their country and abroad nowadays? 7. What kind of newspapers are their in Britain, the USA and Russia? 8. Is radio as important as it was earlier? 9. What role does TV play in modern society? 10. Do you like music programmes and talk shows on radio and TV? 11. What channels and programmes do you prefer?
The Mass Media.
The role of mass media in the life of the present society is difficult to overestimate. They have become a daily and essential necessity with contemporary men. The mass media report about various aspects of life, form and affect public opinion.
The mass media comprise press, radio, TV and the Internet. In this or that form the mass media come into every home. To understand the meaning of the mass media for the people it is necessary to consider every aspect separately.
The Internet was created in 1983. Since that time it has grown beyond its largely academic origin into an increasingly commercial and popular medium. By the mid- 1990s the Internet connected millions of computers throughout the world. People often use the Internet to read news, watch films, get information on different subjects for their work and studying. Besides, many people employ the Internet for making friends and chatting, buying and selling things, and so on.
Newspapers are usually issued daily, weekly, or at other regular times. They provide news, views, features, and other information of public interest and often carry advertising. So, today people have a chance to have full information about political, economic and cultural events in their own country and abroad.
In Great Britain there are no official government newspapers. British newspapers are proud of their individual styles. They can be classified into quality and popular editions. Quality newspapers are serious daily issues. They appeal mainly to the upper and middle classes. Popular newspapers are smaller in size and contain many photographs. Unlike quality newspapers popular newspapers are not so serious and their stories tend to be sensational.
In the USA daily newspapers are also of two kinds: quality and popular. “The Wall Street Journal” is a quality newspaper. It covers national and international news. “The Washington Post” contains full coverage of Congress.
Today Russia can be proud of the variety of newspapers circulating throughout the country. On the news stalls one can find newspapers of all kinds: national and local, official and private, quality and popular, newspapers issued for children, teenagers, people of different trends, for fans: sport-fans, car-fans, etc. Today there are a lot of local and professional newspapers in Russia. As for the magazines, today they are numerous. They cover all topics and interests, from painting and architecture to tennis, from aviation and gardening to computers and literary criticism.
Radio appeared earlier than TV, but it has not lost its importance. Nowadays there are a lot of radio stations of many types and so much variety. Talk shows and music programmes with disc jockeys are very popular.
Television plays an important role in our society, not only as an entertainer and informant, but also because of the grip it has on many people. Television channels easily go into people’s homes taking in their time and life.