15. MASS MEDIA
Communication is a process of sending and receiving information. The press (newspapers and magazines), radio, television - all that is called MEDIA. The mass media bring news about what has happened home and in the world. They play an important role in everyone´s life. They provide not only news but also education and entertainment. Papers are dailies (daily) or weeklies (weekly).
Papers can be divided into quality papers - tabloids, popular papers. Quality papers are read by those readers who expect to find serious news. The popular papers (or gutter press) is relatively poor. They contain a number of features about stars, sports and celebrities; they tend to be heavily illustrated.
Typical sections found in newspapers are leader or editorial (written either by the Editor-ne-Chief or some other important personality), news reports, international/domestic news, political commentaries, business news, cartoons, crosswords, sports reports, advertisements, obituaries…
Modern life is closely connected with radio and television (some people switch on TV or radio just as a background noise). Radio and television stations can be divided into two categories: commercial and non-commercial. Programmes in television are chat/talk shows, quiz shows, comedies, cartoons, sitcoms, serials, breakfast shows, morning shows, soap operas, documentaries, wildlife programmes, nature programme, the news, weather forecast, travelogues, plays, dramas…
QUESTIONS:
- What are your favourite programmes on TV?
- Can newspapers in Slovakia be divided into serious press and the “gutter” press? Give some examples.
- Which is the most popular radio station in Slovakia? (Is it state owned or private?)
- What is communication?
- What are the mass media and what role do they play in our lives?
- What Slovak (British) newspapers do you know?
- What is the difference between serious and popular press?
- What can be read inside the papers?
- Why do people watch TV and what Slovak stations do you know?
- What are soap operas?
- What is the Internet and how it is used?
- What are the positive and negative things about the Internet?
- Do you have an Internet at home?
- Do you listen to the radio every day?
- What kinds of magazines do you like?
- What programme do you prefer?
- What do you do when there is an “advert” on TV?
- Would your life be boring without TV?