Unit 6 Mass Media Today (I) I. Thinking about the topic. Work in a small group.

Choose three of the following statements to discuss. Explain why you agree or disagree with each statement. Give examples to support your opinions. 1. The violence in video games has a very bad effect on teenagers. . !oung children cannot understand the difference between imaginary things and real things. ". T# news is a good way to stay well informed. $. %arents should closely monitor their children&s T# viewing habits. '. (odern machines and technology destroy a lot of the beauty in life. II.1 Read the following passage: The modern world depends on extensive communication between people) organi*ations) and governments. +apid transportation and electronic communication have shortened the distances between us) and most of us are now aware of what is going on in places far away. (uch of our news awareness comes from the mass media) including newspapers) maga*ines) movies) T#) and the ,nternet) which allows information to be communicated -uickly throughout the world. .owever) the rapid growth in the mass media sometimes raises -uestions about its value. /or example) although we get more information and news from the mass media than ever before) some people believe that today&s news is not necessarily of good -uality. Technological advances have given us the impression that we understand the world better because we have access to more information about it. 0ut this is not always true. The information we get may be inaccurate) one1sided) or incomplete. II. !nswe" the following #uestions acco"ding to the info"$ation in the passage: 1. .ow is the modern world connected2 . What does the mass media allow us to do2 ". Why do some people -uestion the value of the mass media2 II.% Read these #uestions and sha"e you" answe"s with a pa"tne"3 1. What kinds of mass media do you use most2 . 4o you think that the -uality of the news we get from newspapers) radio) T#) and the ,nternet is good2 Why or why not2 ". 4o you believe that technology helps us understand the world better than we used to2 Why or why not2 5taken from 6im 7anabria) Academic Encounters. Life in Society. Listening) Cambridge3 Cambridge 8%) 99': III. In this section you will hea" a two&pa"t lectu"e gi'en by (ed"a )$ith* a $edia e+pe"t who conducts wo"kshops about $edia and society. The title of the lectu"e is Dangers of the Mass Media. Ms. )$ith will desc"ibe what she belie'es a"e so$e ha"$ful effects of the $edia today. !fte" listening to the lectu"e twice* decide whethe" the following state$ents a"e t"ue o" false. 1. . ". $. '. ?. @. A. The phrase ;mass media< is used to describe television) newspapers) maga*ines and the radio. (ost =mericans watch T# for an average of six hours a day. >ne teenager accidentally died while setting a subway booth on fire. The term ;couch potato< refers to a person who spends too much passive time in front of the T#. =ccording to 4edra 7mith only the ,nternet can become addictive. The print media provides little space for advertising. %roduct placement is one of the latest forms of advertising. =dvertisers never collect or use private information about individuals.

I,. Match the wo"ds p"inted in bold with the co""ect definitions: 1. ,t&s a p"estige thing to cover the international news.

. ". $. '. a. b. c. d. e.

The human interest stories can be really uplifting. !ou should look at the t"ade&off if you consider accepting that Bob offer. (ost T# news is completely d"ained of all real information. 7he likes to read tabloids but usually takes the stories with a g"ain of salt. advantages and disadvantages of a situation consider something to be not completely true or right something done to look important positive) inspirational without) empty of

,. -o$e assign$ent: !ou are invited to conduct an experiment about television that was designed by the sociologist 0ernard (cGrane of Chapman 8niversity. ,t is called ;The 8n1T# Experiment<. +ead about how to conduct ;The 8n1T# Experiment<3 The Un&T, .+pe"i$ent !ou are going to watch T# for three ten1minute periods. ,n each of these periods) you will watch a different English1language T# program and do a different task. !ou will take notes about the tasks. (ake sure that you have everything you need3 a comfortable place to sit and write) a pencil or pen) and enough paper. The Tasks: 1. Watch any English1language T# program for ten minutes. Count how many times you see a technical manipulation 5that is) a change: on the screen) including3 a cut 5the picture changes to another picture) like a slide show: a fade1in or fade1out 5one picture slowly changes into another picture: a *oom 5the camera moves from a wide view to a close1up view) or from a close1up view to a wide view: a voice1over 5a voice explains or comments on what you are watching: another technical change 5describe it: . Watch a news program for ten minutes. count the number of positive images that you see. count the number of negative images that you see. make notes about any images that you particularly remember. ". Watch any T# program for ten minutes. 4o not turn on the sound. =s you watch) make notes about these two -uestions3 .ow interesting is the program2 .ow easy is it to distinguish between the program itself and the commercials2 = good way to record your result is to use a chart similar to the one below. Task 1 Task Task % Came of program Came of program Came of program Technical (anipulations ,mages Thoughts about3 5(ake a check mark 5D: 5(ake a check mark 5D: interest of program each time the manipulation each time the image ease of occurs: occurs: distinguishing program %ositive Cegative from commercials Cuts3 /ades3 Eooms3 #oice1overs3 >ther3 /ow analy0e you" data:

1. .ow many technical manipulations did you count2 . .ow many positive images did you see on the news2 .ow many negative ones2 What kinds of images do you particularly remember2 ". .ow interesting was it to watch T# with no sound2 .ow easy was it to distinguish between the program and the commercials2 5taken from 6im 7anabria) Academic Encounters. Life in Society. Listening) Cambridge3 Cambridge 8%) 99': 1ased on you" e+pe"ience* w"ite a one page essay a"guing fo" o" against the following state$ent: ;=ll of FthoseG who professionally use the $ass $edia are the shapers of society. FTheyG can vulgari*e that society. FTheyG can brutali*e it. >r FtheyG can help lift it onto a higher level.<