UNIT 4

MEDIA

SECTION A: NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES

PREADING TASK:

1. What are editors responsible for?2. What do you need to be a good editor3. Would you like to be an editor? Comment upon your statement.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A NEWSPAPER EDITOR

There is as much variety in editors as there is in newspapers and magazines. Some are very “hands-on”, writing copy and taking a keen interest in every stage of putting each issue together, having a say in every headline, picture and story. Others delegate much of the day-to-day running to other senior editorial executives and take a more strategic role, spending time out and about representing the publication its views.

Whatever their style, all editors are ultimately responsible for the overall content, balance, tone, look and direction of their publication. They have the final decision on all editorial matters – how important a story should be, how much space to allow it and where it should appear.

As well as working on current issues, editors have to be involved in the long-term planning of the publication and its direction, deciding on editorial policy and dreaming up ways to attract new readers and retain the loyalty of existing ones. However well respected an editor might be, he/she won’t last long if management thinks somebody else could boost the circulation higher.

Increasingly, editors are expected to act as ambassadors for their publication, giving radio and television interviews as often as possible, sitting on industry committees and generally doing anything that helps raise publication’s profile both within and outside the industry. No journalist works a nine-to-five day, but editors particularly are on call at all times and are expected to sacrifice much of their personal life and free time.

In newspapers, a key part of every day is the morning conference, when the editor gathers together the inner group or senior editorial executives, to discuss the contents for the next day’s paper. Each department head (news editor, sports editor, features editor, women’s editor, picture editor, etc.) presents ideas for the editor’s approval. On magazines, too, much of an editor’s day will be spent in meetings

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with other members of staff, looking at the art department’s layouts, discussing ideas with the features department, approving models with the fashion team, etc. All department heads report to the editor, who is ultimately responsible for the personnel of the magazine, appointing staff, deciding on salaries and overseeing their work.

All editors of major titles have had solid journalistic experience but you do not necessarily need to be a superb writer to be a good editor. You should have a constant fund of original ideas, the ability to see them through and sound creative judgement. Good editors are creative and innovative people.

Kathy Watson, an editor at Woman’s Realm, aged 32, speaks about her job:“I do all the obvious things: reading copy, choosing pictures, looking at

layouts and working on the cover. I plan ahead with all the department heads, control the budget, and work out ways to promote the magazine. I also act as a representative for the magazine, giving presentations, talking to the ad and production departments, doing radio interviews. I like being involved in management but I’m happiest here in the office, working out an issue.

You need stamina and resilience, because the hours are long and, on weeklies, the schedule is pulverizing. You’re holding at least four issues in your head at one time – one you’re planning, one you’re reading copy for, one you’re looking at layouts for, one you’re reading proofs for. I could stay until twelve and I still wouldn’t have cleared the work. And you need persistence: when you’re chasing a story, you may have made twenty calls but it’s making that twenty-first to get the right case history...

Getting the first break is the key and you have to be quite unfussy about the first thing you do. Once you’re in and you’ve done something, it’s easier to get on to the next stage – a lot of jobs are got through contacts. It’s extraordinary, though, how many people turn up for interviews without having even read the magazine. And I often feel that interviewees just aren’t well informed or well read enough. The more you know, the better you do any job – people should carry on learning as much as they can. You can always tell the subs who are well read because they’re much sharper about language.

Once you’ve got your first job, you should ask if you can do more. A lot of people are good at doing what they’re asked to do but don’t show any kind of initiative. The very good people are a real find and employers will do a lot to keep them.”

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TASK SHEET 1: Comprehension check:

1. In what way editors act as ambassadors for their publications?2. Which are Kathy’s main duties?3. What does she like best?4. How can you tell a person is well read?

TASK SHEET 2:

Decide whether the following statements are true or false by referring to the information in the text, then made the necessary changes so that the false statements become true.

1 The main task of an editor is to represent the publication and its views.2 The editor decides alone what articles should be included.3 In order to raise the newspaper’s audience, an editor gives radio and

television interviews.4 Editors sacrifice their personal life.5 The editor listens to the ideas of each department head, then he takes the

final decision.6 There is no need to be a good writer to be a good editor.7 It’s best to be good at doing what you’re asked to do, but also to have

initiative.

TASK SHEET 3:

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Fill each of the blanks in the passage with one suitable word.

The name of the news agency Reuters appears daily in thousands of newspapers and upon thousands of screens … over the world. ... success over almost a century and a half has provided an institutional ... of the power of news and its founder, Julius Reuter, ... his fortune by recognizing this power.

He began ... using carrier pigeons ... forward stock market and commodity prices from Brussels to Achen in Germany. In 1851, he moved to London and it was ... that he launched his telegraph agency. ... the end of the 1850, he had found success by ... a standard for news gathering and distribution. Reuter set ... to be ‘first with the news’, and often was. But above ... he placed accuracy, and alongside accuracy he set impartiality in news distribution.

For over a hundred years, Reuters was the news agency of the British Empire. In the mid-twentieth century the British Empire faded ... and Reuters ... have faded with it, but ... it made a new start, transforming ... into an international institution. This transformation has been linked to the revolution ... communications technology ... possible by ... microchip and it ... supplies computerized economic news and information ... screen to business people working increasingly within a global economy.

TASK SHEET 4:

Complete each sentence, using one of the words given:

circulation claim forecast gist issue

layout outline sensational source summary

1. This page looks very crowded and I don’t like the…….2. Mass circulation newspapers usually specialize in …… stories.3. Don’t include all the details. Just write a …… of what happened.

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4. Both articles …… that the economy will recover by the end of the year.

5. Both newspapers …… to be the new product at a press conference next week.

6. The journalist refused to disclose his …… to the judge.7. This article will be continued in our next …… .8. The Sunday News has the highest …… of any newspaper in Britain.9. I understood the …… of the article, but I didn’t read it in detail.

10. Just tell me the …… of the story.

TASK SHEET 5:

Match each word given with one of the definitions:

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Involving active participation

The title or caption of a newspaper article, usually set in large type

Occurring on a routine or daily basis

An authorized messenger or representative

A special group delegated to consider some matter

Degree of exposure to public notice

An exchange of views

The total sum of money allocated for a particular purpose or period of time

A plan for performing work or achieving an objective

A person or firm that employs workers

ambassador

budget

committee

conference

day-to-day

employer

hands-on

headline

profile

schedule

SECTION B: TELEVISION AND RADIO

PREADING TASK:

1. What are editors responsible for?2. Would you like to be a television editor? Comment upon your statement.3. What is the difference between a television editor and a producer?

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TELEVISION EDITOR

An editor determines the style and content of a programme. He/she may be in charge of a specific programme or, in a series or strand responsible for the whole operation. In radio, an editor might be responsible for four of five different programmes, with a producer on each looking to her for guidance and ultimate editorial authority. Precise tasks vary from editor to editor, but generally the role is managerial and might encompass such aspects as planning, handling budgets, managing staff and taking the final decision on programme content.

In news and current affairs the news editor decides which stories to include in a bulletin and which to ignore, how long to give them and where to place them in the running order, that is, the order of priority. Every day he/she chairs the newsroom’s morning conference to discuss stories, leads and ideas. Before getting in to work, the team will have scanned the papers and listened to news bulletins to catch up with what’s going on and check for stories to follow up. There will be planned events and conferences in the diary for that day. Once the news editor knows what he/she’s got to choose from, he/she assigns reporters to stories and has to keep tabs on who’s chasing what and what resources are allocated where. She also considers how to use graphics or video clips to bring stories alive.

Throughout the day, regular meetings will be held to update the situation for each bulletin. As well as working on today’s stories, the editor will also be noting those to be followed up the next day. Depending on the size of the programme, there may be a deputy or managing editor, also at senior level, and perhaps a home editor and foreign editor responsible for co-ordinating domestic and international news. In a small regional newsroom, one person might fill in the role.

Sara Nathan, an editor for Channel Four News, aged 39, speaks about her job:

“As editor I’m responsible both editorially and managerially for the news which transmits each weekday night at seven. I am also in charge of bulletins at the weekend, House to House (a parliamentary programme transmitted when Parliament is sitting), plus other programmes as commissioned. Each day, with the

output editor and team, I decide which topics to cover and how. This starts with a meeting at 9.30. Progress is updated and reviewed throughout the day, specifically at 11.30 and 14.30. After transmission, I review the programme with the team. The rest of the time I struggle with budgets and future coverage.

The combination of editorial decision-making and general management is extremely stimulating. The job calls for a mind which questions and enjoys being stretched, an ability and interest in structuring items and programmes, a commitment to a large team and a temper that can be kept or lost at will!

I would advise anyone hoping to work in news to get a good degree, not in media studies but in something tough and rigorous. Don’t waste your time at university drinking coffee: do something-act, write, play politics. Read the papers and listen to and watch the news – it’s amazing how many don’t.

Once you’ve got into the industry, you need to do more than is expected of you and be more available and willing than anyone else. At least in the first stages of a career, get in early and read everything you can. Don’t bluff and never guess – ask if you don’t know. Never suggest an idea without thinking of the treatment but suggest lots of ideas. And keep within budget!

Newsrooms are often macho but actually the problem is being a parent rather than a woman. The hours are long – nearly twelve hours most days – and can be erratic. I would find film - making impossible as it means going away too much. Women in news, like men in news, need wives! Get established and preferably promoted before you have children – it really is a lot harder later.”

TASK SHEET 1: Comprehension check:

1. Who is responsible for coordinating international news?2. Which are Sara’s main duties?3. What does Sara find stimulating?4. What does she advise anyone hoping to work in news?5. What do women in news need, in Sara’s opinion?

TASK SHEET 2:

Decide whether the following statements are true or false by referring to the information in the text, then made the necessary changes so that the false statements become true.

1 One of the editor’s duties is assigning reporters to stories.2 House to House is a talk show.3 It’s extremely stimulating for Sara to review the programme with the team.4 Those who want to work in news must get a degree in media studies.5 Many people read papers.6 You can suggest ideas but think of the treatment first.7 It’s harder to have kids before being promoted.

TASK SHEET 3:

Fill each of the blanks in the passage with one suitable word.

After more than fifty years of television, it … seems only obvious to conclude that it is here to .…….. There have been many objection to it … this time, of course, and .……… a variety of grounds. Did it cause eyestrain? Was the .…….. bombarding us with radioactivity? Did the advertisements .…….. subliminal messages, persuading us to buy more or vote Republican? Did children turn … violence through watching it, either because so .…….. programmes taught them how to shoot, rob, and kill, or because they had to do something to counteract the hours they had ……... glued to the tiny screen? Or did it simply create a vast passive ……..., drugged by glamorous serials and inane situation .……..? On the ……… hand did it increase anxiety by sensationalizing the news (or the news which was accompanied ……… suitable pictures) and filling our living rooms with war, famine and political unrest? .……… in all, television proved to be the all-purpose scapegoat for the second half of century, blamed ……… everything, but above all, eagerly watched. For no ...…...how much we despised it, feared it, were bored by it, or felt that it took us away from the old paradise of family conversation and hobbies ……... as collecting stamps, we never turned it ……… . We .…….. staring at the screen, ………… that our own tiny reflection was in it if we looked carefully.

TASK SHEET 4:

Match each word given with one of the definitions:

1. budget a) The way in which something is said, done, or performed.

2. bulletin b) The person who finances and supervises the making and public presentation of a play, film, program, or similar work.

3. degree c) A brief report, especially an official statement on a matter of public interest issued for immediate publication or broadcast.

4. diary d) The subject of a speech, an essay, a thesis, or a discourse.

5. erratic e) A sum of money allocated for a particular purpose.

6. newsroom f) An academic title given by a college or university to a student who has completed a course of study.

7. producer g) A room, as in a newspaper office or radio or television station, where news stories are written and edited.

8. style h) Having no fixed or regular course.9. topic i) Any day of the week except Sunday.10.weekday j) A daily record, especially a personal record of

events, experiences, and observations.

TASK SHEET 5:

Complete each sentence with one of the words given:

bulletin campaign correspondent cover coverage

forecast media tune in wavelength

1. Over a hundred journalists will ……… the royal wedding next week.

2. Don’t forget to ……… at this time next week for part two of the programme.

3. If you can’t pick up the BBC in the summer, try a different ……… .

4. Some people feel that television should give less ……… to sport.

5. Here is a report from our political ……… .

6. What did it say on the weather ……… ?

7. This is a party political ……… on behalf of the Always Right Party.

8. What time is the next news ……… ?

9. This channel doesn’t have very good sports ……… .

10.The mass ……… in most countries are dominated by advertising.

Is it a future, a present, or a past event?

Gerund or present participle?

Gerund or present participle?

Gerund or present participle?

Give an antonym.Give a

synonym.

Give an example of another verb used with short infinitive.

What did he say?

Can you say there were?

Why not Clinton’s?

SECTION C

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

TASK SHEET 1:

Read the following article, and then answer the questions.

Taking Stronger Action

President Clinton is close to announcing a “very significant deployment” of personnel to the South to help prevent – not just investigate – arson at back churches. The White House would start by sending in federal marshals and personnel from agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to help community groups protect their local churches. If stronger measures are needed, however, Clinton may call on governors to activate National Guard units. “This is a change from investigating the fires to guarding against them”, says one Clinton adviser. Since January 1995, there have been nearly 40 suspicious fires at predominantly black churches in the South – and one last week in Portland, Ore., the first so far in the Northwest.

TASK SHEET 2:

Find straightforward headlines for these short articles that sum up in a short phrase what each article is about:

1 Valletta – the Maltese Education Minister, Mr. Carwels Mifaud Bonnici, said 64 Roman Catholic schools must reopen before there can be any

chance of a settlement in the education dispute. The schools, which lost their licenses after refusing to provide free education, have been closed since October 1 on Archbishop Mercierca’s order.

2 British Aerospace has won a two-week reprieve in its battle for a £20m aircraft order. European Commission officials are to look again at their decision to provide cash for Leeward Islands Air Transport if it buys French planes, which the Commission ruled were more economical. The airline prefers the BA Super 748.

3 Khartum – Sudan announced the arrest of a southern Christian leader and a number of other men, including military personnel, on charges of plotting with Libya against President Nimeiry’s regime. The National Security Council said it had uncovered a “criminal ethnic plot”.

4 Moscow – sixty-two years after he left Russia in the aftermath of the Bolshevik revolution, the remains of Fyodor Chaliapin, the greatest bass in Russian opera history who died in 1938, were reburied with pomp yesterday in the Novodevichi cemetery among heroes of Soviet life and culture. His remains had been brought from Paris at his children’s request.

5 Islamabad – Pakistan said two Afghan jets bombed the Pakistan border village of Arandu yesterday, killing four people and wounding five. The Afghan chargé d’affaires in Islamabad was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to receive a protest.

6 Montpellier – a football referee was shot dead during a local league match here by one of three men who interrupted the game by invading the pitch and haranguing the players.

7 Strasbourg – an ammunition collector blew himself up in a basement workshop he rented at the City Hospice, which had to evacuate 30 patients. Officials did not know he had stored there his one-ton collection of shells, grenades, mines, cartridges and mortar bombs.

TASK SHEET 3:

Here are some headlines from the daily press. Choose the appropriate explanation for each one.

1. STERLING’S FALL BRINGS PETROL PRICE RISE

a) The price of petrol will go up because crude oil costs more.b) The value of the pound has decreased, so petrol will cost more.c) The prices will rise because the value of the pound has risen.d) The price of petrol must rise because of a shortage of sterling.

2. SHELL PREDICTS PROFIT FROM ALASKA FIELD

a) The Shell Co hopes to discover oil in Alaska.b) Shell thinks that oil discovered in Alaska can be produced profitably.c) Oil produced by Shell in Alaska is more profitable than that produced in other parts of

the world. d) The Shell Co intends to sell its Alaskan oilfield.

3. US OIL IMPORTS CLIMB BY 21%

a) The price of oil in the USA has gone up 21 per cent.b) The USA imports 21 per cent of the oil that it uses.c) The USA now pays 21 per cent more for the oil that it imports.d) The USA now imports more oil than it did in the past.

4. ELF TO SHUT GERMAN REFINERY

a) Elf has been ordered to stop production at their German refinery.b) The refinery in Germany belonging to the Elf Company is going to close.c) Elf intends to reduce production at the German refinery.d) A refinery in Germany has been taken over by Elf.

5. BT TAKES STAKE IN ANGOLAN OFFSHORE FIELD

a) BP hopes to be able to buy Angolan oil.

b) The Angolan offshore field has been bought by BP.c) BP has found oil off the coast of Angola.d) BP is going to participate in exploitation of oil in Angola.

6. NORTH SEA OUTPUT SLIPS

a) Mistakes have been made in North Sea oil operations.b) Slightly less oil is being produced now in the North Sea than before.c) Figures quoted for North Sea production are wrong.d) Production of oil in the North Sea is more difficult than was expected.

TASK SHEET 4:

When writing about the future, journalists usually do not like to risk saying that such a thing will or won’t happen, and prefer to use other expressions, like these, which express a degree of probability. In this way, if the thing in question does not happen after all, they have not committed themselves!

Let us take a very simple future statement about prices. PRICES WILL RISE – it is a hundred per cent certain that they will go up.PRICES WILL NOT RISE – it is a hundred per cent certain that they won’t go up.But we can never be 100% certain about price movementList these expressions, beginning with the most definite one – PRICES WILL RISE – and put them in order of probability, finishing with the one that expresses exactly the opposite – PRICES WON’T RISE.

TASK SHEET 5:

Look at the following headlines from newspapers of the future, discuss which events are possible and which are very unlikely and speculate what the consequences of each event might be.

1. UNO agrees on single worldwide currency.2. Income tax rises to 50%.3. Unemployment rises to 50%.4. Voice-operated word-processor: no need for a keyboard.5. Substantial shortage of applicants for office jobs.6. Banking services to become a state monopoly.7. New type of nuclear powers stations completely safe.8. A computer on every school pupil’s desk.9. Number of retired people exceeds working population.10.Office cleaning by robots.11.World customs duties and tariffs abolished.

TASK SHEET 6:

The Kennedy family is one of America’s most famous families. Read the two articles carefully and compare them. Consider the fact that both Daily Mirror and The Sun are popular papers and tend to report stories dramatically with colorful language. Be sure to take into account the following:

- language style

- information included or excluded- the order of the information- length of the article - amount of detail

The Sun, Thursday, April 26, 1984

KENNEDY BOY DRUGS DEATH

Bobby’s tragic son is found in hotel room

MURDERED Senator Bobby Kennedy’s son David was found dead last night after years of drug abuse.

David, 28-year-old nephew of assassinated President John F. Kennedy, was discovered in a hotel room in Florida’s fashionable Palm Beach resort.

Police, alerted by hotel receptionist Betty Barnett, rushed to the scene and immediately cordoned off the building.

Mrs. Barnett made the horrific find in room 107 after David’s worried mother Ethel called the hotel from Boston.

Mrs. Kennedy was alarmed because she had been unable to contact her son for more than 24 hours.

She had been expecting fair-haired David to fly home early yesterday.David’s death is the latest tragedy in the history of America’s “first family”.In November, 1963, President John was assassinated in Dallas.In June, 1968, David’s father Bobby was gunned down in Los Angeles.In 1973 Senator Edward’s son Teddy had a leg amputated because of bone cancer.David’s uncle Edward whose own career crashed when he was accused of letting a

girl down in a car crash, said last light: “With trust in God, we all pray that David has finally found the peace that he did not find in life.”

Daily Mirror, Thursday, April 26, 1984

BOBBY KENNEDY’S SON FOUND DEAD

Rachel was the love of his life.

British actress Rachel Ward befriended David Kennedy after meeting him in a night club.

Later David described the Thorn Birds actress as “the most beautiful girl in the world”.

According to a recent article in Playboy magazine, Rachel and David had an affair. David told his friends she had no idea he used drugs. “I was back on ‘smack’ (heroin)” he said. “She had no idea of what I was up to.”

“I don’t know what she thought of all those little marks on my arms when I was naked, I guess she thought they were some odd Kennedy rush.”

Rachel once went in South Africa with him and she said afterward he gave no sign of being on drugs.

After they split, she started going out with folk singer Art Garfunkel. She married Australian actor Bryan Brown, who played her husband in the Thorn

Birds, last year.DAVID KENNEDY, who turned to drugs after his father Robert was assassinated,

was found dead yesterday on the floor of his hotel room.His body was discovered by a hotel receptionist alerted by his mother, who was

waiting by the phone for news of him.David, the 28-years-old third son of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, had been having

treatment for drug problems and had suffered from a heart disease which may have been brought on by drugs. But police refused to say last night whether drugs had caused his death.

“We have no evidence at this time of any drug use” said Joseph Terlizzese, police chief of Palm Beach, the Florida resort where David died.

David’s uncle, Senator Edward Kennedy, was last night on his way to Florida from Washington to find out details of his death.

In a statement, Senator Kennedy said:“This is a very difficult time for all the members of our family, including David’s mother, Ethel and his brothers and sisters who tried to help him. All of us loved him very much and with trust in God, we all pray that David has finally found the peace that he did not find in life.”

David checked into the L80 – a night-luxury hotel last Friday.Receptionist Betty Barnett found him dead after his mother phoned from Boston.

Miss Barnett said last night: “Mrs. Kennedy told me that David had not been seen for the past 24 hours, that she had not heard from him and that he was due to fly to Boston today. She asked whether I would check the room and see if his clothes had been packed. I went in and was shocked to fin David lying on his bed.”

She then went back to the phone to say that David was just lying there and that ambulance men had been called. Mrs. Kennedy asked to be phoned back with further news.

The ambulance men arrived and tried to revive David with electric shock treatment. But a few minutes later, hotel manager Dennis Heffernan phoned Mrs. Kennedy to tell her that her son was dead.

GRAMMAR SECTION

DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH

There are two ways of relating what a person has said: direct and indirect. In direct speech we repeat the original speaker’ exact words:

He said, ‘I have lost my umbrella.’Remarks thus repeated are placed between inverted commas, and a comma or colon is placed immediately before the remark. Direct speech is found in conversations in books, in plays, and in quotations.In indirect speech we give the exact meaning of a remark or a speech, without necessarily using the speaker’s exact words:

He said (that) he had lost his umbrella.There is no comma after say in indirect speech. that can usually be omitted after say and tell + object. But it should be kept after other verbs: complain, explain, object, point out, protest etc. Indirect speech is normally used when conversation is reported verbally, though direct speech is sometimes employed here to give a more dramatic effect.When we turn direct speech into indirect, some changes are usually necessary.This table summarizes some of the forms used in reported (indirect) speech:

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECHVERBS

Reports ReportedIs reporting Was reportingHas reported Had reported

Has been reporting Had been reportingReported Had reported

Shall / will report Should / would reportWill be reporting Would be reporting

May MightCan CouldMust Had to

PRONOUNSI he, she

We TheyMe Him, her

mine His, hersOurs Theirs

Myself, ourselves Himself / herself, themselvesThis That

These ThoseADVERBIAL EXPRESSIONS

Now Then, at that timeToday That day

Yesterday The day beforeLast week The week beforeTomorrow The nest dayNext week The following weed, the week

afterHer there

Orders, instructions, requests are commonly used with an Infinitive structure.If introduced with tell, order, ask, etc. They must have a Person Object: ‘Be quiet!’ - He told us to be quiet. ‘Would you mind not making so much noise?’ - He asked us not to make so

much noise.ButIf the speaker is making a personal request then the Indirect Speech form becomes:Subject + Reporting Verb + ‘IF’ + Subject + Request ‘Can I borrow your radio?’ - She asked if she could borrow my radio.

Indirect QuestionsRemember than when Indirect Questions are reported, they form two sentences connected by a Question Word, i.e. how, where, when, if etc.

Examples:

‘When is the next General Election?’ - He asked me when the next General Election was.

‘Did you vote for the Conservative candidate?’ - He wanted to know if I had voted for the Conservative candidate.

‘How long will it be before they publish the results of the referendum, Father?’, John asked. - John asked his father how long it would be before they published the results of the referendum.

Should/Would/Could/Might/OughtDo not change to the Perfect when reported, as to do would completely alter the sense:‘I could take the matter up with my MP.’ (possible future) He said he could take the matter up with his MP.

Note difference in sense: He said he could have taken the matter up with his MP. (was possible but not

done)‘I might be able to check that reference if I went to the library.’ She said she might be able to check that reference if she went to the library.

(possible future)Note the difference: She said she might have been able to check that reference if she had gone to the

library. (was possible but not done)

Unreal past tenses after wish, would rather/sooner and it is time do not change:

‘We wish we didn’t have to take exams, ‘ said the children = The children said they wished they didn’t have to take exams.

‘Bill wants to go alone, ‘ said Ann, ‘but I’d rather he went with a group’ = Ann said that Bill wanted to go alone but that she’d rather he went with a group.

‘It’s time we began planning our holidays, ‘ he said = He said that it was time they began planning their holidays.

I/he/she/we/they had better remains unchanged.

‘The children had better go to bed early, ‘ said Tom =Tom said that the children had better go to bed early.

Conditional sentences types 2 and 3 remain unchanged:

‘If my children were older I would emigrate, ‘ he said = He said that if his children were older he would emigrate.

Let’s usually expresses a suggestion and is report by suggest in indirect speech:

He said, ‘Let’s leave the case at the station’would be reported: He suggested leaving the case at the station. or He suggested that they/we should leave the case at the station.

Exclamations beginning What (a) ... or How ... can be reported (a) by exclaim/say that:

He said, ‘What a dreadful idea!’ or ‘How dreadful!’ =He exclaimed that it was a dreadful idea/was dreadful.

EXERCESE 1:

Put the following sentences into Indirect Speech.

1 ‘Don’t interrupt while the Mayor is speaking, children,’ said the teacher.‘There will be plenty of time for questions later.’

2 ‘You would have to work very long hours as a Probation Officer, Harry,’ the Careers master explained, ‘but there is a great deal of satisfaction to be got out of the work.’

3 ‘It says in the paper,’ said Philip, ‘that an undertaker was given a parking ticket for leaving his hearse on a yellow line while he went into a house to collect the body for the funeral service.’

4 ‘I’m sorry but you can’t watch that jazz programme on TV tonight, Johnny,’ said his mother. ‘Your father wants to listen to the Party political Broadcast.’

5 ‘I must get up early tomorrow, ‘ said Mary. ‘I’m going to watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.’

6 ‘When is my case likely to be heard?’ Mr. Simpkins asked his solicitor.

7 ‘If you want to know what I think,’ said Mr. Barnes, looking at his rates demand, ‘the Council ought to have something better to do with its time that trying to bleed the residents out of every penny they’ve got.’

8 ‘Haw long do you think it will be before there’¿ another General Election?’ Peter asked me. ‘I should like to be able to vote but I’m not eighteen till after Christmas.’

9 ‘Take this letter,’ Mr. Hill told his secretary, ‘and see that it is delivered personally to the Minister of Education.’

10 ‘Do stop arguing about politics,’ said Mother, ‘and come and have your supper. I put it on the table ten minutes ago. It must be cold by now.’

EXERCISE 2:

Put the following situations into Direct Speech.Example:

John wished he were old enough to vote in the next General Election.‘I wish I were old enough to vote in the next General election,’ said John.

1. His father suggested that Peter should take a Law degree if he wanted to go into politics.

2. The new MP was very worried when he found he had left the notes of his maiden speech at home.

3. He was surprised to hear that the vandals were only put on probation.4. The magistrate warned the boy not to get into trouble again.5. Mrs. Brown was delighted to hear that her husband had been elected to serve on

the local council.6. The policeman reassured the lost child and told her that he would soon find her

mother for her.7. The speaker apologized for not having checked the latest unemployment

figures.8. The shopkeeper thought there was something rather suspicious about the two

men waiting outside his shop.9. It’s a matter of complete indifference to Mr. Jones whether the Government

increases the tax on tobacco or not. He doesn’t smoke.10.Mary regretted not having taken her driving test years ago. She knew she would

never pass it now.11.Old Mrs. Jones was delighted when she learnt that the retirement pensions were

to be increased.

12.Mr. Stevens found it hard to believe that his son was going to vote Conservative.

13.In view of the size of Mrs. Harrison’¿ estate, the solicitor considered it unfortunate that she had not made a will before she died.

14.The woman uttered a scream of pain. She had cut her finger on the carving knife.

15.Alan protested that it was not due to his negligence that the thieves broke into the house. He had locked and bolted all the doors and windows before he went out.

EXERCISE 3:Change the following from direct into indirect questions.

1. He said, “How long does it take you to reach home?”2. I said to the shop assistant, “What is the price of the book?”3. The lady said, “When is the next train for Bath?”4. He said to the guest, “Do you want tea or coffee?”5. The stranger said to us, “Which is the way to the station?”6. I said to him, “What is your idea?”7. We said to them, “Where are you going?”8. The teacher said to us, “You must read text 39 at home!”9. The other day my friend said to me: “You must buy a new hat. That one doesn’t

match your suit.10.The shop-assistant said, “The shoe-department is downstairs.”

EXERCISE 4:Change the following sentences from Indirect into Direct Speech.

1. He said that he had lived in Paris for many years and knew the city very well.

2. I said I was sorry he hadn’t kept his promise.3. He told me not to call on him the next day as he would not be at home.4. A man came up and asked me where the post-office was.5. William told his friends that he had just come down from the University and

intended to stay with them for about a week.6. He said that he was happy to be back again.7. He asked me if I had taken part in the experiment.8. He told me he had not been able to ring me up in due time.9. She asked me where I had been all the morning.10.The boy said he had joined a sports club.

EXERCISE 5:

Put the following into indirect speech.

1. ‘Open your bag, please,‘ said the store detective.2. ‘Don’t use bent coins in a slot machine,‘ I warned him.3. ‘Follow that car, ‘ the detective said to the taxi-driver.4. ‘Always cook with butter,‘ said her mother, ‘never use margarine.’5. ‘Wait for me at the bridge,‘ said the young man.6. ‘Write to me as often as you can,‘ said his wife.7. ‘Put your pistol on the table,’ said the crook.8. ‘Don’t go near the water, children, she said.9. ‘Search the house,’ said the police sergeant.10.‘Put down that gun. It’s loaded,’ she warned.

EXERCISE 6:

Put the following into direct speech with the appropriate punctuation.

1. She asked if he’d like to go to concert and I said that I was sure she would.2. He said that the new carpet had arrived and asked where he was to put it.3. They offered me some more wine and I accepted.4. She asked the burglars who they were and who had let them in5. He asked what the weather had been like during my holiday and I said that it

had been awful.6. She said that she was surprised to see that the grandfather clock had stopped

and asked if anyone had been fiddling with it.7. I asked her if she’d like to borrow the book but she thanked me and said that

she had already read it and hadn’t liked it very much.8. He wanted to know if I was going to the dance and suggested that we should

make up a party and go together.9. My employer hoped I would not be offended if he told me that, in his

opinion, I would do better in some other king of job.10.He asked the crowd if they thought that he was a liar and the crowd shouted

that they did.

EXERCISE 7:

Read again the two editor’s stories and put them into indirect speech.

EXERCISE 8:

Match each report 1 to 10 with the actual words spoken from a to j:

1. Jim admitted that the might have taken it.2. Sue denied that she had taken it.3. Harry doubted whether he had taken it.4. Diana explained that she had taken it.5. Bill insisted he had taken it.6. Mary suggested that she had taken it.7. Ted confirmed that he had taken it.8. Ruth claimed that she had taken it.9. Charles repeated that he had taken it.10.Sally reassured us that she had taken it.

(a) No, I’ve definitely taken it. (b) I don’t think I took it.(c) Don’t worry, I’ve taken it. It’s all right!(d)What about me? Perhaps I took it?(e) Ok, perhaps I did take it after all.(f) Yes, I took it, I tell you!(g)Yes, that’s quite correct. I took it.(h)No, I certainly didn’t take it, I can assure you.(i) You may not believe me, but actually I took it.(j) You see, it’s like this. I’ve taken it.

EXERCISE 9:

Rewrite each sentence in indirect speech beginning as shown:

1. ‘I wouldn’t cook the fish for too long, Bill, if I were you,’ said Jean.Jean advised Bill…………………………………………………….

2. ‘Helen, would you like to come to lunch on Sunday?’ said Mary.Mary…………………………………………………………………

3. ‘Well, in the end I think I’ll take the brown pair,’ said the customer.The customer finally………………………………………………….

4. ‘Me? No, I didn’t take Sue’s calculator,’ said Bob.Bob denied……………………………………………………………

5. ‘Don’t forget to buy some milk, Andy,’ said Clare.Clare reminded……………………………………………………….

6. ‘Look, I might not be able to come on Saturday,’ said David.David told us………………………………………………………….

7. ‘Why don’t you go and see ‘The Sound of Music’ again, Brian?’ I said.I suggested………………………………………………………………

8. ‘No, you really must stay the night, Sophia,’ Ann said.Ann insisted………………………………………………………………

9. ‘Make sure you don’t take the A20 in the rush hour, Tim,’ said Jack.Jack warned…………………………………………………………..

10.‘You are not allowed to smoke in you room, Dick,’ said his mother.Dick’s mother…………………………………………………………

BASIC VOCABULARY:

agony column – curier sentimental

assistant editor- redactor adjunctbanner headline –o manşetăbreach of, intesion of privacy – încălcarea intimităţiibroadsheet – un ziar de format marechief editor – un redactor şefcirculation - tirajclassified advertisments – mica publicitateclose-up – un prim plancolumn – o cronicăcolumnist – un cronicarcomic strip – o bandă desenatăcontributor – un colaboratorcoverage - prezentarecredits - genericuleditor – redactoreditorial – un editorialeditorial-in chief – redactor şeffeature – un articol de fondfootage – peliculă înregistratăfreelance – un ziarist independentfront page – prima paginăgossip column – rubrica mondenăheadline – un titluin slow motion – cu încetinitorul, în ralantiissue – un număr (publicaţie)leading article, the leader – editorialul principallurid reporting – reportaj e senzaţiemedia hype – agresivitatea mijloacelor de informaremiscellaneous news – fapte diversemuckraking – goana după amănunte sordidenews agency – o agenţie de presănewshound – un reporternewspaper office – redacţie (a ziarului)newsreader, newscaster – un prezentator de ştiri, un crainicobituaries – rubrica de necrologuripeak time, prime time – orele de vârf, perioada de maximă audienţăpopular press – presa de senzaţiepress briefing – o conferinţă de presăpress release – un comunicat de presăprops - accesoriile

pull-out supplement – un supliment detaşabilrag – un ziar de reputaţie proastăratings – indicele de audienţăschedule – un program, o grilă de programeslander - calomnieslant - subiectivismslanted - tendenţiosslot – o tranşă orarăsubeditor – redactor, corectortabloid – un ziar de format micthe quality press – presa de senzaţieto cover – a acoperito feature – a face un reportajto get on in the profession – a fi promovatto give an account of – a relatato give coverage – a trata despreto slander – a calomniato tune in to – a se branşa peto zap – a schimba mereu canalele cu telecomandatop of the ratings – fruntea clasamentuluitycoon – un magnat de presă

FURTHER READINGS:

BROADCASTING IN AMERICA

Broadcasting, Radio and Television - primary means by which information and entertainment are delivered to the public in virtually every nation around the world.

Broadcasting is a crucial instrument of modern social and political organization. At its peak of influence in the mid-20th century, national leaders often used radio and television broadcasting to address entire countries. Because of its capacity to reach

large numbers of people, broadcasting has been regulated since it was recognized as a significant means of communication.

Beginning in the early 1980s, new technologies – such as cable television and videocassette players – began eroding the dominance of broadcasting in mass communications, splitting its audiences into smaller, culturally distinct segments. Previously a synonym for radio and television, broadcasting has become one of several delivery systems that feed content to newer media.

The Introduction of Television

Radio’s success spurred technology companies to make huge investments in the research and development of a new form of broadcasting called television, or TV. Unlike radio, television broadcasting did not go through o period of experimentation by amateurs. It was obvious to commercial broadcasters that there were enormous profits to be made from such an invention, and the dominant companies in communications technology raced to perfect it.

Modern Broadcasting

Broadcasting dramatically changed life in the United States wherever it was introduced. Radio brought news and information from around the world into homes. The experiences of professionally crafted drama and music, historically a privilege of the elite, became services expected by the general public. The networks brought the performances of talented artists to large numbers of people who were otherwise isolated from venues such as the concert hall and the theatre. The parallel growth of network radio and Hollywood sound cinema, both of which were launched as commercial enterprises in 1927, created an unprecedented mass culture for people of a wide range of social classes and educational backgrounds. The influence of broadcasting was further intensified by television during the 1950s but began to diminish in the 1980s as new technologies – such as cable television – launched a gradual process of dividing broadcasting’s audience into a collection of segregated groups.

Broadcast Programming

Despite the obvious differences between radio and television, the development of programming for both broadcast media is best understood as a single history comprised of two stages. Early broadcasting was dominated by adaptations of older media. Popular stage drama was redesigned for radio in the form of weekly action serials, situation comedies and soap operas. Vaudeville provided material for the radio comedy-variety program. Broadcast stations set up microphones in the ballrooms of urban major hotels where popular bands were featured. Daily newspapers provided the model for news coverage and in some cases announcers would simply read articles from the local newspaper over the air.

Today, television stations in the United States produce very little of their own programming, apart from daily local newscasts and a few public-affairs discussion shows. Most stations broadcast series, feature films, documentaries and world and national news coverage originating via network connections from Los Angeles and New York City.

Soap opera, or daily serial drama was originally developed as a daytime genre aimed specifically at a female audience. Soap operas explored romance, friendship and familial relations in slow-moving, emotionally involving narratives. The invention of the soap opera is credited to Irna Phillips, who began developing such programs for local radio broadcast in Chicago during the 1920s. Many of her radio shows were adapted for television, with some running first on radio and then on television for more than 25 years. Phillips’s productions include “The Brighter Day” (1954-1962), “The Guiding Light” (1952-) and “The Edge of Night” (1956-1984).

Other television program types include talk shows, sports coverage, children’s programming, game shows and religious programs, all of which originated on radio. New program types are rarely introduced in broadcasting, since audience familiarity plays a key role in determining programming.

Broadcast Journalism

The news – international, national and local – constitutes a natural genre of broadcasting and, in fact, one of broadcasting’s first purposes was to spread news of maritime weather conditions. Early experimenters and amateurs informed each other of everything from election results to local gossip. Unlike newspapers, radio could offer its audience live coverage of events. Television added instant images that dated newspaper photographs before readers ever saw them. The speed with which broadcasting could reach entire populations redefined the role of the

newspaper in American society. Print journalism became a supplemental medium, focusing on in-depth coverage and editorial opinion.

Radio broadcasting pushed the newspaper from its central position as the herald of public events and, as television proliferated, the importance of radio then diminished. However, the automobile soon emerged as an important location that isolated audiences from the television set. Accordingly, so-called drive time (7-9AM and 4-7PM; the most popular hours for commuters to travel to and from work) became radio’s prime time. Radio stations across the United States reacted differently to this development; many limited their prime time programming innovations to traffic bulletins, weather reports and time checks. Some stations adopted news-only formats, reflecting the medium’s need to cultivate specialized audiences as television held the attention of the masses. National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition” (1979- ) and “All Things Considered” (1971- ), for example, were developed to function as morning and evening on-air newspapers for sophisticated audiences.

The early years of television offered little news coverage. In 1956 NBC introduced “The Huntley-Brinkley Report”, a half-hour national telecast presented in the early evening and featuring filmed reports of the day’s events. The other networks soon followed. With the invention of videotape, the cost of such coverage dropped significantly, allowing individual stations to initiate and expand local news coverage. Network and local news programming, initially considered a nonprofit duty, soon became lucrative as broadcast news became an integral part of viewers’ everyday routines. Television broadcasting became society’s most popular source of information on current events.

In addition to daily news coverage, the networks also developed weekly prime-time newsmagazine series, such as “60 Minutes” (1968- ) and “20/20” (1978- ). Newsmagazine shows tend to consist of cultural reporting, investigative reporting and human-interest stories. They have proliferated in prime-time broadcasting, while all-news cable channels have been quicker to supply immediate news of noteworthy events. Although network news divisions regularly produced hour-long documentary programs during the 1950s, such as “CBS Reports”, almost all

serious American documentary programs are now produced by public television stations.

In the United States, television has had a noticeable effect on electoral politics and public opinion. For example, in 1960 presidential candidates Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy agreed to a series of debates, which were broadcast simultaneously on television and radio. According to surveys, most radio listeners felt that Nixon had won the debates, while television viewers picked Kennedy. Kennedy won the general election that fall. Television coverage of the Vietnam War (1959-1975) helped change the rules of American politics. By the mid-1960s the Big Three networks were broadcasting daily images of the war into virtually every home in the United States. For many viewers, the horrors they saw on television were more significant than the optimistic reports of impending victory issued by government officials to radio and print.

Commercialism in Broadcasting

In the United States advertising agencies produced almost all network radio shows before the development of network television and most early television programming as well. Stations often sold agencies full sponsorship, which included placing the product name in a show’s title, as with “Palmolive Beauty Box Theater” (1927-1937) on radio or “The Texaco Star Theatre” (1948-1953) on early television.

The ratings system now used in broadcasting arose from sponsors’ desire to know how many people they were reaching with their advertising. In 1929 Archibald Crossley launched Crossley’s Cooperative Analysis of Broadcasting, using telephone surveys to project daily estimates of audience size for the national networks. The A.C. Nielsen Company, which had been surveying audience size in radio since the mid-1930s, eventually became the dominant television ratings service. Nielsen became known for two techniques (both of which are still used): placing boxes in television sets in the homes of samplings of viewers to record their program choices and asking sample groups of viewers to keep diaries of what they watched. The size of any given program’s audience is then estimated, based on the reactions of these sample viewers. The resulting projections, or ratings,

determine the price of advertisements during the show and, ultimately, whether the show will stay on the air or be cancelled.

Noncommercial Broadcasting

Most public television stations produce no more than a weekly interview show or a roundtable discussion of local affairs and many do not produce any programs. Stations affiliated with PBS (PBS has no owned and operated stations) need not adhere to any network time frame and may schedule programs as they wish. A few public stations in large cities create and distribute the bulk of programming to all other PBS stations. The only daily programs offered directly by PBS are a one-hour newscast, “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” (1976- ) and several children’s programs, including “Sesame Street” (1969- ).

A section at the lower end of the FM band is reserved for noncommercial radio. About one-third of FM stations are public broadcasters, many of them licensed to educational institutions. They are financed in much the same way as public television stations: by individual donations, corporate grants and funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Public radio stations usually offer a wider variety of programming than most commercial radio stations. Many are affiliated with National Public Radio and carry some or all of NPR’s extensive news and information programming, such as “All Things Considered”, a daily 90-minute newscast produced in Washington, D.C.