In Britain
newspapers differ greatly from each other in the type of news they report and
the way they report it.
On the one hand, there are “quality” newspapers: The
Times, The Financial Times, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph. These papers
report major national and international new stories, with the world of politics
and business and with the arts and sport.
On the other hand, there are “populars” or “tabloids”, so
called because of their small size. Popular papers (The Daily Mail, The Daily
Express, The Daily Mirror, The Sun, The Daily Star) pay much attention to
sensational news, extraordinary events, catastrophes, accidents, private lives
of royalty and nobility, of people of art, of music and movie stars.
Popular papers use many photographs and cartoons. It is
often said that the popular press aims to entertain its readers rather than
inform them. The tabloid press is far more popular than the quality press. The
average circulation for The Daily Mirror is almost 3.200.000 while for The
Times it is 450.000. The most popular quality paper is The Daily Telegraph with
a circulation of around 1.100.000 per day, compared with The Sun’s circulation
of over 4.170.000. It is estimated that two out of every three adults regularly
read a national daily newspaper.
In addition to 12 national daily newspapers there are 9
national papers which are published on Sundays. Most of the Sunday papers
contain more reading material than the daily papers, and several of them include
colour supplements – separate colour magazines which have special supplements
with articles on music, TV, sports and a lot of advertisements of consumer
goods. Reading a Sunday paper, like having a big Sunday lunch, is an important
tradition in many British families.
Nearly every area in Britain has one or more local
newspapers – in England alone there are around 850 which are published once or
twice a week. Local papers report local news and advertise local business and
events.
Newspapers in Britain are privately owned and the editors
of the papers are usually allowed considerable freedom of expression. The
offices of most papers are situated in Fleet Street in the City of London,
which is the centre of British journalism. British papers are bought and read
not only in the United Kingdom but also in many other countries.
Exercises
- Look through the text and say what kinds of papers are issued in Great Britain.
- Fill in the gaps:
- British newspapers are very much different from
each other in the way they … news.
- There are …, which pay attention to sensational
news and extraordinary events.
- The popular press aims to … its readers.
- There are 9 national papers, which are published
on …
- Reading a Sunday newspaper is an important … in
many British families.
- Local newspapers are published … or … a week.
- The centre of British journalism is …
- Find the words and expressions that mean:
- A newspaper which is published every day - …
- A serious newspaper - …
- A newspaper which usually entertains its readers
- …
- A special colour magazine which is published on
Sundays - …
- A newspaper which reports local news - …
3. Answer the questions:
1. How do British
newspapers differ from each other?
2. What newspapers
present important political news?
3. What news do
“populars” pay attention to?
4. Is the “quality”
press more popular than the “tabloid” press?
5. Which newspapers
include colour supplements?
6. What information
do local newspapers publish?
7. Are British
newspapers privately owned?
8. Where are the
offices of most papers situated?
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий