MASSMEDIA
- What do you understand by the term „mass media“?
The term „mass media“ includes television, radio, newspapers, the Internet- they all are sources of information. They reach a very large audience, that is why they are called „mass“ media.
- What are the roles of mass media?
Mass media serve as sources of information, they follow world affairs soon after the events happen. In the case of live broadcasting we learn about current events as they happen. We can watch breaking news if there was an earthquake or a terrorist attack. The whole world can follow the media to get the latest information in short moments.
Mass media can also educate people. Documentary programmes take us to places we would never have chance to see and provide us with wide range of information without deep studying in a library.
Apart from the informative and educative function, the role of mass media is to entertain. People can watch films, series, sitcoms, soap operas, discussions, matches in number of different sports and much more..
- What are the positives and negatives of television?
Some people can be obsessed with watching television. It not only damages their eyesight but it also influences their lifestyle which is rather unhealthy without doing sports or meeting other people, without communicating with each other. If people watch TV too often, they read less. People can be influenced by violence and cruelty they can see in a lot of films and it can have a negative impact on young people´s mental development.
Advertising through TV commercials can be rather annoying and whether we admit it or not, it influences us, too.
The positives of TV depend on the type of programme. We can learn a lot if we watch documentaries or listen to discussions or if we watch films in the language we are studying.
- Describe those channels that you watch most often and why?
I mostly watch ........................................................................................................ because
it ...........................................................................................................................................
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- What is the role of radio nowadays?
There is a variety of different types of radio. Some radio stations broadcast music only, some offer various discussions, quizes, news, they provide people with advise specialised in gardening, healthy lifestyle, fashion..
Their role is similar to TV-to inform, educate and entertain.
- How do we divide newspapers?
Newspapers can be divided into quality newspapers and tabloids. Quality newspapers contain national and international news, reports from debates, reviews of the arts, features about fashion, sport and business news.
Tabloids or popular papers hardly publish any serious material. The articles mostly deal with various scandals of well-known people.
- What are the most popular newspapers in Slovakia?
The most polular newspapers in Slovakia are „Pravda“ and „SME“- which are daily quality papers, widely read and influential.
„Nový čas“ is a tabloid and also the best selling daily in our country.
- Can you name at least three quality daily papers in Britain?
Three quality daily papers in Britain are „The Times“, „The Guardian“, „The Daily Telegraph“
- How did the Internet change our lives?
The Internet made access to any type of information easier. Internet search engines can help us to find what we are looking for in a few seconds. Our life became much faster.
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet?
Using the Internet has number of advantages and disadvantages. The positives are: quick access to information, cheap e-mail communication, comfortable shopping..
The negatives concern the safety of personal information and the safety of bank transfers. Some young people can spend too much time playing computer games or chat with friends on different discussion groups which is really a time-consuming activity.
- Is there anything you would like to change about mass media and its role in everyday life?
I would like to change ...........................................................................................................
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the content..
the way how..