Development of mass media

Module I. Development of mass media 

Unit 1. The history of Mass communications 

• What are your associations with mass media? Make a list of them.
• What mass media do you know? Classify them into some groups.
• What mass medium appeared first\last? Prove your answer.

 

   I. Read the text carefully to trace the development of mass communications step by step. Put in order the dates of appearance of all mass communications. 

History of Mass Media

   Mass media helps in connecting people and “brings the globe into our glance”. Let us take a look into the history as well as origin of mass media, which is also popularly known as public media.

   Mass media is a term used to denote a section of the media specifically envisioned and designed to reach a very large audience such as the population of a nation state. The term public media has a similar meaning: it is the sum of the public mass distributors of news and entertainment across mediums such as newspapers, television, radio and broadcasting.

   Mass media includes print media like newspaper and magazines, electronic media like radio, television and video and new age digital media like Internet, blogs and mobile phones. To know the origin and history of media, we should know the growth and evolution of mass media.

   History and Origin of Mass Media

   History of mass media can be traced back to the early days of dramas that were performed in various cultures. However, the term Mass Media originated with the print media that was also its first example. The first newspaper and the first dated printed book known as the “Diamond Sutra” were printed in China 868 A.D. Although it is clear that books were printed earlier. Movable clay type was invented in 1041 in China. But due to the high cost of paper and illiteracy amongst people, they didn’t prosper.

   Regarding the origin of the Mass Media, Europe can boast to be the primary source. It was Johannes Gutenberg, who for the first time printed a book in a printing press in 1453. This invention transformed the way the world received printed materials, although books remained too expensive really to be called a mass-medium for at least a century after that.

    Newspapers developed around from 1612, with the first example in English in 1620; but they took until the nineteenth century to reach a mass-audience directly.

   During the 20th century, the growth of mass media was driven by technology that allowed the massive duplication of material. Physical duplication technologies such as printing, record pressing and film duplication allowed the duplication of books, newspapers and movies at low prices to huge audiences. Radio and television allowed the electronic duplication of information for the first time.

   Of late, it is the Internet which has become the latest and most popular of the mass media. Here, information is been generated through various websites and search engines. One can play games, listen to radio while working and chat with friends and relatives, irrespective of location. It also gives information on various topics such as literature, politics, science, sports, fashion, movies, education, career, jobs etc. similar to other types of mass media.

   Thus, due to the progress of science and technology, history of media has evolved and reached the present-day world of internet, cellular phones, blogs and podcast.       (From “Journalism Today” by David Shaw)

2. Find the synonyms of the words in bold.

3. Write English equivalents to the following words: взгляд, происхождение, значение, развлечение, распространять, цифровой, безграмотность, размножение, огромный, болтать.

   Team work.

    In groups make a list of positive and negative characteristics of all mass media. (Think about health, coverage, target audience, quality, etc.) 

Unit 2. WORLD Journalism 

   Lead –in:

• Journalism is literature in a hurry. Matthew Arnold. How do you understand the given quotation? Do you agree with it?
• Who is involved in the sphere of journalism?
• Choose words which are connected with the profession of a journalist: information, entertainment, periodicals, reporters, interview, camera, paparazzi, facts, communication, connection, news, mass media, etc.
• Make a portrait of a journalist: his image, lifestyle, job, personality, etc.
• Choose the most appropriate definition of “journalism”:
• newspapers and magazines collectively;
• the profession of reporting or photographing or editing news stories for one of the media;
• the production of news reports and editorials through media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the Internet;
• the activity or profession of being a journalist. The aggregating, writing, editing, and presenting of news or news articles for widespread distribution, typically in periodical print publications and broadcast news media, for the purpose of informing the audience;
• process of collection, writing, editing, and publishing news;
• writing intended for publication in a newspaper or magazine, or for broadcast on a radio or television program featuring news, sports, entertainment, or other timely material.
• the discipline of collecting, analyzing, verifying and presenting information regarding current events, trends, issues and people.

    Give your arguments.

• Self- evaluation

   Is journalism for you?

   Asking yourself the questions below will help you determine whether journalism is a good career choice for you.

• Do you regularly read at least one newspaper or consult an online equivalent, such as GlobeandMail.com?
• Do you regularly watch or listen to television or radio newscasts?
• Is it important to you to keep up with current events?
• Are you interested in other people’s lives?
• Are you able to talk to a wide variety of people?
• Do you work well to deadlines?
• Are you persistent and willing to dig for information?
• Have you mastered basic writing skills?

   If you answered NO to even one of the above questions, you may want to think again about whether journalism is a good match for your interests and abilities. 
 
 

Unit 3. How to enter the profession of a journalist

Lead-in:

• ‘Jack of all trades’- how do you understand this expression? Does it describe a journalist? In what way?
• Who is a journalist?
• Why would you like to be a journalist? Explain your choice.
• What does a reporter do every day?
• Are you sure that you are suitable for this profession? Why do you think so?
• What salary do you expect?
• Comment on

   Hard-bitten, rude, hat-wearing, shouting people who unravel crime mysteries and call their editor “Chief”. Do you recognize who are these people? Yes, journalists as they are shown in movies. Give your commentaries on this stereotype.

   Continue the list of qualities of a journalist: curious, enthusiastic, dedicated, responsible, and energetic, …… . 

   I. Round-table discussion

1. Are you a cub (новичок) reporter? Prove it.
2. Have you ever asked yourself the following questions:
• What skills do I need?
• How do I get into the newspaper industry?
• What qualifications do I need?
• What do I have to study?
• How do I get started?

            Can you answer them immediately?

   3. Put the number of points you would give to each item according to the degree

         of importance for making a good career in journalism:

• An interest in current affairs at all levels
• A lively interest in people, places and events
• An ability to write in a style which is easy to understand
• Good spelling, grammar and punctuation
• An appreciation of the part a local newspaper plays in the community
• A willingness to accept irregular hours
• An ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Determination and persistence

             Explain your choice.  

   What You Need To Know About a Journalism Career

   A career in journalism seems exciting and glamorous. And in a way, it is. Your job will be definitely not boring because you get to experience new things and meet different people. Some will even have the chance to visit foreign lands and try out different food even while doing your job and getting paid for it. Some lucky ones will even have access to the most exclusive parties and hobnob with celebrities. They are treated like royalty and given freebies and gifts for their effort.

   But the same way that it is exciting and glamorous, it is also a harrowing and taxing job. Although they are seen to be partying and talking with people, they are actually setting the foundation for their work, which is broadcast news or a write-up on a newspaper. Even while talking to people, they are already subtly asking questions and forming conclusions in their head. It may seem like subterfuge but hey, that’s just how the industry works.

   Thus, they may appear like they are enjoying themselves but in truth, their mind and their heart is not really in the partying mood. They are instead working to get a story and get the facts for that story. And that can involve a lot of work. It’s not something as simple as asking questions. Journalists need to verify what they have heard and get a reliable source that they can quote. It would be good if they can get an interview with the person involved in the issue but most of the time, this is not possible so they need to find someone close to that person and get a statement from them. Finding a really reliable source is important if you want to create a credible name in the industry and also to avoid lawsuits and libel cases.

   Yes, journalists can be sued for what they have written. This is because what they write shape the public’s thought, opinion and perception of things and people. If what they say is not true, it can harm the image of a person, a business or any entity. Thus, it is important they be careful with what they say and write.

   Writing is not at all easy either. You don’t just write what you want and let the readers fill in the blanks. You need to be able to give them a complete set of information without really making it appear that you are. That is the beauty of journalism, giving them what you think without directly telling them or boring them with all the details.

   As much as possible, a journalist must be able to say what they mean in the shortest possible way that is interesting and comprehensible. This is especially true with broadcast news that needs to keep it short. The minutes are after all precious in airtime.

   A career in journalism may seem easy and ideal but like everything else in this world, it is not. When you really look at it closely, you will realize that it is as much work as being a secretary or being an office assistant. The only difference is you get to experience different things while doing your job. And maybe this is where the difference and the advantage of this industry lie.

   Still, to become a journalist, you need to be focused, skillful, passionate and generally good at your job like with every other jobs there are (Magazine “Profession – journalist”. № 5, 2009).

2. Match the words with their definitions:

III. Complete the sentences:

1. A career in journalism is ….. .
2. A journalist will ………., ……, ….. .
3. If a journalist tells a lie, he can ….. .
4. The advantage of career in journalism is …. .
5. To become a journalist you need to be ….. .

   IV. Find all adjectives which are used to describe the personality of a journalist.

   V. Presentation

   Choose one journalist and present his\her story of success or tell about a person who started the career from journalism.  

MAKING A PRESENTATION

   Most presentations are divided into 3 main parts (+ questions): 

   As a general rule in communication, repetition is valuable. In presentations, there is a golden rule about repetition:

• say what you are going to say,
• say it,
• then say what you have just said.

   In other words, use the three parts of your presentation to reinforce your message. In the introduction, you tell your audience what your message is going to be. In the body, you tell your audience your real message. In the conclusion, you summarize what your message was.

We will now consider each of these parts in more detail.

   Introduction

   The introduction is a very important  –  perhaps the most important  – part of your presentation. This is the first impression that your audience have of you. You should concentrate on getting your introduction right. You should use the introduction to:

• welcome your audience
• introduce your subject
• outline the structure of your presentation
• give instructions about questions

 The following table shows examples of language for each of these functions. You may need to modify the language as appropriate.