British media

Fleet Street in London is the home of most national daily and Sunday newspapers. People often say "Fleet Street" to mean "the press".

British newspapers can be divided into two groups: quality and popular. Quality newspapers are more serious and cover home and foreign news while popular newspapers like shocking, personal stories. These two groups of papers can be distinguished easily because the quality newspapers are twice the size of the popular newspapers.

The quality daily papers are the "Times", the "Guardian", the "Daily Telegraph" and the "Financial Times". The "Times", founded in 1785 is considered to be the most authoritative newspaper voice in the country and is said to be the paper of the Establishment. The "Guardian" appeals to well-educated readers interested in intellectual and social affairs. The "Daily Telegraph" is bought by educated upper- middle and middle-class readers. The "Financial Times", printed on pink paper, is read by businessmen.

The "popular" press consists of the "Daily Mail", the "Daily Express", the "Daily Star" and the "Daily Mirror". In all newspapers there is a desperate fight to maintain or improve their circulations but it is worst among the "popular" papers whose main weapons are sex, scandal and sport.

Apart from London-based papers, there are many local newspapers. Most of these are evening papers (there is only one London evening paper) and many appear weekly.

Over 99 % of British homes have a TV set and an average person watches "the box" 26 hours a week. There are 4 (non-satellite) TV channels in Britain: BBC-1, BBC-2, ITV, Channel 4.

The two state channels (BBC-1 and BBC-2) do not show advertisement, the other two independent channels (ITV and Channel 4) do show advertisement. BBC-1 and ITV show popular programs (sport programs, recent films, the news, game shows, children's programs and soaps). BBC-2 and Channel 4 show programs, which attract much smaller audience: TV plays, classical concerts, foreign films and programs for minority groups. Only 8 % of British homes subscribe to satellite or cable TV.

"Soaps" are popular TV serials. Usually they show the characters' daily life. The story is usually entertaining but often unbelievable. They are shown 3 or 5 times a week and each film lasts about half an hour. The most popular "soaps" in Britain are: "Coronation Street"(it is about the working class in Manchester), and "Eastenders"( about those who live in the East End of London)

The BBC broadcasts on 5 national and 32 local radio stations, which are specialized, for example: Radio-1 - in rock music, Radio-2 - in pop music, Radio-3 - in classical music, Radio-4 in current affairs and drama, Radio-5 - in current affairs and sports. Radio-1 is the most popular- people like to listen to the radio while getting ready to go to school or driving to work. Young people and teenagers like to listen to commercial stations (they are about 150).

References: Fleet Street - улица в Лондоне, где расположены основные издательства; distinguish -различать ; circulation - тираж ; satellite - спутниковый ; advertisement - объявление; реклама ; cable TV - кабельное телевидение ; "Soaps" – «мыльные оперы» (сериалы) .

Ex.1. Answer the questions:

1. What street in London is associated with press?

2. What kind of newspapers are quality newspapers?

3. Why can the two groups of newspapers be distinguished easily?

4. What are the most famous quality daily newspapers?

5. What are the most famous popular newspapers?

6. Do Englishmen like to watch TV?

7. Do all English channels show advertisements?

8. What kind of serials are “soaps”?

9. How many radio stations are there in the UK?

10. What is the most popular radio station?

Ex.2. Make up questions to the following sentences.

1. There are two groups of British newspapers: quality and popular.

2. The "Times" is the most authoritative newspaper in the country.

3. The "Financial Times" is read by businessmen.

4. There are four TV channels in Britain.

5. BBC-1 and ITV show popular programs.

6. Only 8 % of British homes subscribe to satellite or cable TV.

7. Radio-1 is specialized in rock music.

8. Young people and teenagers like to listen to commercial stations.