Mass Media in the XX century

During the 20th century, the growth of mass media was driven by technology, including that which allowed much 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. Mass media had the economics of linear replication: a single work could make money. As volumes went up, unit costs went down, increasing profit margins further. Vast fortunes were to be made in mass media. In a democratic society, the media can serve the electorate about issues regarding government and corporate entities. Some consider the concentration of media ownership to be a threat to democracy.

Mass Media in the us

The first American newspaper was called Public Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestic. This paper was first published in Boston in 1690. Now there are about 2,600 newspapers published in the USA. The New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times are three of the most important daily papers that describe foreign and domestic news.

The radio does not interfere with your activities. You can listen to the radio while doing some work about the house, reading a book or driving a car. On the radio one can hear music, plays, news, and different commentary and discussions called ‘forums’. At a forum several authorities exchange views on social, economic and political problems. A peculiar feature of the American radio is soap opera. It is a sentimental serial drama that describes domestic problems and which is for housewives. Soap opera is usually broadcast every day. Most people find soap opera boring. There ate a lot of games on the radio. They are called ‘panel games’. Radio brings also cultural and educational programs. Many programs are made up of classical music.

Television is considered a ‘chewing gum for ears and eyes’. There are many serials on TV in the USA. They appeared in the 1950s. TV games attract a large audience, too. During TV quiz programs TV viewers answer different questions. There is a lot of education on television. For example, you can take a TV course in history, political economy, management, banking and in many other subjects, or learn a foreign language by TV. Educational TV films and programs are shown in schools and colleges as a part of the curriculum.

PART 1.

Text-based tasks.

1. Text-based questions.

1. What is "Diamond Sutra"?

2. What significant invention was made in 1041?

3. Who invented the printing press?

4. When did the first English newspapers appear?

5. Why did the audio-visual facilities become so popular?

6. What happened to the unit cost when the volumes went up?

7. What mass media factor considered to be a threat to democracy and why?

8. Where was the first American newspaper published?

9. What is a radio forum?

10. Does TV play any role in school education?

2. What do these figures refer to?

1. 20

2. 2600

3. 3

4. 1400

5. 19

6. 1041

7. 1950

8. 1690

9. 868

10. 1800

11. 1620

12. 1453

13. 1612

3. Explain these words in English.

1. Ancient – …

2. To trace – …

3. Literacy – …

4. Clay – …

5. To coin – …

6. Previously – …

7. To enable – …

8. Circulation – …

9. Feedback – …

10. Ownership – …

11. To interfere – …

12. Profit – …

13. Threat – …

14. Replication – …

15. Curriculum – …

4. Make a crosswords based on the words from the text.

5. Underline all the irregular verbs in the text and give the three forms of them.

6. Render this text in English.