MASS MEDIA

Communication is a process of sending and receiving information. The press (newspapers and magazines),
radio, television - all that is called MEDIA. The Media is a general term describing newspapers,
magazines, radio and television. It is also called the mass media, because it brings information to large
numbers of people.
The mass media bring news about what has happened in the world. They play an important role in everyone
´s life. They provide not only news but also education and entertainment.

Types of media:
- there are 4 main sorts of media: 1. press: newspapers and magazines, 2. television, 3. radio, 4. internet
Traditional media are newspapers, TV, radio and magazines. New media are internet, websites, blogs,
DVDs. Part of new media are SOCIAL MEDIA. Examples – websites and apps. Websites for sharing
information, pictures and events. We can communicate online or follow famous people. This we can do
through apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat. Firstly I want to talk about social
media, because nowadays a lot of people are spending their time on social websites.

PROS
– long distances between people => connect people
– find out information easily
– follow your favourite famous people
– really good for making business
– sharing what you want – videos, photos, ideas
-- a source of information (news programmes)
– a way of education (educational programmes)
– a kind of entertainment (films, shows, quiz, cartoons, podcasts, games)
– a way of getting rid of stress, of relaxation
– it might be a hobby for some people

CONS
– waste a lot of time
– cyber-bullying
– lost your privacy – everybody can find information about you
– everybody can download yours photos
– fake profiles
– you have to be careful and well educated because you can be addicted to this.

TELEVISION
= the most popular source of information for people = television programmes: mews programmes, weather
forecast, chat/quiz shows, documentaries, wildlife programmes, educational programmes, soap operas (TV
series about a group od people and their lives, each part is connected to the other, it usually have many parts
and runs for many years), sitcoms (amusing series, there is a different story each week about the same group
of people), films, cartoons, plays, dramas, breakfast/morning shows.

TV CHANNELS
a. commercial (supported by companies that give money to them for advertising of their products,
service) = Markíza, JOJ, Nova, TA3
b. non – commercial (supported by the state budget, donations, grants) = STV1, STV2
= pros a source of information (news programmes)
– a way of education (educational programmes, wildlife programmes)
– a kind of entertainment (films, shows, quiz, cartoons)
– a way of getting rid of stress, of relaxation (soap opers, sitcoms)
– it might be a hobby for some people = cons: – some people might become addicted to watching TV (they
spend too much time by watching )
– cartoons – nowadays they are different from the past, they are full of violence, bad language – children
learn from them negative aspects of behaviour, they are more violent, more rude, cheeky. (not all cartoons
are like that, we need to pick up the right channels, the right children programmes)
– children spend less time playing with their friends, they spend too much time sitting inside instead of
playing in the garden.
– news – full of information about crimes, murders, frauds etc., it may be an instruction for some people
how to get money by commiting crime.
– watching some commercial TV channels might influence our political view by getting not the objective
new

- news programmes – správy

- the weather forecast – predpoveď počasia
- talk shows
- quiz shows
- documentaries – dokumentárne programy
- educational programmes – vzdelávacie programy
- soap operas – telenovely
- films
- cartoons – kreslené filmy a rozprávky
- sitcoms – an amusing series in which there is a different story each week about the same group of people –
e.g. Friends, Married With Children, Beverly Hills …

THE RADIO
Some people prefer listening to radio to watching TV or reading the press. There is a lot of good music. The
news is read by a presenter and the radio offers many good programmes:

- news programmes – správy

- weather forecasts – predpoveď počasia
- chat shows – ako talk show – people speak about their problems
- quiz shows - kvízy
- educational programmes – vzdelávacie programy
- breakfast / morning shows – ranné vysielanie
- phone-in programmes – people telephone in to give their opinions or get advice
- documentaries – dokumentárne seriály

ADVERTISEMENTS
a. the purpose – sell the product == that’s why the advertisement exaggerate the effect of the product,
tries to be as attractive as possible, sometimes they are really silly but that is the purpose because it attacks
our minds and we may start thinking about it and we may buy it.
b. the effect may be negative, especially towards children, they believe in it and want the product, then
they can be disappointed since the effect is not as big as it has been shown on the advert.
c. old people are too trusting and they buy stuff that they see on TV, in fact it might be a waste of
money

NEWSPAPERS
 are issued daily or weekly; papers are dailies (daily) or weeklies (weekly)
 are made of not so quality paper
 usually black and white
 two kind of newspapares:
a. quality (serious) papers: in Britain usually broadsheets (large sheet) bring news that is objective,
serious, are read by those who expect serious news consist of : news reports, feature articles, international,
domestic news, political commentaries, business news, sport reports, reviews,
 in Britain (The Times, Sun), in Slovakia (Sme, Pravda)
b. tabloids or gutter press: in Britain – small sheets specialize in articles that are entertaining e.g.
gossips about famous people, features about stars, celebrities are heavily illustrated and the headlines takes
more space than the article itself, relatively poor of the quality
MAGAZINES
 are issued weekly or monthly
 are made of better paper
 usually coloured and more expensive
 intent on special topic
 divided according to:
a. special hobbies (gardening, fishing, hunting,computers, astronomy, sport magazines
b. different age: magazines for men, women, teenagers

QUESTIONS:
1. What are your favourite programmes on TV?
2. Can newspapers in Slovakia be divided into serious press and the “gutter” press? Give some examples.
3. Which is the most popular radio station in Slovakia? (Is it state owned or private?)
4. What is communication?
5. What are the mass media and what role do they play in our lives?
6. What Slovak (British) newspapers do you know?
7. What is the difference between serious and popular press?
8. What can be read inside the papers?
9. Why do people watch TV and what Slovak stations do you know?
10. What are soap operas?
11. What is the Internet and how it is used?
12. What are the positive and negative things about the Internet?
13. Do you have an Internet at home?
14. Do you listen to the radio every day?
15. What kinds of magazines do you like?
16. What programme do you prefer?
17. What do you do when there is an “advert” on TV?
18. Would your life be boring without TV?
19. Do you think the media have too much power?
20. What do you think about countries that ban or restrict the media?
21. Do you always believe the media?
22. Can you think of any examples of the media being irresponsible?

ROLE-PLAY:
Role-plays and simulations
1. - Student: You are a big fan of the Internet. You see only its positive sides. On the other hand, your
parents are against it. Change your opinions about this kind of media and its role in your life.
- Parent: You can see more negative sides of the Internet. Tell your son/daughter about its bad influence on
people´s lives and relations. /Role-play/

2. - Your friend has stopped going out and speaking with you because he/she has become addicted to soap
operas. Persuade him/her to spend time on more useful activities. /Role-play/

3. - Make a phone call to your local TV station. Firstly expres show satisfied you have been with the
programme so far. Give some suggestions how to improve its programme and explain your reasons
carefully. /Role-play/