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Press and Media
The term mass media in English refers basically to TV, radio and newspapers : means of communication which reach very large numbers of people. This page looks at some useful words for talking about the mass media and about publishing in general.
Headline English
Headline writers try to catch the reader's eye by using as few words as possible.The language headlines use is unusual in a number of ways.
Grammer words like articles or auxiliary verbs are often left out ("Early cuts forecast in inerest rates")
A simple form of the verb is used ("POP STAR OPENS HOSPITAL TODAY")
The infinitive is used to express the fact that something is going to happen in the future ("PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT MINE")
Newspaper words
Newspaper headlines use a lot of distinctive vocabulary.They prefer words that are shorter and generally sound more dramatic than ordinary English words.
aid - help
axe - cut,remove
back - support
bar - exclude forbid
bid - atempt
blast - explosion
blaze - fire
boost - encourage
boss - manager,director
head - manager,director
clash - dispute
curb - restraint,limit
cut - reduction
drama - tense situation
drive - campaign,effort
gems - jewels
go-ahead - approval,permission
hit - affect badly
key - essential,vital
link - connection
move - step towards a desired end
ordeal - painful experience
oust - push out
plea - request
pledge - promise
ploy - clever activity
poll - election/public opinion survey
probe - investigation
quit - leave,resign
riddle - mystery
strife - conflict
talks - discussions
threat - danger
vow - promise
wed - marry
Newspaper headines often use abbreviations ("PM" for Prime Minister,MP for Memeber pf parliament- politician)
Some newspapers also enjoy making jokes in their headlines.They do this by playing with words or "punning"
Example headlines (and the topic)
PM BACKS PEACE PLAN (proposal to end war)
MP SPY DRAMA (politician sells secrets to enemy)
STAR WEDS (marriage of a famous actress)
KEY WITNESS DEATH THREAT (person who say crime in danger)
more examples
MOVE TO CREATE MORE JOBS
GO-AHEAD FOR WATER CURBS
POLL PROBES SPENDING HABITS
BID TO OUST PM
Radio and television
Types of TV programes
documentaries
news broadcasts
current affairs programmes
soap operas
quizzes
sitcoms
drama
chat shows
detective stories
sports programmes
weather forecasts
music programmes
game shows
variety shows
commercials
A serial is a story that continues from one programme or episode to the next.A series is about the same characters or has the same format each week but each programme is complete in itself.
Vocabulary
TV aerial
remote control
satelitte dish
camcorder
a video tape/cassette
forward rewind play pause stop
channel
to tune
headset/headphones
Newspapers and publishing
Parts of the newspaper
headlines
news reports
the editorial
feature articles (fashion|social trends)
horoscope
cartoons
crossword
small ads
business news
sports reports
scandal
the letters page
A popular or tabloid newspaper focuses more on sensation than real news whereas a quality newspaper ( a broad sheet) professes to be more interested in real news than in sensat,on.A tabloid usually has a smaller format than a quality paper,it has larger headlines and shorter stories and,in Britain,it prefers stories about film stars,violent crimes and royal family scandals.
A journal is the name usually given to an academic magazine.A colour supplement is a magazine which comes out once a week (often on sundays) as an addition to a newspaper.A comic is a magazine,usually for children or teenagers, with lots of p,icture stories and/or cartoons.
Have a look at some of these sentences:
The BBC world service broadcasts throughout the world
I can recieve (pick up) broadcasts from Moscow on my radio.
They're showing a good film on TV tonight.
The film was shot on location in Spain.
They cut / censored the film before showing it on TV.
This article / programme has been badly edited
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Last updated March 2006
web design by Glen Croucher,2006