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Mass Media. T.V., Newspapers, radio

In Britain more national and regional newspapers are sold per head than in any other Western country, a fact which emphasises the important role of the press in forming public and political opinion. The regional or local press is, compared to the national dailies, less significant, except in Scotland and Wales, which still have a strong national identity. But complete information can only be obtained by reading both a national and a regional paper. There are also numerous weekly, fortnightly and monthly ethnic minority publications being published by members of ethnic minorities e.g. Asians, Indians or people from the Caribbean. Newspaper reading is also part of the traditional British Sunday. National Sundays have a circulation of about 16 million copies (dailies of about 14 million).

The national newspapers, which are distributed throughout the country, are traditionally classified as either "quality" papers or "popular" papers. It is important to state that the striking difference between them reflects the gap between Britain`s social classes.

Populars are mass-circulation tabloids, which are cheaper in price and of lower standards. The so-called yellow-press is read by lower middle classes and working class people, and also by commuters. The format is the handy tabloid (which means small-sheet). There are words in bold face type, sensational headlines and illustration with (colour) photos to arouse the reader`s attention. The tabloids, which are written in an emotional, colloquial and informal style, use everyday English. There is a sensational treatment of news with emphasis on "human interests" stories and scandals; some of them are down-market in their use of sex to boost sales. Political reporting is superficial, articles are sometimes more openly tendentious.

National dailies:

· Daily Mirror

· Daily Star

· The Sun

· National Sundays:

· News of the World

· Sunday Mirror

· The People

As the name describes midmarket papers cover the intermediate market and are also tabloid.

National dailies:

· Daily Mail

· Daily Express

· Today

· National Sundays:

· The Mail on Sunday

· Sunday Express

The British press owes its international importance to seven papers with the highest standards. Those qualities are read by the educated and the élite, who normally have no problem with the format, which is mostly broadsheet. The full coverage of news is reliable and often gives additional background information. There is also a wide range of feature articles (e.g. on legal or financial affairs). Articles are mostly written by experts on the subject and are in formal, matter-of-fact, highbrow and sometimes literary style. Sunday papers include colour supplements with articles on travel, food, wine and leisure topics.

National dailies:

· Financial Times

· The Daily Telegraph

· The Guardian

· The Independent

· The Times

· National Sundays:

· Sunday Telegraph

· The Independent on Sunday



· The Observer

· The Sunday Times

The great majority of the national papers (70% of the circulation figures) express a conservative affiliation. This fact has frequently given rise to some criticism of the British press. The monopolistic tendencies of the British press are another area of criticism. 90% of the total circulation of the national press are controlled by only five "Press Lords" or newspaper groups. The Australian Rupert Murdoch (News International) already owns one third of Britain`s national press (The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun, News of the World). His media empire also includes newspapers in Australia, the US, Hong Kong and New Zealand as well as television broadcasting companies in Britain and the United States. Until 1986 The Times always presented an unbiased and balanced view of the political scene. Since the acquisitation by Rupert Murdoch the reporting has shifted to the right, and the paper has lost its dominant position in forming and reflecting opinion at the highest levels. The Independent (founded in 1986) is a quality paper which is not committed to any political stance.

Most British newspapers are situated in the Docklands of East London. Here they take advantage of modern computerised printing systems which were introduced to keep pace with soaring costs and competition from cable television. The overseas editions are printed in Britain, France, Germany, the USA, Japan and Hungary.

Radio and TV

Sound broadcasting is done by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and 44 independent local radio (ILR) stations. BBC radio provides four services over 32 local radio stations. An independent nationwide radio service is under consideration.

Television is provided by two authorities: the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA). The BBC (founded in 1922) is directed by a Board of Governors appointed by the Government. It is primarily financed by licence fees and sales of television programmes, recordings and publications.

The IBA was set up to co-ordinate independent television and radio stations. Its function is not to produce programmes, but to appoint companies to produce programmes, to supervise programme arrangement and to control advertising. Finance for these channels is provided solely by commercial advertising.

Direct broadcasting by satellite (DBS) has been available in Britain since 1989.

 

14. The Government and the Cabinet. The Prime Minister: functions and duties

Government ministers

Most ministers are members of the House of Commons, although the government is also fully represented by ministers in the House of Lords.

The composition of governments can vary both in the number of ministers and in the titles of some offices. New ministerial offices may be created, others may be abolished, and functions may be transferred from one minister to another.

The Cabinet

The Cabinet is the committee at the centre of the British political system and the supreme decision-making body in government.

The British Prime Minister has traditionally been referred to as ‘primus inter pares’, which means ‘first among equals’ and demonstrates that he or she is a member of the collective decision-making body of the Cabinet, rather than an individual who has powers in their own right. The Prime Minister is first among equals simply in recognition of the responsibility held for appointing and dismissing all the other Cabinet members.

Cabinet ministers are the highest-ranking ministers in the government, and most government departments have one Cabinet minister (or more). Most Cabinet ministers are titled ‘Secretary of State’ – although some have traditional titles, such as the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Chief Whip.

How Cabinet works

Every Tuesday while Parliament is in session, the Cabinet meets in the Cabinet room at 10 Downing Street to discuss the issues of the day. Government Cabinets have met in the same room since 1856, when it was called the Council Chamber.

The Prime Minister chairs the meeting and sets its agenda; he also decides who speaks around the Cabinet table, and sums up at the end of each item. It is this summing up that then becomes government policy.

Cabinet committees

In addition to the whole Cabinet meetings, a range of Cabinet committees meet in smaller groups to consider policy with other ministers who are closely involved with the relevant issue.

The Prime Minister decides who will sit on these committees, and the relevant committee is consulted for clearance before any new piece of legislation that an individual minister wants to introduce is brought before Parliament.

The Prime Minister

As head of the UK government, the Prime Minister oversees the operation of the Civil Service and government agencies, appoints members of the Cabinet, and is the principal government figure in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister is also, by tradition, the First Lord of the Treasury – and draws his or her salary in that role, rather than as Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister's unique position of authority comes from majority support in the House of Commons and the power to appoint and dismiss ministers. By modern convention, the Prime Minister always sits in the Commons.

The Prime Minister presides over the Cabinet, is responsible for allocating functions among ministers and, at regular meetings with the Queen, informs her of the general business of the government.

The Prime Minister's other responsibilities include recommending a number of appointments to the Queen. These include high-ranking members of the Church of England, senior judges and certain civil appointments. He also recommends appointments to several public boards and institutions, as well as to various royal and statutory commissions.

The Prime Minister's Office supports him in his role as head of government. This includes providing policy advice, tracking the delivery of government commitments and initiatives, and ensuring effective communications to Parliament, the media and the public.

 


Date: 2015-04-20; view: 1176


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