Television. Mass Media

Mass Media (that is the press, the radio and television) play an important part in the life of society. They inform and entertain people. They also influence the way people look at the world and make them change their views. Millions of people in their spare time watch TV and read newspapers. The daily paper dominates the family life at breakfast; TV dominates the life of the family most of the time. The TV set is not just a piece of furniture. It is also ‘one of the family’. It is also a habit-forming drug impossible to resist. Some people turn on the radio most of the time to create a permanent background noise. You can listen to the radio and do some work about the house, read a book or drive a car.

On the radio one can hear music, news and various commentary and discussions called forums. At a forum several authorities exchange views on social, economic and political problems. Such broadcasts are popular with the listeners. A peculiar feature of the American radio is soap opera. It is a sentimental drama which deals with domestic problems but housewives like them. Most people find soap operas boring. Different radio and TV games, such as, for example, quiz programmes on TV also attract a large audience. During these programmes viewers answer various questions.

There is a lot of advertising on TV and radio. Big corporations or individuals own some of the TV and radio stations. The owners can advertise whatever they choose. Advertisements occupy most of the radio and TV time. The firms also sponsor shows and programmes that make people buy their goods. Such programmes attract people not only because they provide entertainment. There are valuable prizes for the correct answer to the main question, such as a video or radio cassette-recorder or a stereo music center and speakers. The sponsoring firm makes a great profit on such programmes. The more people attend the show, the greater the profit of the firm is.

Advertising promotes business and benefits businessmen but often annoys the general public. Commercials may interrupt the play you are watching on TV. First they offer you to use a new perfume or a detergent, then they promote a certain beer, etc. Though people are used to commercials, such programmes give people headache instead of relaxation.

But it is hardly fair to say that the media do not try to raise the cultural level of the people or to develop their artistic taste. Many of the TV programmes are in good taste and show great professional skill. Radio stations broadcast about ten thousand hours of musical programmes weekly. But the radio and television bring into millions of homes not only entertainment and news but also cultural and educational programmes.

Television or TV is one of the most important means of information and communication. It is difficult to say if it is good or bad for us. We have different channels on TV. The programmes are now transmitted in colour. We can watch musical, political, sport, news and cultural programmes. The political programmes inform us about the current events and the latest news. For example, on Saturday at 11 o’clock in the evening we can watch the political programme P. S. where the author tells us about the most important and interesting news of the week. We also can watch feature films, thrillers, animated cartoon films, actions, comedies, performances, sports matches and competitions and concerts on TV. There are such special programmes for children and teenagers as …….

BBC channel is one of the most serious in Great Britain. It shows political programmes, films, shows, operas.

But some people think that it is bad to watch TV and do nothing. People are passive when they watch TV. Very often the programmes are bad. They show much violence in films and new programmes. There is too much ads which are not always decent. I think that television is rather good and useful if you can choose what and when to watch. My favourite TV programmes are ……………

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 2296