Copy of Texts for Class 10

1. Comprehension

The Case for Television Journalism

Pleading for television journalism, Eric Sevareid cites criticism normally put forward by newspaper journalists and intellectuals in order to refute it afterwards. Find the missing criticism or rebuttal.

2. Opinion Poll

Following the text by Eric Sevareid, make up your mind about the relationship between print journalism and TV journalism by preparing and carrying out an opinion poll to be published in a student magazine. Develop a questionnaire including questions about

•the attractiveness of print or electronic journalism

•the standard of print and electronic journalism

•the average time spent reading papers and watching TV

•the dangers of TV as pointed out by some intellectuals

•the criticism of TV by print journalists

•the future development of print and electronic media.

Remember to offer at least three alternative answers to each question.

Example: Which medium do you resort to when you want to be informed about current political affairs?

a)mainly newspapers and magazines,

b)mainly TV,

c)both newspapers/magazines and TV equally.

3. Global Comprehension

The Nature of TV in America

Part I:

1.What was the traditional pattern in the distribution of prime time ratings among the networks?

2.How has this pattern changed over the last years?

3.What are the financial implications of this change?

4.What consequences does this change have on the programming?

Part II:

5.How does Richard Burke feel about the choice of programs offered by American TV?

6.What, according to Richard Burke, are the determining factors for TV programming?

7.Looking at the design of American TV programming in general, what is its predominant feature?

8.Which format of TV entertainment is the most popular?

4. Choosing a TV Program

Television—Thursday Evening

Does American TV cater for a great variety of tastes? Make suggestions for an evening's viewing for people who

•are interested in situational comedy

•enjoy watching TV series

•are fond of police dramas

•are interested in politics

•like music videos

•are very religious

•are sports fans

•enjoy watching movie films.

5. Comparative Study

1.Compare Eric Sevareid's and Richard Burke's views on television.

2.How does TV programming in your country compare with that in the United States?

6. Text Analysis

This is Not Your Life: Television as the

Third Parent

1.What was the object and the result of the research which the author pursued earlier?

2.How does the present object of research relate to the previous one?

3.What hypothesis is his research based on?

4.Where did he try to find proof for this hypothesis?

5.To what extent do parents and TV form a child's view of the world?

6.How does the average child's real life experience compare with television reality?

7.What kind of values are propagated by TV?

8.Which findings verify Stein's hypothesis and how does he support his arguments?

THE MEDIA 277

7. Letter Writing

Write a letter to the editor of PUBLIC OPINION and comment on the hypothesis and the findings of Benjamin Stein.

8. Analysis and Discussion

The Likability Sweepstakes

1.In the age of television, the images of candidates are more important than issues. At the beginning of the 1988 presidential campaign, Bush was seen as awkward, wimpish, maladroit, goofy and lacking charisma, whereas Dukakis was characterized as competent, soulless, reserved, tough and hard. How did the image-makers remodel their candidates to make them appear more likeable and appealing to a vast TV audience?

2.How useful then are televised presidential debates?

3.The quotation from Arthur Miller's Death of Salesman underlines the American belief that being well-liked is an important key to success. Do you share this view?

4.To what extent do you think the likability factor decides elections in your country?

9.Comment

Dilemmas

1.Which cases mentioned in the opinion poll did the respondents find the most objectionable and which the least objectionable? How do you account for the results of this opinion poll?

2.If you were an editor, how would you react in each of the situations described?

3.Do you know any similar cases that actually happened.in the U.S.A., any other country or your own country?