Mass media in the usa
The media of the United States consists of several different types of communications media: television, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines, and internet-based Web sites. The U.S. also has a strong music industry.
Television in the United States is regulated, along with radio, by the Federal Communications Commission. There are several thousand local stations, of which many belong to the seven nationwide commercial broadcast networks. Traditionally, there were three: NBC, ABC, and CBS. The four newer networks are Fox, UPN, the WB, and 1. There is also a non-profit public television network, PBS, which is partially subsidized by the federal government. Besides, there are also many networks which can be received on a television only after arranging for a subscription to a cable or satellite service.
American radio broadcasts only in two bands: FM and AM. Some stations are only talk radio - featuring interviews and discussions - while music radio stations broadcast one particular type of music; Top 40, hip-hop, country, etc.
In the 20th century, the motion picture industry rose to become one of the most successful and powerful industries in the U.S.
Newspapers have declined in their influence and penetration into American households over the years. The U.S. does not have a national paper per se, although the influential dailies the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal are sold in most U.S. cities. The Times has a moderate-left stance, while the Journal is moderate-right and is strongly pro-business. All major metropolitan areas have their own local newspapers. With a very few exceptions, all the newspapers in the U.S. are privately owned.
The U.S. has three leading weekly news-magazines: Times, Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report. Besides it has a dozen major political magazines and hundreds of specialized magazines that serve the diverse interests and hobbies of the American people.
Exercise 19. Read the text and mark the correct answers with a tick:
1 How many types of communication make mass media in the USA?
(a) Two.
(b) Six.
(c) The text said nothing about that.
Is television regulated in any way?
Yes, it is regulated by the Federal Communications Board.
Yes, it is regulated by the Federal Coimnunications Commission.
No, it is not.
To whom do local television and radio stations belong?
To NBC.
To CBS.
To the seven commercial networks.
What is PBS?
It’s a nationwide commercial broadcast network.
It’s a communications committee.
It’s a non-profit public television network.
Is PBS subsidized by the federal government?
Yes, it is fully subsidized by the federal government.
It is partially subsidized by the federal government.
No, it is subsidized by the state government of New Jersey.
Is cable service free?
Yes, it is.
No, it is provided for by subscribers.
It is free only in the day-time.
Do music radio stations broadcast interviews and discussions as well?
Yes, but only very seldom.
No, but there are special talk radio stations which do so.
No, but there is one talk radio station featuring interviews and discussions.
Exercise 20. What words in the text mean that:
The popularity of newspapers is going down in the USA.
No national paper is published in the US in fact.
Two most popular newspapers are sold throughout the US.
Almost all local newspapers are privately owned.
There are three popular news-magazines.
A few other political magazines are published in the US.
There is a great variety of specialized magazines catering for different tastes of readers.
Read the text