Why I Avoid Reading Ukrainian Newspapers and Magazines

Task 1. Read the article and give English equivalents of the following words and word combinations.

Неможливо недооцінити; свобода слова; втілювати; недоліки; численні помилки; гарантувати інформаційну об'єктивність; зловживання владою; на мій погляд; виробити; неправильно інформувати людей; трактування фактів; мати намір інформувати читачів; відвідати Україну; переговори; висловити бажання; чесний та відвертий (прозорий); звичайні (банальні) твердження; приховувати, замовчувати; неприємні події; руйнівні пожежі; поломка каналізаційної системи; харчове отруєння; потік інформації; новини в країні та із-за кордону; надто перебільшений; відчувати, розуміти; додаткові статті; в результаті; рекламувати, „роздувати"; сумнівні кампанії з підтримки (напр.: президента); відповідне виконання; загальновідомо; навмисна дезінформація; нав'язувати свої погляди читачам.

It is impossible to underestimate the meaning of mass media in our life as it embodies the country's freedom of speech. However, here I would like to put aside positive features of our mass media and dwell on its drawbacks. Being a writer, a reader and a spectator of TV programmes, I can outline the numerous faults of Ukrainian newspapers and magazines.

The Ukrainian Constitution guarantees us freedom of speech. This is wonderful. However, freedom of speech does not guarantee informational objectivity. The abuse of power is as bad as the abuse of freedom of speech. In my view, the Ukrainian mass media have worked out a number of ways to misinform people which have to do both with presentation and interpretation of facts.

They say that a diplomat views language as a tool to hide his thoughts. I can say the same about the Ukrainian official and governmental mass media. It seems to me that Ukrainian papers aim at informing readers about the activity of state bodies so that the readers will know nothing.

Once the ex-Secretary of State of the USA, Madeleine Albright, paid a visit to Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian mass media, "during the negotiations with Leonid Kuchma, Madeleine Albright expressed her desire to see Ukraine as a democratic country and hoped that parliamentary elections would be honest and transparent." It would be amazing if the ex-leader of American democracy flew to Ukraine just to make such commonplace statements.

If our Ukrainian newspapers find it impossible to conceal that or other unpleasant events, they attempt to "conceal" it among other officially created sensations. For example, in order to distract people from important intergovernmental negotiations that were not beneficial to Ukraine, the mass media features articles about devastating fires in Vinnytsya, breakage of the sewerage system in the Crimea or food poisoning in Donbas.

Every day tens of TV channels and radio stations and hundreds of newspapers and magazines inform us about the latest domestic and foreign news. However, this flow of information is not integral but divided into several segments. Some events are overly exaggerated while others are concealed. As a result, Ukrainians conceive life only in black and white colours.

Many Ukrainian papers select facts and news according to the slogan "Good news is bad news". Journalists know that critical articles are more popular with people than complementary ones. And consequently newspapers inform us about fires, explosions, crimes, accidents, etc.

Journalists like sensations. Newspapers would rather tell about the murderer who killed his girlfriend than write about the life of ten happy families. If there were no sensations during the day, journalists have to boost some minor happenings into real sensations. According to a wise saying of the TV reporter Bernard Show, newspapers do not know the difference between a bicycle accident and the crash of civilization.

It is not a secret that the owner of that or another edition dictates its information policy. Practically every Ukrainian newspaper or magazine depends either on government structures, political parties or financial and industrial groups. Oftentimes, they initiate misinformation and dubious promotional campaigns.

The problem is that Ukraine features no conditions for independent mass media. If mass media are viewed as the fourth power, it must be under legislative control. The Ukrainian government has approved a number of bills on the activities of the mass media but they cannot guarantee its adequate fulfillment.

It is common knowledge that mass media help to form public opinion. Once former US President Richard Nixon said, "It is better to invest $1 million into propaganda than spend $10 million for the production of new weapons." I do not object that the mass media influence my opinions, but I'm against deliberate misinterpretations. I would like to read newspapers that do not impose their views on the readers but teach them to think.

Task 2. Complete the word combinations.

Informational ...; overly ...; flow of... ; numerous ... ; interpretation of... ; good news ... ; devastating ... ; crash of... ; mass .., ; intergovernmental ... ; legislative...; to invest... .

^!

Task 3. Continue the sentences according to the article above.

1. In my view, the Ukrainian mass media have worked out...

2. Journalists like...

3. It is no secret that the owner of that or another edition...

4. It is common knowledge that mass media help ...

5. Many Ukrainian papers select facts and news according to the slogan ...

6. Every day TV channels and radio stations and newspapers and magazines inform us about ...

7. It is impossible to underestimate the meaning of...

8. If there were no sensations during the day, journalists ...

9. The Ukrainian Constitution guarantees us ...

10. Ukrainians conceive life only in ...

11. The problem is that Ukraine features ...

12. According to a wise saying of the TV reporter Bernard Show,...

13. Practically every Ukrainian newspaper or magazine depends either on...

14. If mass media are viewed as the fourth power, it...

Task 4. Answer the following questions.

1. Why is it impossible to underestimate the meaning of mass media?

2. Why is it more important to dwell on the drawbacks of mass media?

3. What does the Ukrainian Constitution say on the point of mass media?

4. How do you understand the abuse of freedom of speech?

5. What are the ways to misinform people created by mass media? Give examples.

6. How do newspapers conceal unpleasant events?

7. What is the slogan of many Ukrainian papers?

8. What is the famous Bernard Show`s saying about? What is it?

9. What is the position of the Ukrainian government?

10. Do you support the author's point of view?

Task 5. Make up the sentences of your own using the phrases given below.

1. ... have to boost... into .... 7. It is impossible to underestimate ...

2. I usually select... according to .... 8. ... aim(s) at...

3. Some ... are overly exaggerated 9. Being a ..., I would like to dwell on ...

while ... are concealed 10. My friend's drawback is ...

4. Consequently... 11. It is common knowledge that...

5. My mother finds ... impossible to conceal. 12. Recently ...

6. It is not a secret that... 13. It would be amazing if...

Task 6. Translate the text into English.

Бі-Бі-Сі оперує двома національними телевізійними каналами, що доповнюють один одного - Бі-Бі-Сі 1 та Бі-Бі-Сі 2, які працюють в ефірі з ранку до пізньої ночі. Радіомережа Бі-Бі-Сі обслуговує аудиторію в 28 мільйонів слухачів на тиждень та запроваджує мовлення для п'яти національних мереж. Бі-Бі-Сі має 32 місцеві радіостанції, що обслуговують Англію та Нормандські острови, а також регіональні та громадські радіослужби в Шотландії, Уельсі та Північній Ірландії.

Всесвітня служба радіо Бі-Бі-Сі передає програми англійською мовою та 40 іншими мовами світу. Кількість постійних слухачів її в усьому світі складає 133 мільйони. У 2004-2005 роках Всесвітнє телебачення Бі-Бі-Сі мало ліцензію більш, ніж на 14500 годин мовлення на 80 країн світу, завдяки чому Бі-Бі-Сі стала найбільшим у Європі експортером програм. Вона також має канал розважальних програм для передплатників у континентальній Європі та канал, що передає новини та інформацію арабською мовою.

Внутрішня служба Бі-Бі-Сі фінансується майже повністю за рахунок продажу щорічних телевізійних ліцензій. Платної реклами не існує. Всесвітня радіослужба Бі-Бі-Сі фінансується урядовими грантами, тоді як Всесвітня служба телебачення Бі-Бі-Сі знаходиться на самофінансуванні.

Text 4

Task 1. Read the text and explain the meanings of the following words and word combinations.

breakthrough turn smth into reality worldwide audience	go on the air accurate information satellite TV
high definition television	computer data-banks
via remote control	sound and vision