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and other sources. The information-gathering part of the job is sometimes called "reporting" as distinct from the production part of the job, such as writing articles. Reporters generally split their time between working in a newsroom and going out to witness events or interview people.

Television news reporters work with three channels of information: words, pictures, and sound. They have to be attuned to the strengths and limitations of each, and know how to make words, pictures, and sounds work together to tell a story. In its simplest form the TV story shows the reporter standing at the scene and telling the audience what has happened. This reporter monologue is called a standup. Next some videotaped scenes that illustrate what the reporter is talking about, synchronized with the reporter's narration, are added. Then the reporter appears again at the end to wrap up and conclude - another standup.

If you interview a news maker at the scene and edit some of those remarks into the story - these are called sound bites - you've added still more information to this report. It is the judicious mixture of showing the reporter, showing scenes that illustrate what the reporter is talking about, and inserting sound bites to explain what happened that makes a visual story successful.

Compile and edit these elements into one master videotape and you have what is called a package, a self-contained story on videotape or disk with its own beginning, middle, and end. Some reports will be done live from the scene or source. That means reporters must be selective about the informational value and timeliness of the visual material. They pursue different angles and reactions to that information and then put the story together.

1.Answer the questions:

1.How many channels do television news reporters work with?

2.What does the TV story show in its simplest form?

3.How can a reporter add more information to this report?

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4.What makes a visual story successful?

5.In what way can a package be made?

6.Why should reporters be selective?

2.Find the English equivalents in the text. Use them in sentences of your

own.

1.каналы информации; 2. появляться; 3. в конце; 4. брать интервью; 5. добавить; 6. иллюстрировать; 7. успешный; 8. информационная ценность.

3. Write questions to go with these answers. Translate the questions and answers into Russian.

1.These are words, pictures and sound.

2.It is called a standup

3.It is the judicious mixture of showing the reporter, showing scenes that illustrate what the reporter is talking about, and inserting sound bites to explain what happened.

4.It is a self-contained story on videotape or disk with its own beginning, middle, and end.

5.It means checking the governor's facts, previous, political or self-interest.

4.Complete the sentences.

5. In the following exercise you are given several situations. Develop them. Pretend that you are very dissatisfied. You are also in a complaining mood so think of all the things you might complain about. Use such phrases as:

be displeased with; be accustomed to; be dissatisfied with; be disgusted with; be bored with; be bad at; be tired of; be good at; be surprised at; be brilliant at; be fond of; be interested in.

Model: The editor told me to go to the fire station and get some kind of a story for tomorrow. I'm tired of covering the fire station news. I'd rather go to a football match.

a)You wanted to get acquainted with a well-known reporter. You met him in the editorial office and had a talk with him. You didn't like the way he spoke.

b)You've read the text about training for journalism in Great Britain. You don't agree with some ideas of the author.

с) You are editor-in-chief of a local newspaper. A boy of seventeen comes to apply for a job. You don't think he will make a good journalist.

d)You are rather an experienced journalist, but you haven't got any diploma in journalism. You have been offered to attend some half-academic and half-

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professional courses.

e) Most of the correspondence colleges offer courses in journalism, but learning anything by post is hard, and journalism particularly so. One experienced journalist who was asked about a correspondence course in journalism replied: "You might just as well try to learn surgery by post." That may be a bit strong, but certainly there are many disadvantages in getting into journalism this way. Imagine you're offered a chance to study journalism by post. What would you say?

6. Comment on the following:

a)It is absolutely essential for a journalist to know a little about a lot.

b)Journalists are born not made.

c)An educated man is one who can entertain a new idea, entertain another person and entertain himself.

d)Edison's formula of success: "Two percent inspiration and ninety-eight percent perspiration."

TEXT 9 Live reporting.

Live reporting involves the most difficulties for reporters. Reporters must be able to think and talk and sometimes even move all at the same time. Live reporting is complicated. The news is breaking on the air. The reporter has to make splitsecond decisions reporting what is happening, explaining it, and putting it into perspective.

Any reporter who has to do a lot of live reports must have a strong sense of time and timing. Any live report has time limits. Within newscasts the live reports are scheduled to fit into a certain spot. Even if the live reports are segments within a live special, producers give them a length assignment and expect reporters to conform. Satellite live reports are even more strictly timed since satellite time is bought by the minute and often other stations are waiting to use the satellite immediately after the first report is off the air.

Another major skill requirement is being at ease out there in front of your peers, the competition, and the audience.

News directors everywhere said they are extremely leery of live interviews because of the lack of editorial control inherent in the situation. They try to direct reporters regarding whom to talk to and what to talk about. They want reporters to have a sixth sense about an interviewee - what someone is going to say before she or he says it.

Journalists’ business is connected with a lot of moving around from city to city, so learning the territory is something most news directors wish their reporters would spend more time doing.

Another little edge goes to those reporters who have some understanding of human nature, the psychology and sociology of human behavior.

A live broadcast attracts a crowd. Sometimes these people are quiet and friendly and just want to watch. More often some want to get into the picture - these are known as “hi moms”. Sometimes the “hi moms” make rude gestures or want to play tricks on the reporter after they get on the air. Sometimes the crowd members

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don't appreciate the efforts of the TV station at all. They can turn surly, especially if they don't like what the reporter is saying or the spotlight of the news is coming down hard on them, their neighbors, or friends. Here the reporter must have more judgement: The standing rule for the reporters and their crews is to leave a hostile situation immediately.

Over and over again the people who are running the nation's newsrooms talk about the need for a reporter to be “a higher-quality” person.

EXERCISES

1.Find the English equivalents in the text.

1)представлятьнаибольшиетрудности

2)чувствовремениисвоевременности

3)иметьвременныепределы

4)врамкахновостныхпрограмм

5)рассматриватьвопросвперспективе

6)попастьвкадр

7)отсутствие редакторского контроля

8)характер человека

9)поведениечеловека

10)направлятького-л.

2.Think of your own sentences with the following expressions. to do a live report - вести репортаж с места события

live coverage - прямая телепередача (конференции, матча и т. д.)

live recording - запись по трансляции

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live interview -интервью в прямом эфире

to be on the airтранслировать порадиоилителевидению; выступать по радио или телевидению

to be off the airне передаваемый в эфир; окончившийся(о радио- и телепередаче) to go off the air - закончить передачу

3.Work in groups. Ask your partners which of these adjectives describe skills required of a journalist doing a live report best:

Challenging, cautious, certain, leery, friendly, considerate, tactful, tolerant, selfconfident, biased, sensible, relaxed, open-minded, sensitive.

Are there any characteristics you would like to add to the list above?

4.Answer these questions:

1.Live reporting isn’t complicated, is it?

2.Why is it necessary that any reporter who has to do a lot of live reports should have a strong sense of time and timing?

3.What is another skill requirement?

4.Why are news directors leery of live interviews?

5.Is understanding of human nature, the psychology and sociology of human behavior important for a reporter?

6.What sort of people are called ‘hi moms ‘? Think of a Russian equivalent for this expression.

7.What is the standing rule for the reporters?

5.Render the following text into English.

Репортер - беспристрастный иточныйпосредникмежду зрителемиреальностью. Сутьпрофессиональногомастерстварепортерасводитсяктремкомпонентам:

1)оказаться вместе со съемочной техникой там и тогда, где и когда происходит нечто общеинтересное, общезначимое;

2)вместе с оператором выбрать, зафиксировать, выстроить ряд кадров, который бы дал яркое представлениео происходящем;

3)сопроводить кадры лаконичным рассказом, вскрывающимсутьвидимых событий.

TEXT 10 First-Hand Reporting.

Reporters witness things. They watch critically, and listen carefully at events as observers and eyewitnesses. They learn to keep their eyes and ears open. They teach themselves to be attentive, to record what they see and hear. They become skillful at techniques of fact gathering. Most reporters master the art of taking notes, and they devise their own system of abbreviations and other «shorthand» notations and symbols to keep track of what they witness. Also popular with reporters are portable and hand-held electronic devices such as notebooks, laptops, and pen devices. With the pen unit, you use a stylus to write directly onto the computer screen. The device converts your handwriting to print and stores it in conventional computer document form.

Television news organization staff structures vary. Some stations assign reporters to «beats»; others have reporter «specialists» who specialize in a general area such as health, business, politics, and so on. The beat system is a traditional journalis-

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tic structure that was set up to assure that someone on the staff was covering important news-producing spots such as City Hall, the courts, etc. The idea of «specialist» implies the reporter has special knowledge or training about a field (like economics), a profession (like medicine), or an institution (like government).

If you are going to be a TV reporter, a number of common things can help you. Learn the territory. The regular trip from the parking lot through the same door to the same space every day leaves you unprepared to find your way when something

unusual happens.

Learn to think like a reporter. Take time to explore and learn the history of the place. Especially learn the location of telephones, computer-access points, electric outlets, stairways, windows where your crew might run a cable, the best place to park a truck. Imagine the day you'll go live, and plan for it - when that moment comes you won't have much time to search out the building superintendent.

Know the people. Get to know the little people as well as the big ones. They say that an army is really run by its sergeants. The same idea is true about most other institutions. If you make friends with them, these people can be valuable sources of inside information.

Know the rules of the game. All public and private institutions, professions, businesses operate under a set of regulations. A good reporter will learn what the rules and resources are. Once you know the rules, you have to be able to explain all these «regulations» to your viewers in language they can understand.

Know the subject matter. You never stop being a student or having to do your homework. You must continue to study. You need to know the nomenclature, the culture, the issues, and the history and background of that world.

Active vocabulary

1.Read the text and answer the following questions:

1.What are the main techniques of fact gathering?

2.What electronic devices are popular with reporters?

3.In what way do television news organization staff structures vary?

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4.Which is a traditional journalistic structure?

5.What does the idea of «specialist» imply?

2. Match the words having the close meaning.

3. Match the words with their definitions.

4. Discuss similarities and differences between the «beat system» and «specialist system». When comparing them, use the following phrases:

a)is very like; is similar to; is identical to; is much the same as; is comparable to; resembles; has a lot in common with....

b)is quite different from; differs from; bears no resemblance to; has

very little in common with; on the other hand; in contrast.

5. Make the synopsis of the text.

TEXT 11 Interviewing

What to Do Before the Interview.

First of all, find out whom you are to see. If you have an assignment, find out as much about the story as you can from the editor, from recent issues of the newspaper, or from other sources. Think carefully about the subject of your interview.

If the subject is unfamiliar to you, read about it in your library, using books, magazines, encyclopedias, dictionaries or other sources of information.

What to Do During the Interview.

Contact the person who is your news source, make a definite appointment; then be sure you keep the appointment!

Carry with you a small pad of paper and several sharpened pencils, so that you can take notes on all the facts, dates, names of persons or places. Check the spelling of all names. Copy exactly any direct quotations which you think you might print. If you confine yourself to writing down important facts in abbreviated form, your news source will not mind waiting while you do it.

In interviewing your news source, be pleasant and courteous. Remember that he is interested in correct and complete coverage of his story.

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What to Do After the Interview.

Write your news story immediately, while the interview is still fresh in your mind. In case a question now arises, return to your news source and ask the question. Don't make a habit of this, however. It's a sign that you did not try to understand fully during the interview.

If time and conditions permit, it is good policy to take your finished story to your news source to be checked as to accuracy of facts. But don't expect help in writing the story. Organizing the information and using the correct form is your job!

Question Techniques

A conversation often depends on questions to keep it going in the direction you want it to go. The questioner in a conversation usually controls the conversation. Various techniques may be used to get different sorts of information from different people.

If you are to interview visitors from other countries it is advisable to begin the conversation with some information about the newspaper you represent:

I'm a reporter from the newspaper...; it is a daily (weekly) newspaper; it circulates throughout the whole country; the circulation of the newspaper is about...; our newspaper addresses young people (a wide readership, a serious readership, etc.), those readers who are interested in political problems (scientific problems, problems of art, international problems, etc.).

Personal questions have to be expressed tactfully. Here are some useful opening expressions we use to lead up to questions:

I wonder if you could help me, I'd like to know...

I wonder if you could tell me...

Do you happen to know...? I'd like to talk to you about...

I'd like to ask you some questions...

I 'd like to get some information...

Do you have time to talk to me now? Could you tell me something about...?

You may often need to press people to tell you some more details or you may not be satisfied with the answer given. Here are some techniques for getting the extra information you want:

Sorry, but could you explain that in a bit more detail, please? Could you tell me a bit more about it?

I don t quite follow.

Sorry to press you, but could you tell me...

Let me write that down.

Is that the correct spelling? How do you spell the last name?

Is there anything else I should know about?

Making an Appointment.

May I speak to...

I 'd like to make an appointment with you to clarify some details. Can we meet on Wednesday?

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Will it be all right for you if I call you up at six?

Is 2.30 all right for you?

Does three о 'clock suit you?

That suits me perfectly.

What time shall we make it?

Are you engaged tomorrow night?

Let me see...

EXERCISES

1.Translate the phrases written in italics (курсивом).

2.Supply the missing formulas of invitation to the following replies.

1.All right. I've got a free evening. 2. That's settled. They say the film is a good one. 3. Nothing would please me more. The weather is exceptionally fine today. 4. I'm afraid I can't. My sister wants me to help her in the kitchen tonight. 5. Yes, I don't mind, if it doesn't take us too long, for I have a date at nine. 6. I'm booked up every day this week. Some other time, perhaps. 7. That suits me very I well. I just wanted to propose the same to you. 8. Most willingly. I like dancing very much. 9. I wish I could, but we have a lecture tonight that I must attend. 10. That's a good idea. I'm told the show is brilliant.

3.Provide a natural conversational context for the following sentences. Reconstruct the following situation into dialogues.

You have a date with your boy-friend Ned in the park. But when you

come to the park at the appointed time he is not there. Instead you find his friend Bill who tells you that Ned was compelled to leave town early in the morning and wouldn't return until the day after tomorrow. He explains the reason. Then Bill invites you to go to the pictures with him. You agree.

4. You are to interview a tutor from Great Britain. He is going to visit your University. Be ready with your questions.

TEXT 12 The anchor ingredient.

The audience is watching anchorpersons and reporters tell the news.

Although anchorpersons are not supposed to become emotionally involved in the news they are telling about, they are human. Occasionally they break out of their shells and indicate by some mannerism, facial expression, or remark, what they think about what they have just watched with the audience. Audiences identify with that.

The «personal» dimension is worth closer examination because it is an integral part of the television news communication process. Anchors earn huge salaries and are promoted with flourishes befitting heads of state. They are true national or local celebrities. TV reporters get more recognition than their print colleagues. People wave at them and call them by their first names as they walk down the street. Viewers develop a personal relationship -an empathywith the anchors who are there in their living rooms every day.

Hundreds of research studies have tried to define the dimensions of this relationship and just how it works. Consultants who advise TV stations on how to increase the size of the news audience have concentrated their research on the vieweranchor relationship. In general a few things stand out:

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1.The audience and the anchorperson are involved in an empathic relationship, the audience has personal feelings about the anchor.

2.The audience respects anchors because they deliver an important commodity

-the news.

3.The audience imagines personal characteristics about individual anchors: it looks at them closely and reacts to any change in their appearance, dress, or on-air- conduct.

4.The audience is forgiving about personal frailties - an occasional flub or a bad performance.

5.The audience is not very forgiving about professional failures - repeated mistakes, repeated poor performance, lack of clarity or precision.

6.The audience likes to get the news from people it likes more than it likes getting the news from people it dislikes.

7.The audience feels that it gets the news more clearly from anchorpersons it

likes.

8.When things go wrong, the audience is often more likely to blame the news organization the anchor works for than to blame an anchor it likes.

9.The audience develops a very strong loyalty and viewing habit because of the continued presence of a likable anchor.

Network anchors normally assume a detachment from the news accounts they are presenting or introducing. People use different terms to indicate this phenomenon, terms such as noncommittal, detached, neutral, impartial, non-partisan, objective, and the like.

EXERCISES

1.Translate the following word-combinations into Russian:

1)to break out of one's shell

2)to be worth closer examination

3)an integral part

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