Media and communication

 Types of communication

The oldest and most natural communication is face to face communication. It is oral and
personal and includes not only verbal but also non-verbal communication (body language,
gestures, voice, emotions). Over centuries people have developed new ways of
communication, so today we make use especially of phone and internet communication which
includes e.g. e-mail, Skype, social networking sites.

verbal

verbální, slovní

non-verbal

neverbální

develop

vytvořit

new ways

jiné způsoby

over centuries

během staletí

means of communication

komunikační prostředek/prostředky

make use of

využívat, používat

 The role of mass media in people´s lives

The main role of media is to inform, to provide the latest news and information quickly.
Other roles are to entertain and to educate readers, listeners, viewers. Journalists working
for the media should always be objective, honest, tell the truth, never lie – never write hoax
– information that is not true and confuses people. Journalists should not create panic and
spread fear among people.
In democratic society, media should be free from political interfering, politicians should not
force journalists to support their political parties, their opinions, their political campaigns.

provide

poskytovat

educate

vzdělávat

viewer

divák

objective

objektivní

spread fear

šířit starch

among

mezi

be free from

být oproštěný od,

zbavený čeho
interfere

vměšovat se

force

nutit

support

podporovat

2

 Printed and broadcast media

Printed media include newspapers and magazines.
Newspapers report the latest world and national news (political, social, economic, cultural
and sports news). They publish different kinds of articles, e.g. film, book and theatre reviews,
TV guides, weather forecast, comics, advertisements, crosswords.
There are different types of newspapers.
Quality newspapers, also called broadsheets, which have broad sheets (large pages) and
publish more serious news.
Tabloids have smaller sheets (smaller pages) but bigger print and report stories and scandals
from private lives of celebrities.
Dailies come out every day except Sunday, weeklies once a week.
Some popular British quality newspapers are The Times, The Guardian, in the USA The New
York Times, The Washington Post. The well-known tabloid in Britain is The Sun. Famous
magazines are Time, Vogue, National Geographic, The Economist.
Where can you buy newspapers and magazines?
Newspapers and magazines are sold at newsagent´s, at newsstands at stations, in shops.
They can be delivered to your home if you subscribe to some (if you have subscription to
them).

Broadcast media include radio, television and the internet. Today´s most popular means of
communication media, the Internet, is both a printed and broadcast medium.
Television broadcasts a lot of different programmes. They are news, documentaries, current
affairs programmes in which experts comment on current political or social affairs. Popular
are talk shows where a presenter talks to a well-known person, quiz shows in which people
compete, reality shows. There are special channels specializing in certain kinds of
programmes: for example, ČT24, CNN, BBC World, Euronews broadcast news, MTV music,
Animal Planet documentaries about animals, National Geographic geographical
documentaries.