The Press in
Britain
National and Regional Newspapers
There are 12 daily newspapers and 10
Sunday newspapers in circulation in most parts of the country. National
newspapers cater for a wide variety of tastes and interests. They are often
described as either “qualities” or “tabloids” depending upon their format,
style and content. Quality newspapers, which are broadsheet in format, cater
for those readers who want detailed information on a wide range of news and
current affairs. The most popular tabloid newspapers tend to appeal to those
who want to read shorter, entertaining stories with more human interest, and
they generally contain a larger number of photographs.
Newspapers cater for a whole range of
political views, but often express a strong standpoint in favour of or against
a certain party or policy in their editorial columns.
Certain
British newspapers are renowned throughout the world. "The Times" is
perhaps the most influential and best known. It was first published in 1785,
making it Britain’s oldest daily newspaper. "The Observer", first
published in 1791, is the oldest national Sunday newspaper in the world. More
recent additions to the market include "The Independent" and its
sister paper, "The Independent on Sunday", and "Today".
At
one time London’s Fleet Street was the centre of newspaper industry, but now
all the national papers have moved their editorial offices and printing plants
to other parts of the capital – many to Docklands, a regenerated area to the
east of the City.
A number of large publishing groups own
both national and regional newspapers. There are, however, safeguards against
the risk resulting from undue concentration of ownership of the media. It is
unlawful to transfer a newspaper or newspaper assets to a proprietor, whose
newspapers have an average daily circulation of 500,000 or more, including that
of the newspaper to be taken over, without consent from the Government.
Most towns and cities have their own regional
newspapers. These papers mainly include stories of regional and local interest,
but the dailies also cover national and international news, often looked at
from a local point of view. Some of the best-known papers include the
"Yorkshire Post" (Leeds), "The Northern Echo" (Darlington),
"The Manchester Evening News" (Manchester). London has its own
evening paper, "The Evening Standard", which provides Londoners with
news and features covering events in the capital. Thousands of free newspapers,
which are mainly financed by advertising, are distributed to homes every week.
They have enjoyed a rapid growth in
recent years and have a total estimated circulation of about 37 million. There
are over 100 newspapers and magazines produced by the ethnic minorities in
Britain, reflecting the multi-cultural nature of today’s society. Numerous
newspapers and magazines from overseas are also available.
Vocabulary:
daily
— ежедневный
'quality' newspapers
— пресса высокого качества
'popular' — газета для широкой публики
'tabloid' — малоформатная газета со сжатым текстом и большим
количеством иллюстраций, бульварная пресса
to entertain — развлекать
to own —
владеть
to reflect — отражать
1. Translate
into English:
Находящийся в
обращении, удовлетворяют интересы, в зависимости от формата, широкий диапазон
новостей, текущие события, содержат, позиция в пользу или против, славятся во
всем мире, наиболее влиятельная, более поздние издания, перенесли свои
редакции, гарантии против, чрезмерная концентрация, это незаконно, ежедневный
тираж, охватывают национальные новости, предоставляет новости, финансируются за
счет рекламы, быстрый рост, этническое меньшинство, поликультурный характер,
из-за рубежа.
2. Answer
the questions:
1.
How
many newspapers are there in Britain?
2.
What
do they cater for?
3.
What
groups can all the papers be divided into?
4.
What
are quality papers?
5.
Whom
do the most popular tabloids appeal to?
6.
What
are the most popular British papers?
7.
What
is the oldest and most influential newspaper?
8.
What
was the center of newspaper industry?
9.
Who
owns newspapers?
10. What are regional newspapers?
11. What are the best regional papers?
12. Does London have its own newspaper?
13. What fact proves that they enjoy a rapid growth in the
number of papers recently?
14. How many papers are published by the ethnic
minorities?
3.
Fill in the right prepositions:
1.
Newspapers
cater … all the interests
2.
The
papers depend … their content
3.
Popular
papers appeal … the readers
4.
A
standpoint … favour … a party
5.
British
papers are renowned … the world
6.
Include
stories … regional and local interest
7.
They
provide Londoners … news
8.
They
are financed … advertising
9.
Numerous
papers … oversea are also available
4. Translate
the sentences into English:
1. Как
качественные широкоформатные газеты, так и популярные удовлетворяют
разнообразные вкусы и интересы читателей.
2. Самая
влиятельная и популярная газета “ The Times” славится во всем мире.
3. Региональные
газеты включают в основном местные новости.
4. Тысячи
бесплатных газет, которые финансируются в основном за счет рекламы,
распространяются каждую неделю.
5. Региональные
газеты пользуются быстрым ростом популярности в последние годы и имеют общий
тираж около 37 миллионов.
5. Speak
about British Press.
