The Media – Part 3 – The Future of Newspapers

The following is the third post on the Media.

In the first post of this unit, I introduced the first aspect of the general subject of this unit: The Radio.

In the second post of this unit I introduced the second aspect of the general subject of this unit: The Press.

Today we will discuss another aspect:

The Future of Newspapers

Let's talk about it.

  • Do young people read newspapers?
  • What sections do many of them prefer?
  • Do you read newspapers?
    How often?
    Which newspaper do you prefer? Why?
    What is your favorite section? Why?
  • How can parents encourage children to read newspapers?
  • Do you think radio, TV and the Internet will soon replace newspapers? Explain.
  • Could this happen in Israel? Justify your answer. 

Getting ready to read

The passage you are about to read deals with the future of newspapers. 

  • What are the advantages of newspapers over other means of communication?
  • What are the disadvantages?
  • What, do you think, will happen to newspapers 20 years from today?

Reading Passage 1

Read the  following passage and answer the questions that follow.

1. Many experts predict that most local daily newspapers will be out of existence within the next ten years. The electronic newspapers will entirely replace ink and paper.

2. The main reason is that newspapers are too slow in breaking news compared to radio, TV and the Internet. In the past, newspapers had to compete  only with other newspapers. Today, although they can offer a deep analysis of a certain issue, they can rarely break a major story. Election results are known everywhere long before the paper gets to the nearest newsstand or is delivered to your home. A plane crash will interrupt any radio or TV program. You will not only hear all the details, you will see all the details. The internet will bring us even more up to the minute news. We will soon get the latest information practically online, in real time.

3. Does that mean newspapers may soon be put to rest? It may be too soon to bury them. Years ago experts said television would kill off newspapers. Then, cable TV was supposed to make newspapers disappear and now, the Internet  is expected to do that. And yet, some people will always prefer the newspaper. What can be more enjoyable than leafing through a newspaper over a cup of coffee while waiting for a friend? Books have survived the threat of television. Newspapers will hopefully survive competition with the internet.

Questions

1. What do experts think about the future of the daily newspapers (paragraph 1)?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

2. When is that expected to happen (paragraph 1)?

a. ten years from now.

b. a couple of years from now.

c. ten years from now at the latest.

d. at least ten years from now.

3. What do the words electronic newspapers refer to (paragraph 1)?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

4. What words refer to regular newspapers (paragraph 1)?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

5.  Why do many experts claim newspapers will not survive competition with radio, TV and the internet (paragraph 2)?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

6. Things were much easier for newspapers in the past. Copy the sentence (paragraph 2) that justifies this statement…………………………………………………………

7. Why is the plane crash mentioned in paragraph 2?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

8. Does the author think newspapers will soon disappear (paragraph 3)?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

9.  Why do many people love regular newspapers (paragraph 3)?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

10.  Complete the following sentence (paragraph 3).

Just as books ……………………………, so will …………………………………

Reading Passage 2

Editing and Correcting

A close reading of the following passage will show that an absent minded editor has mixed up the order of paragraphs and left irrelevant sentences in the passage.

Read the passage carefully and then:

  • Put the paragraphs in suitable order.
  • Find the irrelevant sentences and cross them out.
  • Give a title to the passage.

Helpful Vocabulary

temporarily   –    זמנית

delay   –   לעכב

cope with   –   להתמודד עם

urgent   –   דחוף

Text

The Second World War temporarily delayed the development of television. After the war, special attention was given to television and by 1946, there were already four TV stations in the United States. Britain, France and Russia also operated one station each. There are English lessons on Israeli TV twice a week.

The American public was given a chance to see what a TV set looked like at the 1939 Worlds's Fair. I don't like color TV. President Roosevelt appeared on the air and gave the opening speech. That was the first American TV broadcast, making President Roosevelt the first TV star. At the time, TV was considered an expensive toy and nobody expected it to become part of every household within a short time.

In those days, people in Israel did not even dream of television. In the late forties and fifties, the young state had to cope with much more urgent matters. Color TV sets are every expensive. Only a few owned TV sets. Most were to be found in the Arab sectors tuned to broadcasts from Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon.

Today, we must admit that the "People of the Book" have, to a certain extent, become the "People of the TV set". Over 90% of the Israeli households own at least one TV set and most people spend a few hours a day in front of the screen. The radio plays an important role in our lives. The TV has become an integral part of the Israeli family.

Many years later, in 1968, Israeli television officially began its regular broadcasts. My family bought the first TV set in 1975. The first program was a live telecast of the military parade on Israel's 20th Independence Day.

And that's all for today. More  texts and suggestions in my next post

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