Before you listen:

This activity is about news in the US. Americans are considered a nation of “news junkies”, that is, completely addicted to the news. With that huge demand for news, questions have emerged about the role of the news media in society and also about the quality of it. People believe that news media in general is following the lead of the tabloid newspapers and television shows, focusing on negative stories of violence, crime and scandal. The stories, despite of the low quality, attract bigger TV audiences and help to sell more.

Vocabulary:

Tune (something) out  – ignore, pay no attention to

Mainstream – widely accepted, usual

Murder and mayhem –  violence, destruction

Skeptical – disbelieving, doubtful

Susbscription – agreement to buy consecutive issues of a newspaper or magazine

Quantum leap- sudden or dramatic change

Fed up (with) – tired of (stronger than tired of)

First Part – read the statements below. Listen to part 1 of the interview and choose the answer that best completes each statement. Then do the same for Part 2.

PART ONE

1. People are fed up with the news because it

1. is too negative

2. does not have enough details

3. can’t be trusted

1. The interviewer wants to discuss

1. television news shows

2. violence in the news

3. alternative sources of news

1. The World Times publishes only

1. local news

2. good news

3. political news

PART TWO

1. The World Times  emphasizes

1. stories about people helping others

2. good economic news

3. the positive side of any story

1. The World Times  should be

1. a person’s only source of news

2. more like mainstream media

3. an alternative source of news

1. Reporting in the World Times focuses on

2. solutions to problems

3. personal stories

4. important events

Second Part – Read the following statements. Listen to the interview one more time. Decide if the speakers in each part of the report would agree (A) or disagree with the statements. Write A or D after each sentence

PART ONE
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Alex Jones would agree or disagree that…

1. people tune out good news.

2. a “good news” newspaper may not contain real news.

3. people need alternatives to the murder and mayhem in the news.

4. the World Times is dedicated to health, growth, liberation and wholeness (feeling of being complete)

5. a “good news” newspaper is a great idea.

PART TWO

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David Hamblin would agree or disagree that…

1. people need more hope in their lives.

2. good news is superficial.

3. the World Times includes some negative information

4. the World Times reports on alternative medicine

the World Times reports mainly on young people doing incredible