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1、精品文档，仅供学习与交流，如有侵权请联系网站删除Unit 3 What Is News?Neil Postman and Steve PowersStructure of the TextPart I (Para. 1) In this beginning paragraph, the authors state the purpose of the essay.Part II (Para. 2) Some people might define the news as what television directors and journalists say it is. The autho
2、rs, however, think that this definition is too simplistic.Part III (Paras. 35)In these paragraphs, the authors explain why the news cannot be simply defined as “what happened that day” or “what happened that day that was important and interesting”.Part IV (Paras. 611) In these paragraphs, the author
3、s tell readers that the news is more often made rather than gathered, and it is made on the basis of what the journalist thinks important or what the journalist thinks the audience thinks is important. Therefore, every news story is a reflection of the reporter who tells the story. Part V (Paras. 12
4、15) In these paragraphs, the authors point out that to make sense of the news, the viewer has to know something about the journalists political beliefs as well as his prejudices, interests, and quirks which are, in turn, influenced by his financial status, the companies he has worked for, the school
5、s he went to, the books he has read, etc. Part VI (Paras. 1617) In these paragraphs, the authors point out that the journalist cannot always impose his/her views on the general public because the television channel or newspaper cannot survive unless the news they provide satisfies the needs of the g
6、eneral public. On the other hand, the viewer/reader must also take into account his or her relationship to a larger audience because television and newspapers are mass media and their news is not intended for an audience of one. Part VII (Paras. 1820) In these paragraphs, the authors discuss some ot
7、her possible definitions of news: news as something to give people pleasure; news as something instructive that reveals the mores, values, and ideals of a society; news as living history; news as a source of literature; news as a reflection of human pain, suffering, tragedies and confusion; news as
8、something to inspire people and make them optimistic; news as something to frighten people and make them aware of the seamy side of the reality; last but not least, news as a filler between commercials.Part VIII (Para. 21)In this paragraph, the authors conclude the essay by reiterating their purpose
9、 in raising the issue “What is news?” It is to arouse our interest and help us understand the problems, limitations, traditions, motivations, and even the delusions of the television news industry. Detailed Study of the Text1.We turn to this question because unless a television viewer has considered
10、 it, he or she is in danger of too easily accepting someone elses definitionfor example, a definition supplied by the news director of a television station; or even worse, a definition imposed by important advertisers. (Para. 1)news director: (电视台) 新闻节目负责人advertisers: In many countries in the West,
11、television stations largely depend on selling air time to advertisers for their revenue. Therefore, important advertisers can often impose their views and interests on the news supplied by television stations.viewer：Someone who is watching a movie, a television program, or an exhibitionCompare:audie
12、nce: a group of people who watch, read, or listen to somethingspectator: a person who watches an event, show, game, or activity2.A simplistic definition of news can be drawn by paraphrasing Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes famous definition of the law. The law, Holmes said, is what the courts say it is
13、 we might say that the news is what television directors and journalists say it is. (Para. 2)Americans generally accept Holmes famous definition of the law because they agree that laws must allow for the new interpretations necessary to meet the challenges of a changing nation and a changing world.
14、But to propose a definition of the news by paraphrasing Holmes definition of the law probably commits the logical error of false analogy. For example, it would not make much sense if we were to say politics is what politicians say it is, or education is what teachers say it is.simplistic: disapprovi
15、ng too simple; not complete or sufficiently thoroughNothing more. Nothing less. : As simple as that; no more, no less. in similar fashion: in the similar way; likewise; by the similar token3.But if we were to take that approach, on what basis would we say that we havent been told enough? Or that a s
16、tory that should have been covered wasnt? Or that too many stories of a certain type were included? Or that a reporter gave a flagrantly biased account? (Para. 2)The fact that people are often unsatisfied with news reporting implies that people have different ideas about what news should be.flagrant
17、ly biased: obviously and unquestionably biased4.In modifying their answer, most will add that the news is “important and interesting things that happened that day.” This helps a little but leaves open the question of what is “important and interesting” and how that is decided. (Para. 3)It is all rig
18、ht to say that news consists of the important things that happened that day. But important to whom? In what sense? For what reason?but leaves open the question: but does not give an answer to the question5.Of course, some people will say that the question of what is important and interesting is not
19、in the least problematic. What the President says or does is important; wars are important, rebellions, employment figures, elections, appointments to the Supreme Court. (Para. 4) This is an interesting example of hasty generalization. It is true that what important people say or do is often importa
20、nt, but we cant jump to the conclusion that everything they say or do is always important. On the other hand, sometimes even what happens to someone completely unknown can escalate to a serious crisis. People call that “the Butterfly Effect.”problematic: causing a problem; questionable; uncertain 6.
21、Now, there is a great deal to be said for Saran Wrap. (Para. 4) Now, its true that Saran Wrap is very useful. 7.Saran Wrap is not news. The color of Liz Taylors wrap is. Or so some people believe. (Para. 4)Note that the authors are making a word play on the word “wrap,” which has different meanings.
22、 8.We shall never learn about these people either, however instructive or interesting their stories may have been. (Para. 5)We will never hear anything about these people either, no matter how instructive or interesting their stories may have been.instructive: providing knowledge or information; edu
23、cational9.Of course, there are some eventsthe assassination of a president, an earthquake, etc.that have near universal interest and consequences. But most news does not inhere in the event. (Para. 6) to inhere in sth.: formal to be a natural part of sth.; to be inherent in sth.10.In fact, the news
24、is more often made rather than gathered. (Para. 6)In fact, often the news is not something out there for you to pick up; you have to decide what information is newsworthy and make it into news.11Is a story about a killing in Northern Ireland more important than one about a killing in Morocco? (Para.
25、 6)For Americans of Irish background, the answer will most likely be yes. It is said that the relative importance of an event is often determined by the relative distance of its occurrence to the person involved.12 every news story is a reflection of the reporter who tells the story. The reporters p
26、revious assumptions about what is “out there” edit what he or she thinks is there. (Para. 6)If news stories were just facts, and facts speak for themselves, then all news stories, though written by different people, would be the same. But news stories are actually all different because every news st
27、ory is a reflection of the reporter who tells the story, and every reporter has previous assumptions (beliefs, points of view, and biases) which affect what he/she thinks is there. to edit: to decide what will be included or left out, as editors do in preparing, printing, broadcasting, etc.13The ans
28、wers to all of these questions, as well as to other questions about the event, depend entirely on the point of view of the journalist. You might think this is an exaggeration, that reporters, irrespective of their assumptions, can at least get the facts straight. (Para. 7)irrespective of: regardless
29、 of; without thinking about or consideringAll government officials, irrespective of their rank, must disclose their property.We pursue the diplomatic policy of the five principles of peaceful coexistence in our relationship with all countries irrespective of their size or political system.to get the
30、 facts straight: to find out what the facts are without making mistakesnow-defunct: now-dead; now no longer existing or functioningto feature a story: to give a story a prominent place in a newspaper or television news show14 who thus earn their 35 rubles a month in lieu of “relief” (Para. 8)Instead
31、 of receiving government relief, they are given jobs by the government so that they can earn their money. (这是以工代赈的政策)in lieu of: instead of (government) relief：money that is given to poor people by the government (政府)救济15 it was the policy of the Journal to highlight the contrast between the primiti
32、ve Russian economy and the sophisticated American economy. (Para. 11)the Journal: This refers to the newspaper The Wall Street Journal, mentioned above.to highlight: to make people notice or be aware of somethingsophisticated: (the opposite of primitive) highly developed and complex 高级的，复杂的16Each of
33、 our senses is a remarkably astute censor. We see what we expect to see; often, we focus on what we are paid to see. And those who pay us to see usually expect us to accept their notions not only of what is important but of what are important details. (Para. 11)We have five sense organs, and they ar
34、e all extremely sharp censors. censor: a person who examines books, movies, newspapers, etc. and removes things considered by the authorities to be offensive, immoral, or harmful to society (Note the personification of the word) .We do not see or hear everything. We only see or hear what we expect t
35、o see or hear because we have been trained that way. We have been paid by our bosses to see or hear what they expect us to see or hear. We have been made to accept our bosses notion of what is interesting and important.17 “Wed have complete dossiers on the interests, policies, and idiosyncrasies of
36、the owners. Then wed have a dossier on every journalist in the world. The interests, prejudices, and quirks of the owner would equal Z. The prejudices, quirks, and private interests of the journalist Y. Z times Y would give you X, the probable amount of truth in the story.” (Para. 12)Here the French
37、 writer Albert Camus, quoted by A. J. Liebling, is using a mathematic formula to express the relationship between the interests, prejudices and quirks of a newspaper owner, and those of the journalists, and the probable amount of truth in a news story.Z x Y = XHere, Z = the interests, prejudices, an
38、d quirks of the owner Y = the interests, prejudices, and quirks of the journalists X = the truth probability of the newsDossiers (on): files (of); records (of)18The host might say something like this: “To begin with, this station is owned by Gary Farnsworth, who is also the president of Bontel Limit
39、ed, the principal stockholder of which is the Sultan of Bahrain. Bontel Limited owns three Japanese electronic companies, two oil companies, the entire country of Upper Volta, and the western part of Romania. ” (Para. 13)The implied suggestion is that this television station is quite likely to be bi
40、ased in its news reporting, reflecting the interests of those who control its finances.19“The anchorman on the television show earns $800,000 a year; his portfolio includes holdings in a major computer firm. He has a bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas but was a C+ student
41、, has never taken a course in political science, and speaks no language other than English. Last year, he read only two booksa biography of Cary Grant and a book of popular psychology called Why Am I So Wonderful? (Para. 13)The implication here is that the opinions of the anchorman on a television s
42、how are strongly influenced by his financial status, his source of income, the education he has received, and the books he has read.anchorman (anchorwoman): (chiefly in the US) a man or woman who presents and coordinates a television news program (电视和广播电台)新闻节目主持人 Compare:broadcaster: 播音员host：（游戏，访谈节
43、目）主持人portfolio：a range of investments held by a person or organization 全部投资；投资组合holdings：financial assets; land, property, or shares in a company 拥有的财产20.“The reporter who covered the story on Yugoslavia speaks Serbo-Croatian, has a degree in international relations, and has had a Neiman Fellowship
44、at Harvard University.”(Para. 13)A reporter who speaks the language, has a degree in a related field, and has done research on journalism at a distinguished university can naturally be expected to be more competent to cover the story on Yugoslavia than one without these qualifications.21.What we are
45、 saying is that to answer the question “What is news?” a viewer must know something about the political beliefs and economic situation of those who provide the news. (Para. 15)The point we are trying to make is that a viewer must know something about the political beliefs and economic situation of t
46、hose who supply the news if he/she wants to answer the question “What is news?” Note here that the news reporters economic situation refers to his/her financial status as well as the way his/her living is made, because a persons vested interest (his/her personal stake in an undertaking, especially w
47、ith an expectation of financial or other gain) often affects his/her point of view. 22.There is, in fact, a point of view that argues against journalists imposing their own sense of significance on an audience. Whats our point? A viewer must not only know what he or she thinks is significant but oth
48、ers believe is significant as well. (Para. 16)to keep their own opinions to themselves: To keep their own opinions secret; not to announce their own opinionsto advise them of what is important: to instruct them in what is important; to teach them what is importantNote that with the verb “advise”, th
49、e preposition “of” is used, and “to advise somebody of something” is not to be confused with “to advise somebody to do something”.Liz Taylors adventures in marriage: This refers to the actresss unusually numerous marriages, which were a favorite subject of social gossip at the time.A viewer must not only k