newspaper

1. What is news? What are some categories of news?

News is information that is published in mass media about recent events in the country or world or in a particular area of activity. Some categories of news:

In terms of style: spot news, news features.

In terms of nature: political, economic, sports, cultural, In terms of area: international ,domestic, local. In terms of timeliness: hard news and soft news

2. What is news value? What are some basic elements of news value?

News value refers to the importance of the facts and details in the news that satisfy the public's interest in news.

Newspaper editors determine the newsworthiness of a report by the following principles: (1)Timeliness: is whether it is a recent development or old news (2)Proximity: is whether the story is relevant local readers or not.

(3)Conflicts: is whether the issue is developing and whether it has been resolved and if anybody care

(4)Prominence: is whether noteworthy people are involved

(5)Human interest: is whether it contain unique and interesting elements

3. What are the functions of the newspaper?

(1) to inform: to allow readers to learn more about the latest news.

(2) To influence: newspaper articles or news on a great influence of on the public, editorials

or commentaries point of view can influence the public’s views.

(3) To entertain: to entertain readers by some features such as comic strips, cartoons, and

serialized books.

(4) To advertise: the advertisement can bring some information timely, and also bring

income for the newspaper.

4. What are the features of a front page in a newspaper?

(1) A lead story: the most important political, economic or military event, sometimes accompanied by a relevant photo

(2)News index or brief: on the side or bottom part of the front page. (3) The headlines: brief but impactive.

(4)Often with few or even no advertisements

5. What are the main features of headlines in lexis(词汇), Grammar（语法） and Rhetoric（修

辞）?

(1)Lexical:

Small words and abbreviations instead of big, complete ones; Choice of words in headlines — style and purpose.

(2)Grammatical:

Omission of link verbs such as BE; Infinitives for future events; Phrases as headlines;

Present tense for past events; Pre-modification

(3)Rhetorical:

Parody (仿拟): Temporary transformation allusions, proverbs, famous sayings; Metaphor (隐喻)

6. How do news magazines differ from newspapers in layout and news coverage?

The layout of a News Magazine News magazines:

(1) Not merely tell the readers 5Ws but provide them with a perfect taste of an art of

language.

(2) Many narrative and delayed leads

(3) Detailed descriptions and the consequences of the events, accompanied by captions

and photos and titles.

(4) Every issue has fixed columns. Cover story is the most important news item in a

magazine.

The general content structure of a newspaper. 1) Front page 2) Other pages

3) An news item normally consist of:

(Photo/picture) (Caption) Headline

(Sub-headline) By-line

(Time and ) date (City and nation) Lead Body End

7. What is news lead? What are direct lead and delayed lead?

News lead——

The first a few paragraphs which indicate the five Ws and an H (WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, HOW ) of the news story.

Direct lead A direct lead tells readers the most important aspect of the story (the five Ws) in a direct and straightforward way, and is often used in “hard news”.

Delayed lead A delayed lead attracts readers by hinting the content of the story. It is usually found in news features and other “soft stories” that put more emphasis on human interest rather than timeliness of an event.

A delayed lead usually sets a scene or evokes a mood with an incident, anecdote, or example.

8. What is the body structure of a news story? What are advantages of it?

Inverted pyramid (also called “inverted triangle”)

——The most important aspect of a story is higher up in the body of the story, while other information is written lower down in order of importance. Advantages:

(1)Easy for journalists to write, since the structure is clear.

(2)Easy for editors to modify, since the lower parts are less important thus can be readily cut off if necessary.

(3)Easy for readers to grasp the main idea and decide whether to read on --- time is money!

9. What are the difference between tabloids and broadsheets? (at least four aspects)

①Tabloids：Headlines are typed in bold print and may extend across the whole page. They are often capitalized.

Broadsheets: Headlines usually only extend over two columns, the print tends to be smaller. Front page headlines, however, are sometimes an exception.

② Tabloids：Paragraphs are usually only a few lines long.

Broadsheets: Paragraphs are longer so the reader has to concentrate for longer periods of time.

③ Tabloids：The typographical features are very varied: the first paragraph uses larger print and is often bold; the second paragraph is slightly smaller, the third paragraph uses standard print size. Initial letters are usually large.

Broadsheets: The typographical features are more standard. The same size of print is used throughout except for headlines, strap lines and sub-headlines.

④ Tabloids：Punctuation is used sparingly. Commas are often omitted after initial adverbials and between strings of adjectives. Inverted commas are used to mark direct speech and to highlight key words.

Broadsheets: Punctuation is used traditionally and more formally than in tabloids. Dashes are less frequent.

10. What are the main functions of mass communication for society? ⑴.Surveillance: facts and data;

⑵. Interpretation: information on the ultimate meaning and significance of news events;

⑶. Transmission of values: The mass media present portrayals of our society and by watching, listening, and reading, we learn how people are supposed to act and what values are important;

⑷. Diversion:

①seeking relief from boredom or the routine activities of everyday life; ②relaxation or escape from the pressures and problems of day to day existence; ③emotional release of pent-up emotions and energy

⑸. Linkage: the media function that addresses our need to strengthen our contact with family, friends, and others in our society.

11.How to deal with new words in reading newspapers and magazines?

⑴. Try to find some help from the author

⑵. Try to find some help from word formation

⑶. Try to find some help from context and common knowledge

12. What is communication? What are the forms of communication? Communication:

The process of sharing ideas, information, and messages with others in a particular time and place.

Forms of communication:

Verbal communication, nonverbal communication, visual communication, electronic communication.

13. What is the code of ethics for journalists?

①Responsibility: Journalists should not use their professional status as representatives of the public for selfish or other unworthy motives.

②Freedom of the press: Journalists should be free from government control or censorship. ③Accuracy and objectivity: truth is the ultimate goal, objectivity in reporting the news is another goal.

14. What is journalism? What does the study of journalism include?

In a narrow sense, journalism is the collection and periodical publishing of news. It includes writing for, editing, and managing such media as the newspaper and the periodical. In other words, it means gathering, evaluating, and disseminating facts of current interest.

In a broad sense, journalism is the gathering and transmission of news, business management of journals, and advertising in all its phases. And following the advent of radio and television, there was trend toward including all communication dealing with current affairs in the term of journalism.

15. What is the definition of news agency? What are the major news agencies in America and

Britain?

News agencies are organizations that collect, transmit, and distribute news to newspapers, periodicals, television, radio, and other journalistic and mass communications media. the Associated Press (AP)美联社;

the United Press International (UPI)(合众国际社) Reuters 路透社;

Agence France presse,(AFP)(法新社) Xinhua News Agency,(新华社)

16. What are the benefits obtained via appreciating the language of English news? Some benefits ——

⑴.Acquire latest information (90%)

⑵.Understand the fundamentals of English journalism

⑶.Know about the different styles of English newspapers and magazines ⑷.Improve one’s English competence