Ex. 1 Match the words (1-28) with the definitions (a-bb):
1-e; 2-i; 3-a; 4-c; 5-g; 6-h; 7-b; 9-f; 10-o; 11-m; 12-j; 13-k; 14-l; 15-r; 16-t; 17-n; 18-p; 19-v; 20-q; 21-s; 22-y; 23-aa; 24-u; 25-bb; 26-w; 27-x; 28-z.
Ex. 2 Complete the following words and word combinations:
1. Cherry-picked
2. Take precedence
3. Watchdog
4. Scoop
5. Prop up
6. On-the-spot
7. Primacy
8. Amalgamated
9. Commentary
10. Forte
11. Final say
12. Simulating
13. Pot-shots
14. Liquidation
Ex. 3 Translate the following words and word-combinations from Russian into English using active vocabulary:
An autocue; a rundown; a talkback; to go into liquidation; checkbook journalist; in conjunction with; to have the final say on smth; to set the benchmark for smth; to be one’s forte; “hot of the wire” news; a commentary; dyed-in-the-wool journalists; a watchdog; to be adept at doing smth; to scoop a message; a standby presenter; to cherry-pick; media convergence; to take precedence over smth.
Ex. 4 Do the “word formation” exercise and then translate the text into Russian:
1. Factual
2. Demonstrable
3. Suited
4. Balanced
5. Impartiality
6. Unduly
7. Unquestioning
8. Presentation
9. Requirement
Ex. 5 Give synonyms and antonyms to the following expressions:
| Expression | Synonym | Antonym |
| To titillate audiences | to stimulate | to calm; to soothe; to appease |
| To turn viewers off | to bore; to demotivate; to leave smb cold | to interest; to engage; to sweep along |
| To dumb down an issue | to simplify | to complicate |
| To mull over new angles | to think carefully about smth; to think over smth; to take a long hard look at smth | to make a snap decision (an on-site decision) |
| To be a moot point | a controversial point (divided, irreconciliable) | a clear point |
| To be cognizant of smth | to be aware of smth | to be ignorant of smth (uninformed) |
| To be under klieg-light | to be under spotlight | to keep/stay in the background |
| To dovetail into a logical story-telling narrative | to fit together | to misfit; to mismatch |
Ex. 6 Translate the following sentences from Russian into English using active vocabulary:
1. This journalist won’t handle just any task. He is used to cherry-picking information.
2. Safety should take precedence over all other matters in the workplace.
3. Media convergence has become a real trend in the world of journalism, where large media-holdings set the benchmark for smaller publications.
4. – Our newsreader has fallen ill and today he won’t be able to go on the air. – What a pity. Please, get in touch with our standby presenter as soon as possible.
5. If you are really adept at filming, we will put you in charge of the on-the-spot report. We cannot afford to send two people on the mission.
6. There are different watchdog organizations in the sphere of journalism that ensure that the code of ethics is properly followed.
7. Mike does excellent rundowns and that is his forte. But he is a dyed-in-the-wool journalist, so we can’t give him such a delicate task.
8. Will you listen today to the commentary from the war in Libya? It is done by “Mayak” radio station in conjunction with BBC. – No, I won’t. Because I don’t trust these sources. I’ve heard that they practise virtual reporting.
9. – I doubt whether we should put this video on the air today. I’m afraid it can turn our viewers off. – Let’s put off this decision for a moment. In any case our boss will have the final say on this matter.
10. – Have you ever taken part in a talkback? – No, I haven’t. I’ve never managed to get through.
11. – Why is Brian so mad at you? – I’ve recently taken a pot-shot at him, that’s why he is mad. – What did you tell him? – I hinted at the fact that I knew about him practising cash-for-comment.
12. – Do you know that this newspaper has gone into liquidation? – I am not surprised. They’ve always been involved in checkbook journalism.
13. A recent survey has shown that we are losing our audience. We should mull over different news angles.
14. I liked the information that you gathered. But as for delivery, to my mind, you dumbed down the issue.
15. American school of journalism is thought to be the best in the world. – I disagree. For me it’s a moot point.
16. – Are you cognizant of the fact that such a mistake is unforgettable for a professional of your kind? – I am, but I thought that this material would dovetail into a logical storytelling narrative.
17. This story is now under klieg-light of all media. Our task is to publish a sensation, otherwise we are lost.
Broadcast vocabulary
Ex. 7 Solve the crossword:
| Across | Down |
| 1 talent 3 worder 5 grab 7 cutaway 9 voicer 11 wrap 12 lead 13 signoff 14 intro 15 twoshot | 2 throw 4 readercopy 6 actuality 8 noddy 10 closeups |
Ex. 8 Interview quiz. Choose the variant(s) that best completes the statement or answers the question:
1-b; 2-cd; 3-c; 4-a; 5-bce; 6-bd; 7-c;
8 a, c – on the scene of the event; b – at the studio.
Ex. 9 Use the dictionary (https://www.macmillandictionary.com/) and find all the expressions related to journalism with the word “ air ”. Give their Russian equivalents and make up 3-4 sentences with some of the expressions.
- To be on the air – быть в эфире
Turn on the radio. What’s on the air now?
- To go on the air – выступать по радио, передавать в эфире
His program goes on the air each morning.
- To air a program – транслировать программу
This program airs daily.
- To be off the air – прекратить вещание
After just 3 episodes the series was taken off the air.
- On-the-air program – вышедшая в эфир программа
Today’s on-the-air program is hastily made. It leaves much to be desired.
- Over-the-air – выход в эфир
The over-the-air is in 5 minutes. Get ready!
- On-the-air operation – работа в эфире
Our audience is quite satisfied with your on-the-air operation.
- Air-concentration – уплотнение эфира
- Air check detector – устройство контроля передачи в эфире
Our air check detector is broken. We shall need a new one.