Russian and Britain Mass Media

   РОССИЙСКАЯ  ОТКРЫТАЯ КОНФЕРЕНЦИЯ УЧАЩИХСЯ 
 
 
 

«ЮНОСТЬ, НАУКА, КУЛЬТУРА» 

Секция: Лингвистики

(Английский Язык) 
 
 

British and Russian Mass Media 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Цветкова  Марина

Малая академия наук ВГИ ВолГУ, 10 класс, Волжский 
 

Научный руководитель:

Ломакина  Ольга Евгеньевна, доктор педагогических наук, профессор

Государственного  образовательного учреждения

высшего профессионального образования 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Волжский, 2010

Contents

Introduction……………………………………………………………….3

Chapter I. The basic Mass Media in Britain and Russia…………....…….6

1.1 The analysis of the meaning of the concept of ‘Mass media’………..6

1.2 TV and radio in Russia and Britain…………………………………..7

1.3 Press in Britain and Russia..……………………………………...…14

1.4 The Internet and its Services………………………………………..21

Conclusions on chapter I………………………………………………...26

Chapter II. The comparative analysis of Russian and British mass media…………………………………………………………………....28

1. TV and radio in Russia and Britain……..…….…………………….28
2. Press in Russia and Britain…………………………………………..29

Conclusions on Chapter II……………………………………………….31

Summary Conclusions………………………………………………...…32

Bibliography……………………………………………………………..35

Glossary………………………………………………………………….36

Supplementary Part…...…………………………………………………38 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Introduction

   Media education is a quest for meaning. Much of the value of a quest lies in the search itself as well as in the achievement of the goal. A comprehensive term embracing television, radio, motion pictures, and large-circulation newspapers and magazines. It refers to much more than the journalistic aspects of the instruments of popular communication. The mass media often function as the locus of social control and the source of popular culture. They help create historical events, teach values, and by virtue of the huge commercial enterprises they represent, affect the viability of free societies.

   Mass media is media which is intended for a large audience. It may take the form of broadcast media, as in the case of television and radio, or print media, like newspapers and magazines. Internet media can also attain mass media status, and many mass media outlets maintain a web presence to take advantage of the ready availability of Internet in many regions of the world. Some people also refer to the mass media as the « mainstream media, » referencing the fact that it tends to stick to prominent stories which will be of interest to a general audience, sometimes ignoring controversial breaking news. Many people around the world rely on the mass media for news and entertainment, and globally, mass media is a huge industry.

   Usually, mass media aims to reach a very large market, such as the entire population of a country. By contrast, local media covers a much smaller population and area, focusing on regional news of interest, while specialty media is provided for particular demographic groups. Some local media outlets which cover state or provincial news may rise to prominence thanks to their investigative journalism, and to the clout that their particular regions have in national politics. The Guardian, formerly known as the Manchester Guardian, for example, is a nationally-respected paper in England which started as a regional daily.

   One of the biggest criticisms of the mass media is that it is too topical. When a media outlet is forced to cover national and international news, it cannot address numerous interesting local stories because these stories are not of interest to very many viewers. For example, the residents of a community might view their fight against development as critical, but the story would only attract the attention of the mass media if the fight became controversial or if precedents of some form were set.

   People often think of mass media as the news, but mass media also includes entertainment like television shows, books, and films. It may also be educational in nature, as in the instance of public broadcasting stations which provide educational programming to a national audience. Political communications including propaganda are also frequently distributed via mass media, as are public service announcements and emergency alerts.

    While elitists may be tempted to sneer at the mass media, referring to it as the “opiate of the masses,” mass media is a critical part of human societies. Understanding mass media is usually key to understanding a population and culture, which is why the field of media studies is so huge. Watching, reading, and interacting with a nation’s mass media can provide clues into how people think, especially if a diverse assortment of mass media sources are perused [9].

   So, the Object is mass media;

   Тhе Subject is mass media in Russia and Britain.

   Тhе Aim of the research is to study peculiarities of mass media in Russia and Britain and to make comparative analysis of it.

   Тhе Objectives are:

    1. To know more information of Mass Media in Russia and Britain;

    2. To compare Russian and Britain mass media and sum up their differences and similarities;

    3. To study the new Mass Media such as the Internet and know its peculiarities.

   Тhе Methods of the research: the analysis of the literature; comparative

    review of literature sources; summary of the investigated issues.

   Тhе theoretical value: the analysis of the meaning of the concept “mass media”, pick out differences and similarities of mass media in Britain and Russia.

   Тhе practical value of the research: set of characteristics of different mass media in Russia and Britain, comparative analysis of mass media in these countries.

   Тhе structure of the research: Introduction, two Chapters, Conclusions on Chapters, Summary Conclusions, Bibliography, Glossary, Supplementary part.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Chapter I. The basic Mass Media in Britain and Russia

   Television, radio and newspapers are the basic media in the world. People all over the world watch hear and read it. So, we will consider the meaning of the concept “mass media” and study it in two different countries Russia and Britain.

1.1 The analysis of the meaning of the concept ‘mass media’

   In this paragraph we will analyze the meaning of “Mass Media”. We will find out its meaning and its origin.

   Mass media is a term denoting that section of the media specifically designed to reach a very large audience (typically at least as large as the whole population of a nation-state), today including not only radio and television, which tend to be limited to the local or national level, but also the Internet, which is global. It was coined in the 1920s, with the advent of nationwide radio networks, mass-circulation newspapers, and magazines, especially in the United States, although mass media was present centuries before the term became common. The mass media audience has been viewed by some as forming a "mass society" with special characteristics, notably atomization or lack of social connections, which render it especially susceptible to the influence of modern mass media techniques of persuasion such as advertising and propaganda. Mass media can be one of the hardest forms of media within which to decipher what is true and what is not. Given that mass media penetrates the whole of society, its reach and influence is immense.

   Mass media is any medium used to transmit mass communication. Until recently mass media was clearly defined and was comprised of the eight mass media industries; Books, Newspapers, Magazines, and Recordings, Radio, Movies, Television and The Internet.

   Defining mass media is no longer clear cut or simple. The continuing explosion of digital communication technology is producing more than a little confusion on the subject.

   Developing new technology breeds new questions. Should cell phones be included in a definition of mass media? What about video and computer games? Is “World of Warcraft” a mass medium strictly speaking?

   Considerable debate surrounds this topic at the moment and the answer is still not entirely clear [13].

   So, the responsibility of those participating in this type of communication is also great, as the future direction of human society could well be guided by the mass media.

1.2 TV and radio in Russia and Britain

   TV and Radio are the most powerful means of mass media. Almost all people watch TV or listen to the radio for several hours. Many people watch news. There is a large choice of programs on TV. And every person can choose programs that he wants to watch. People watch TV or listen to the radio to entertain themselves or to learn some information. So, we will study it in Russia and Britain, find out its peculiarities and pick out the most popular channels in Britain and Russsia.

   Television is one of the most popular mass media in Britain. Some 96 per cent of population have television in their homes. It is estimated that about 10 per cent of household have two or more sets. Average viewing time per person is over 17 hours a week.

   The first regular independent television broadcast began in London in 1955. Independent television programmes are produced at 18 studio centres throughout the country [5].

   British broadcasting has traditionally been based on the principle that it is a public service accountable to the people through Parliament. Following 1990 legislation, it is also embracing the principles of competition and choice. Three public bodies are responsible for television and radio services throughout Britain. They are:

• the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) broadcasts television and radio services;
• the Independent Television Commission (ITC) licenses and regulates non-BBC television services, including cable and satellite services, and;
• the Radio Authority licenses and regulates all non-BBC radio services.

   Since the 1970s 98% of British households have had television sets able to receive four channels, two put out by the BBC, two by commercial companies. Commercial satellite and cable TV began to grow significantly in 1989 – 1990, and by 1991 the two main companies operating in Britain had joined together as British Sky Broadcasting. By 1991 about one household in ten had the equipment to receive this material.

   Every household with TV must by law pay for a license, which costs about the same for a year as a popular newspaper every day.

   Unlike the press, mass broadcasting has been subject to some state control from its early days. One agreed purpose has been to ensure that news, comment and discussion should be balanced and impartial, free of influence by government or advertisers. From 1926 first radio, then TV as well, were entrusted to the BBC, which still a board of governors has appointed by the government. The BBC’s monopoly was ended in 1954, when an independent board was appointed by the Home Secretary to give licenses to broadcast (“franchises”) to commercial TV companies financed by advertising and called in general independent television (ITV). These franchises have been given only for a few years at a time, and then renewed subject to various conditions.

   The BBC has a powerful television service. It owns two channels: BBC1 and BBC2. Practically all the population of the country lives within the range of the TV transmission. With the exception of a break during the Second World War, the BBC has been providing regular television broadcasts since 1936. All BBC2 programmes and the vast majority of those on BBC1 are broadcasted on the national network. The aim of the Government is that at least 25 per cent of programmes on all channels should be made by independent producers.

   The BBC television programmes are designed for people of different interests. BBC1 presents more programmes of general interest, such as light entertainment, sport, current affairs, children’s programmes, as well as news and information. BBC2 provides documentaries, travel programmes, serious drama, music, programmes on pastimes and international films [8].

   The BBC does not give publicity to any firm or company except when it is necessary to provide effective and informative programmes. It must not broadcast any commercial advertisement or any sponsored programme. Advertisements are broadcasted only on independent television, but advertisers can have no influence on programme content or editorial work. Advertising is usually limited to seven minutes in any one hour of broadcasting time.

   Both the BBC broadcast education programmes for children and students in schools of all kinds, as well as pre-school children, and for adults in colleges and other institutions and in their homes. Broadcasts to schools cover most subjects of the curriculum, while education programmes for adults cover many fields of learning, vocational training and recreation.

   The Government has no privileged access to radio or television, but government publicity to support non-political campaigns may be broadcasted on independent radio and television. Such broadcasts are paid for on a normal commercial basis. The BBC is not the mouthpiece of the government. All the major political parties have equal rights to give political broadcasts. Radio and, particularly, television have their greatest impact on public affairs at election time. Each of the principal political parties is granted time on the air roughly in proportion to the number of its candidates for the Parliament.

   Television and radio coverage of political matters, including elections, is required to be impartial. Extended news programmes cover all aspects of the major parties’ campaigns at national level and in the constituencies. Political parties arrange “photo opportunities”, during which candidates are photographed in such places as factories, farms, building sites, schools and youth centers. They often use these visits to make points about party policies.

   Special election programmes include discussions between politicians belonging to rival parties. Often a studio audience of members of the public is able to challenge and question senior politicians. Radio “phone-ins” also allow ordinary callers to question, or put their views to political leaders. Broadcast coverage also includes interviews with leading figures from all the parties, reports focusing on particular election issues, and commentaries from political journalists.

   Arrangements for the broadcasts are made between the political parties and the broadcasting authorities, but editorial control of the broadcasts rests with the parties.

   Television and the other channels of mass media are playing an increasingly important part in bringing contemporary affairs to the general public.

   Radio and television programmes for the week are published in the BBC periodical, “Radio Times”. The BBC publishes another weekly periodical, “The Listener”, in which a selection of radio and TV talks are printed.

   By international standards it could reasonably be claimed that the four regular channels together provide an above – average service, with the balance giving something to please most tastes and preferences. Some quiz-shows and “soap operas”, or long-running sagas, attract large numbers of viewers and to some extent the BBC competes for success in this respect. But minority preferences are not overlooked. In Wales there are Welsh-language programmes for the few who want them. There are foreign language lessons for the general public, as well as the special programmes for schools and the Open University. BBC news has always kept a reputation for objectivity, and the independent news service is of similar quality.

   Television is probably the most important single factor in the continuous contest for the public’s favour between the political parties. Parties and candidates cannot buy advertising time. At intervals each channel provides time for each of the three main political parties for party-political broadcasts, and during an election campaign a great deal of time is provided for parties’ election, always on an equal basis.

   BBC TV Europe broadcasts some of its own programmes by satellite, and from 1991 BBC TV International began to sell and distribute its World Service TV news in English and some other languages.

   BBC domestic services are financed almost exclusively by the sale of annual television licenses; World Service radio is financed from a government grant, while World Service Television is self-funding. Popular television drama programs produced for the BBC are shown in America and many other countries around the world [8].

   Television is the main source of news for many households around the world. TV does what none of the other media can: it brings the sight and sounds of some important news events by means of filmed, taped or live reports. Like regular radio news bulletins, daily TV news programmes provide only brief accounts of relatively new stories. But the visual aspect of TV news story can often help viewers understand the story. In addition to daily news reports, television covers special news events. Coverage of such an event may replace many hours of regular TV shows. Television also broadcasts in-depth programmes that help explain a story or subject. Such programmes, which run from half an hour to three hours, include documentaries and interview programmes. Most documentaries are filmed or taped. They may perform such subjects as crime, foreign policy, or race relations. Interview programmes, which are usually broadcast live, may consist of a panel of journalists who ask questions of a major figure in the news.

   The importance of mass media and journalism has greatly increased in recent years. In democratic countries, people depend on the news media for the fair and truthful reporting of current events. Freedom of the press encourages the exchange of ideas among citizens. In governmet-controlled countries, however, the news media serve as an instrument of the state. The struggle against censorship began in England in the 16^th-17^th cent. In the American colonies it began in 1734. Only 20% of the world’s people live in countries that have a free press. But in government-controlled countries journalists can still broadcast or write only what national leaders allow.  Media forms public opinion now. A lot of politicians strive to possess mass media. Media carries great possibilities for society, but they are not only good ones. Nobody should forget, that media- is the fourth power [6].