Subject File NEWSPAPERS

Newspapers

Different types of newspapers

Broadsheets or quality newspapers: printed on a large paper format, known for in-depth, objective reporting, and high-quality investigative journalism; focus on hard news, politics, business, and extensive editorial commentary rather than entertainment or sensationalism; traditionally aimed at educated, professional, and affluent readers; 

United Kingdom: The Guardian; The Telegraph; The Times

United States: Wall Street Journal; New York Times; Washington Post

Tabloids (also known as gutter press, redtops, yellow press, or populars): smaller, more compact-sized publications, characterised by sensationalist reporting, large arresting headlines, and a heavy focus on celebrity gossip, crime, and human interest stories;

United Kingdom: Daily Mail; The Sun

United States: New York Post

Task 1

Check out the links above and find national newspapers in your country which are equivalent to broadsheets and tabloids in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. 

Ex. 1: Study the adjectives below describing reporting styles. Decide which refer to broadsheet and tabloid journalism.

reliable - predictable - biased towards (in favour of sth.) - entertaining - unreliable - sensationalist - harmful - factual - provocative - controversial - judgemental - balanced 

Subject File INTERNET ADDICTION

Internet Addiction

The term "internet addiction" is not new, and it is well known that spending extended periods of time online is detrimental to one's health. Screens affect our eyes, the internet affects our cognitive processes, and so forth. However, a new study shows that internet addiction has more profound effects, changing our brains' neurons completely.

Ex. 1: Complete the text below with a suitable word.

brain - chemistry - connectivity - control - decision 

disruption - focusing - memory - urge - usage

Endless scrolling on the Internet: a habit, harmless at first sight, afflicts a significant portion of the population. This behaviour has become a compulsive addiction that has far-reaching consequences. 

Around one third of people globally are at risk of smartphone addiction, an issue linked to excessive Internet __________ (1). According to a new study, researchers have uncovered disturbing changes in the brain __________ (2) of young individuals grappling with Internet addiction. 

Their findings reveal a complex interplay of neural activity with multiple __________(3) networks displaying heightened activity even during resting states. This __________(4) in brain function is particularly alarming because it can potentially lead to a cascade of adverse effects. 

The study also reveals a worrying decline in another crucial brain network: the functional __________ (5) in areas responsible for executive __________ (6) functions including __________ (7) and __________ (8) making were significantly weakened. This imbalance can explain the struggles that young people with Internet addiction often face: difficulty in __________ (9), prioritizing tasks, and resisting the _________ (10) to return to the online world despite the negative consequences. 

The neurological price of excessive Internet use is becoming increasingly evident, and addressing the challenge will require a multi-faceted approach involving families, educators and policy makers. 

Ex. 2: Now watch the video and check your answers.

Ex. 3: Rephrase the adjectives in bold.

Subject File NEW MEDIA and the INTERNET

 

Ex. 1: The Internet - good or bad?

BBC Learning English - 6 Minute English / Is the internet good or bad?

Ex. 2: Complete the sentence starters with information from the podcast.

• Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the Internet, criticizes the "internet giants" because ...
• He points to the anonymity on social networks  and explains that it is an issue since it leads to ...
• He also thinks giving kudos are a way of improving social media as they ... 

Ex. 3: Pros and Cons of the Internet. Make a list (5 items each).

Think of 

    a) communication

    b) information

    c) organisation and administration

Use phrases such as "on the one hand ... on the other hand", "however", "but", etc.

Subject File ISSUES on the INTERNET

Does Over-Sharing Leave You Open to the Risk of Identity Theft?

Generally speaking, social media is a pretty nifty tool for keeping in touch. Platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn offer us a thousand different ways in which we can remain plugged in at all times. However, our seemingly endless capacity for sharing, swiping, liking and retweeting has some negative ramifications, not the least of which is that it opens us up as targets for identity theft.

People are often surprised at how simple it is for fraudsters to commit identity theft via social media. However, we seem to forget just how much personal information goes onto social media – our names, location, contact info, personal details – all of this is more than enough for a skilled fraudster to commit identity theft.

Simple phishing software or malware can swipe users’ account information without their having ever known that they were targeted, thus leaving all of the user’s friends and family vulnerable to such attacks.