MASS MEDIA

Mass media are everywhere nowadays. (Mass media are ubiquitous these days.) Look at the
list below. Discuss the following media and try to agree which plays the most and the least
important role in contemporary society.
TV
- easy access/ has a huge influence on people – sets trends, opinions
- provides entertainment/ various programmes are presented/ affects our mode of thinking

RADIO
– listen to the radio while driving/ popular with drivers
- serves as a background of our actions - music has a positive impact on our mood
- informative function mainly
PRESS
- source of information, more reliable, information IS not biased, informative function,
it depends on age (elderly people read newspapers)

1.Another kind of mass media is the Internet. Many people fear that it will replace all other
media in the future. Do you agree?
- tv and radio air/broadcast their programmes on the web
- e-versions of traditional papers
- more available, more interesting than traditional media – comment on the spot,
different types of content (audio/video/text)
- people can choose what they want to read or subscribe
2. Should the Internet be censored? Why/why not?
- children may be exposed to pornographic / aggressive content on the web
(censorship is beneficial for children)
- people should have access to all information, voice their opinions freely
3. Many people claim that mass media are subjective. What can be done to ensure their
objectivity?

It would be advisable to…. (inf)// It would be a good idea to…. (inf)// should// shouldn`t (inf)

KRRiT – National Broadcasting Council

- financial fines/ penalties for presenting biased information
- verify the source of information and present information from different perspective – from
right-wing and left-wing politics
- teach people how to separate reliable information from fake news
- the government or the ruling party shouldn`t control mass media

TV
Television has a big influence on people. Look at the list below. Discuss how TV influences different
age groups and decide where the influence is the most beneficial and the most harmful. Be ready to
justify your choice.
CHILDREN
TEENAGERS
ELDERLY PEOPLE
1. Another group which is strongly influenced by TV is housewives/women. What is your opinion?
2. TV, as we know it, will soon disappear. What do you think?
3. What should be done to ensure the objectivity of television?

FAME
There are many problems connected with being famous. Look at the list below. Discuss the following
problems and try to decide which of them is the most and the least difficult to deal with. Be ready to
justify your choice.
STALKERS
LACK OF PRIVACY
CONSTANT CRITICISM

1. Another problem celebrities have to face is the lack of true friends. Do you agree?
2. You have talked about the lack of privacy of well-known people. In a way politicians are also
celebrities. Do you think that people have the right to be informed about their private lives?
3. What might be done to prevent the mass media from ruining people’s reputations?

SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media can have a negative influence on its users. Look at the list below. Discuss the following
problems and try to decide which one is the most and the least serious. Be ready to justify your
choice.
UNHEALTHY WAY OF LIFE
LOW SELF ESTEEM
CYBER BULLYING

1. Social media can also have a negative influence on relationships – comment.

2. Children under 10 shouldn’t be allowed to use Smartphones. Do you agree?
3. Should social media sites be held responsible for the content their users post? Justify your opinion.

READERSHIP
According to statistics few people read books nowadays. Look at the list below. Discuss the reasons
for this tendency and try to agree which of them is the most and least influential.
LACK OF TIME
LAZINESS
DOMINANCE OF OTHER MEDIA
 1. Another reason for the decline in readership is the high cost of books. What do you think?
2. Gathering reliable and objective information is more and more difficult nowadays. What is
your opinion?
3. How do you think technology will change readership in the future?

INTERNET SECURITY
The Internet may have a negative effect on its users. Look at the list below. Decide which of the
phenomena has the most and least negative influence on people. Be ready to justify your choice.
AGGRESSIVE ADVERTISING
ONLINE GAMES
SOCIAL NETWORKING

1. Another problem is that a lot of people seek medical advice on the internet. What do you
think of the phenomenon?
2. Poland is not ready for a potential cyberattack. What is your opinion?
3. Should the internet content be controlled by the state? Why?/Why not?

SOCIAL MEDIA
Many people criticize the use of social media. Look at the list below. Discuss the following problems
caused by social media and try to agree which is the most and least serious. Justify your choice.
CYBER BULLYING
ADDICTION
DECREASED PRODUCTIVITY

1. Another problem concerning social media is personal data theft. How important a problem is
this?
2. The content of websites should be controlled by the government. Do you agree?
3. How might elderly people have problems using the Internet?