UNIT 2 TEST

LISTENING AUDIO SCRIPT

Narrator: Unit Tests: Unit 2. Part 1. Listen to the Narrator: Unit Tests: Unit 2. Part 2. Listen to the
recording and match the opinions (A–F) to the student recording. According to the speaker, are these
speakers (1–5). There is one opinion you don’t need. statements True (T) or False (F)? Choose T or F. You
You will hear the recording twice. will hear the recording twice.

Presenter: Good morning and welcome to the Writing
Club Podcast. Today I’m joined by five students whose
ambition is to work in journalism. We’re discussing
what it takes to be a successful journalist. Jack, you go
first – what do you think the characteristics of a good
journalist are?
Jack: In my opinion, the most important thing a
journalist needs is curiosity. Journalists need to be
interested in the world we live in if they’re going to find
new stories to tell. They also need to be great writers,
of course.
Presenter: What do you think, Sharin?
Sharin: I agree with Jack in some ways, but journalism
isn’t the same as it used to be. Right now we’re living in
the digital age. Journalists need to be able to do
several jobs at the same time. What journalists used to
do was find the story, write it and give it to a team to
edit and print. A photographer would also be paid for
pictures to match the story. Nowadays, journalists are
expected to find the story, write it, edit it, take a picture
– or make a video – and publish it online themselves.
Therefore curiosity and ability to write aren’t enough
anymore.
Presenter: Ellie, do you agree?
Presenter: Now let’s hear from our expert John
Allersdale, who’s been a journalist for 20 years. John
what does it take to be a journalist?
John Allersdale: Personally, I thought that the
students gave great answers to the question. However,
I’d like to add a few things. First of all, a good journalist
can’t be too sensitive. It’s a tough job where you
experience stressful situations and come into contact
with difficult people on a daily basis. For example, you
might have to give your work to a boss who thinks it’s
rubbish and needs writing again; or you might have to
read comments from angry readers who didn’t agree
with what you wrote in an article. Journalists must also
be willing to work long hours, as well as evenings and
weekends, because the world never stops creating
news and journalists have to be there to report it.
Sharin made a great point before: journalism isn’t the
same as it used to be, so having a number of skills is
an advantage. Finally, as Avi said, journalists need to
believe in what they’re doing. They need to believe
their duty is to share what they’ve discovered with the
public. They have to believe that they work for the
public – their readers and not for whoever can pay
them the most.
Narrator: Now listen again.

Ellie: Well, both Jack and Sharin make valid points and
there are other important qualities that journalists need
too. For instance, if they’re going to interview people
and ask tough questions, they have to be outgoing and
confident. A journalist can’t be too shy or polite.

Presenter: David, what’s your opinion?

David: I see your point, Ellie, but they should be tactful

too. They can’t go around asking whatever they want.
The people they speak to aren’t likely to help them if
they ask personal or offensive questions.

Presenter: Avi, what do you think?

Avi: I think being a journalist is about trying to discover

the facts and sharing them with the public, so a
journalist should be honest. People might try to give
journalists money to be on their side, but they need to
be strong enough to refuse it and stay on the side of
honesty and justice.

Narrator: Now listen again.

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