American Radio And Television

American Radio and Television
Mass media (that is the press, the radio and television) play an important part in the life of soceity. They inform, educate and entertain pepole. The also influencethe way people look at the world and make them change their views. “Afer all”, say American media men, “news is not what happens - it is what you see or read about in mass media.” In other words,mass media mould public opinion.
Millions of Americans in their spare time watch TV and resd newspapers. The daily paper dominates family life at breakfast, TV dominates the life of the family mostof the time. The TV set is not just a piece of furniture.It is someone who is “one of the family”.It is also a habit forming drug impossible to resist. The radio is turned on most of the time,creating a permanent background noise. It does no interfere with your activities. You can listen to the radio while doing some work about the house, reading a book or driving a car.
On the radio one canhear music, plays, news, and various commentary and discussion called forums. At a forum several authorities exchange views on social, economic and political problems, as well as on books of commoninterest. A number of sides are represented so that the listeners can hear various opinions. Such broadcasts are popular with listeners. A perculiar feature of the American radio is soap opera. It is asentimental serial drama. Soap opera is uually broadcast every day. Most people find soap opera boring.
Various radio and TV games, such as a quiz programme on TV, also attract a large audience.During a radio panel-game listeners of the radio send questions to the studio to be answered by the members of the panel, who compete for the best results. During TV quiz programmes questions are answeredby TV viewers.
There is a lot of advertising on American TV and radio. Some of the TV and radio stations are owned by big corporations or individuals. The owners can advertise whatever thet choose....