I.

WARM-UP: What images spring to mind when you hear the

word ‘media’? How often do you read the paper or watch the
news on TV? How important is it for you to keep up with current
events? Do you think that news reporting has gotten better,
gotten worse, or stayed the same over your lifetime? Do you
have your favourite media?

II. VIDEO & DISCUSSION: The video shows how the Internet
is changing our brains. Based on what you have just seen, how
would you summarize this impact? How would you define the
difference between skimming and learning? Do you think that our ability to memorize things suffers because of the
Internet? Is this flood of information harmful in the long run? In what other ways does the Internet influence our
lives? Try to think of both good and bad sides of this influence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JqbnmocTLg

III. READING & DISCUSSION: You will read a short text about television’s impact on American society and
culture. What are the main areas of the influence of TV on society? Can you think of any other examples of this
influence, both positive and negative? Does violence on TV influence some young people to engage in violent
behavior? Do you watch TV? In your opinion, what are the most harmful TV programs (if any)?

TELEVISION'S IMPACT ON AMERICAN SOCIETY AND CULTURE

TV IS A CONSTANT PRESENCE IN MOST AMERICANS' LIVES.

WITH ITS FAST-MOVING, VISUALLY INTERESTING, HIGHLY
ENTERTAINING STYLE, IT COMMANDS MANY PEOPLE'S
ATTENTION FOR SEVERAL HOURS EACH DAY. STUDIES HAVE
SHOWN THAT TELEVISION COMPETES WITH OTHER SOURCES
OF HUMAN INTERACTION—SUCH AS FAMILY, FRIENDS,
CHURCH, AND SCHOOL—IN HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP
VALUES AND FORM IDEAS ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND THEM. IT
ALSO INFLUENCES VIEWERS' ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS ABOUT
THEMSELVES, AS WELL AS ABOUT PEOPLE FROM OTHER SOCIAL, ETHNIC,
AND BACKGROUNDS.
CULTURAL

BETWEEN THE 1940S AND 2000S, COMMERCIAL TELEVISION HAD A PROFOUND AND WIDE-RANGING IMPACT ON
AMERICAN SOCIETY AND CULTURE. IT INFLUENCED THE WAY THAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT SUCH IMPORTANT SOCIAL
ISSUES AS RACE, GENDER, AND CLASS. IT PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS, PARTICULARLY IN
SHAPING NATIONAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS. TV PROGRAMS AND COMMERCIALS HAVE ALSO BEEN MENTIONED AS
MAJOR FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO INCREASED AMERICAN MATERIALISM (A VIEW THAT PLACES MORE VALUE ON
ACQUIRING MATERIAL POSSESSIONS THAN ON DEVELOPING IN OTHER WAYS). FINALLY, TELEVISION HELPED TO
SPREAD AMERICAN CULTURE AROUND THE WORLD.

1
IV. DISCUSSION: Look at the vocabulary below and try to use it during the conversation. Which type of media do
you consider most important nowadays and why? Do you feel manipulated by the mass media? Do you think that
the mainstream media should be trusted less than alternative media? What is your opinion of mainstream media in
your country? Do you think the media have too much power? Do you think that most newspapers print what's really
important, or what will make them sell more newspapers? What about TV news? How do you feel about censorship?
Are there times when the news should be censored?

print media (n.) – media that is printed, like newspapers, magazines, etc.
broadcast media – media that is broadcast, like TV, radio, etc.
online media – media that is online, like blogs, news websites, etc.
press (n.) – this word is used to describe all news media, including print, broadcast, and online media
 
mainstream (adj.) – very common, accepted, and established in society 
alternative (adj.) – not mainstream; a choice that is different from the mainstream 
network (n.) – a large media company with offices in many different places 
affiliate (n.) – a single office or branch within a large news network