What is news? The nature of news is a favourite subject of discussion among journalists. Some place the emphasis on one aspect, some on another but it is generally agreed that the essence of news is topicality, novelty and general interests. To be news an item of information must have a bearing on the affairs of the moment, it must be new to those who hear or read it, and it must arouse the interest of a considerable number of those hearers or readers. Items which prossess these qualities to a marked degree are lect and arrange the contents of the paper. The art of news-gathering calls for a highly developed sense of news values. To acquire this sense the journalist must have a wide acquaintance with men and affairs, a sound educational background and a very considerable stock of general knowledge. For it is only thus that he will be able to distinguish what is new from what is already known, and what is of topical interest from what is of little concern to the majority of this readers. And this knowledge he must keep constantly up to date by being himself an assiduous reader of newspapers and magazines. Above all, he must have his finger on the pulse of current thought and public opinion; he must be aware of what the great mass of men ad women around him are thinking and feeling; he must never lose "the common touch", for although he himself may move in a circle whose interests are specialized, what he writes must appeal to the man in the street. The collection of news has a highly organized business. There is hardly a corner of the world today which is not covered by the gigantic network of news-gatherers employed by the local and national newspapers and the great agencies. Very briefly, the system operates thus. Local news is collected by the reporters and district representatives of provincial newspapers, and by the local staff correspondents of the national dailies. Events of national importance are covered by staff reporters of the national dailies and by special correspondents of both the national and provincial Press. In addition, home news is reported by district correspondents of the news agencies, notably the Press Association, the Exchange Telegraph and Central News. Foreign news is gathered by Reuters news agency and by the larger provincial papers. Items of interest to particular sections of the community (e.g. trade and technical news) are gathered by a number of smaller news agencies operating in different parts of the country. Read the sentences which follow and decide whether they are true or false. Correct them in accordance with the text and express your own opinion on the problem. Use the following phrases to express your agreement or disagreement. Agreement I think so; I believe so; I suppose so; That's right; I agree with the author; That goes without saying; Same here Disagreement I don't think so; I'm afraid not; I hardly think so; I don't quite agree with the autor here; On the contrary 1. The nature of news is never discussed among journalists. 2. To be news an item of information must have nothing to do with the affairs of the day. 3. It is generally agreed that the essence of news is topicality novelry and general interests 4. To be news an item of information must appeal to s small audience. 5. "Hard" news is news which does not arouse any inerests of readers or hearers 6. Journalists usually give priority to such news which has no bearing on the affairs of the moment 7. "Hard" news is given priority by those who select and arrange the contents of the newspaper 8. A highly developed sence of news values is of paramount importance for a journalists 9. Any beginner prossesses a highly developed sence of news values 10. To acquire a highly developed sence of news values ope must be an assiduous reader of detective stories 11. The journalist must have a considerable stock of knowledge and a sound educational background 12. It is not necessary for a jounalist to have a wide acquaintance with men and affairs 13. News should be of little concern to the majority of the readers 14. The journalists must keep his knowledge constantly up to date by reading newspaper and magazines 15. To keep his knowledge constantly up to date the journalists should read fiction 16. What a journalist writes must appeal to those whose interests are specialised 17. The collection of news is being carried out by a small group of journalists 18. Events of national importance are covered only by the national press 19. Local news is covered by foreign correspondents 20. Foreign correspondents are emoloyed by small town papers.