Ejercicio A · Inglés PAU Madrid Extraordinaria (2) 2024

TEXTO A

Hard News

Hard news refers to stories that cover events with important, real-world implications. It is associated with the notion of a free press and to the public's right to know. Hard news stories aim to inform about events and give citizens the information they need to be able to participate in the democratic process as fully informed citizens.

Hard news provides new information to the public in the interests of society. It covers topics such as politics, crime, law, environment, conflict, war, disasters, welfare, health, social justice, economics, science, and technology.

Hard news needs to be conveyed quickly and they should cover current events. People need to be informed about the most recent developments. Digital media and the internet have made the 24/7 access to news a lot easier.

New media are providing new opportunities –and new challenges– for news journalists: to blog and tweet or not to blog and tweet? Should journalists use social networking services to find sources? Journalists working in all media need to be adept at posting stories on multiple sites. These new demands, at a time when staff numbers are being reduced, place new pressures on journalists. But new media also offer new opportunities for collaboration between journalists, the public, and media companies in the creation of news.

The competition for newspaper readers from online sources has, as we all know, impacted on the viability of newspapers. As the old saying goes, why pay for something that is free? This is the ideology that has devastated the music and the printed newspaper industries.

Adapted from Bainbridge et al. 2015. Media and journalism: new approaches to theory and practice. 3rd edition. p.xxiv.

A.1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. [2 marks]

a)

Hard news ought to deal with the latest developments, and be immediately communicated.

TRUE

FALSE

b)

Online media journalists need to be good at publishing stories on different platforms.

TRUE

FALSE

A.2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. [2 marks]

a)

Why is hard news important for democracy?

b)

What is the main problem with printed newspapers?