1 Radio and television
The bbc (the British Broadcasting Corporation) broadcasts (diffuse) radio programmes on Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3 and Radio 4 and broadcasts television programmes on bbc1 and bbc2.
itv (Independent Television) depends for its revenues on commercial advertising (la publicité). Many families have satellite dishes (antennes paraboliques) in order to receive Sky tv and other channels.
notez bien
a channel: une chaîne
a pay channel: une chaîne payante
the remote control: la télécommande
a talk show: un débat
a serial: une série télévisée
2 The press
Fleet Street, in London, used to be the hub (le centre) of the British press. The main newspapers have now moved to Wapping. The phrase (l’expression) Fleet Street is still used to refer to the most important British newspapers.
The popular press
The Daily Mirror, the Daily Express, the Daily Mail and the Sun are the most widely read popular papers. They mainly print sensational news.
The Sunday papers with the highest circulation (le plus fort tirage) are the Sunday People and the Sunday Mirror.
Quality papers (papers of a high standard)
The Times is read by the educated classes. It was founded in 1785. It has special weekly supplements such as: The Times Literary Supplement, The Times Educational Supplement, The Times Trade and Engineering Supplement. Characteristics: inclined towards the views of the Conservative party.
The Guardian has an international reputation for its commercial information, its foreign section and its book reviews. It was founded in 1821.
Characteristics: left-wing progressive political views.
The Daily Telegraph is read by the middle class. It was founded in 1855.
Characteristics: reflects the views of the Conservative party.
The Independent was founded in 1986.
The Sunday quality papers are The Observer, The Sunday Times and The Sunday Telegraph, all of which issue (publient) colour supplements.
notez bien
the circulation: le tirage
a leader: un éditorial
to make / hit the headlines: faire la une
a cover story: un article de couverture
the front / the back page: la première / la dernière page
a story: un article
to review: faire la critique de
to investigate: enquêter
to grant an interview: accorder un entretien
to hold a press conference: tenir une conférence de presse
to be well-informed / ill-informed: être bien / mal renseigné
newspaper ethics: la morale journalistique
the yellow press: la presse à scandale
to expose a scandal: révéler un scandale
to libel: calomnier, diffamer
to sue a paper: faire un procès à un journal