2001年英语专八真题听力原文

　　SECTION D NOTE-TAKING AND GAP-FILLING?

　　The Press Conference?

　　Press conferences are an all too familiar phenomena around us. However, when people startthinking about its advantages, it sometimes seems difficult to think of any that pressconference provides for the competent news reporter. Use of the press conference by publicofficials and private entrepreneurs help give rise to the phrase “pseudo-event”, and the eventcontrived to create news cove rage, where none has considered wanted. ?

　　However, having said that, one value of news conference by a public official is the symbolicnature of the event. And perhaps this is reasoned enough to continue the practice. At a pressconference, a public official supposedly submits to examination by responding to unsolicitedand perhaps hostile questions. A related advantage to the reporter is that press conferenceoffers an opportunity to get the public official on the record, with regard to the governmentpolicies. Stat ements from the press conference can serve as criteria against subsequentstatements and policies are measured. In that regard, press conference information may beused as reference point, more so than comments reported by single news medium. Also,when there is a single issue or topic to address, such as a new government program, anearthquake, or the nomination of a new government minister, the press conference offersbenefits of efficiency in that officials can speak to a number of reporters at once on the issueof public concern and interest. The press conference may be at its best in this almost one-wayformat.?

　　Now let’s move on to the disadvantages. And there are serious ones. Generally speaking, thepress conference format, as it stands, makes it difficult for t he reporters to get worthwhileinformation. At press conference, particularly a large one, the well-prepared reporter maynever get asked question and certainly is unlikely to have chance to ask follow-up questions.Another disadvantage in the press conference comes from the news source, that is, thenews provider. The news source generally decides who asks the questions, determines thelength of the answers, and can avoid any follow-up question and rephrase tough questions t ohis or her liking, and sets the time, place and duration of the interview. Press conferencestelevise live for the news audience, sometimes only highlights the disadvantages for the newsreporters since there is little or no time to challenge, clarify or place context materialsprovided by the news source. Despite these disadvantages and others inherent how reportersget information, t he dews reporter can help assure the worthwhile information from a newssource in share with the news audience. One way to reduce the likely heard of errors is to usemultiple forms of interviewing by telephone, in person, and press conferences as well asmultiple sources, common to the success of these approaches, how ever, are suchinterrelated ingredient as the preparation of the news reporter, the component of the newssource and nature of the questions asked.?

　　Let’s look at the preparation first. The nature of much news coverage re quires news reportersto be well-read on contemporary events. Like other professionals and craftsmen, the reportermust keep up to date on journalistic subject matter, that is the human condition. Although thesubject is broad, it offers the advantages that there is a little a reporter can read or witness.That will not help in covering the news at one time or another. Next, being prepared for aninterview includes giving some thought to the competence of the news source. Therelationships between news reporters and news sources would benefit the news audiencemore, if reporters would frequently ask themselves: What is this news resource competent totalk about? What can this person tell the news audience that few others can? Towards thecaution regarding the issue of competence, first, the reporter should not take for grantedthat, because of position or experience, the news source should know, does know, and canprovide information. Second, the competence of t he news source needs to be linked with thenews-gathering-methods. Let’s just spend a few minutes on the first point. There are generally4 conditions under which the reporter should not give prints to the news source information.One, the source may not know the information the reporter wants. Two, the source may havethe information and want to share it, but may lack the verbal skills or concepts to do so.Three, the source may have the desired information but not to want to share it, or worse, maylie to avoid sharing information. Last, t he source may be willing to share this information butunable to recall it.?

　　Now in addition to preparation of the reporter and competence of the news source, there isone more important ingredient in successful news coverage, that is ,the nature of questionsasked. It is generally agreed that the nature of the question can shape the nature of theanswer. General questions like “Are you for market economy” may lead to the respondentsaying virtually anything, and s till being rather vague. On the other hand, a too narrowquestion may limit the respondent to one particular answer only. In order to gatherinformation from news sources as accurately as possible, reporters can improve the questionin the following 5 ways. Firstly, avoid words wit h double meanings. Secondly, avoid longquestions. Thirdly, specify the time, pl ace and context you want the respondent to assume,and number 4, it is often helpful to ask questions in terms of the respondent’s own immediateand recent experience rather than in generalities. Finally, either make explicit all the alternativethe respondent should have in mind when answering the question or make none of themexplicit. Do not leave the news resource by suggesting a desired answer and not mentioningother alternatives.?

　　OK, to sum up, today’s lecture has covered some of the advantages and disadvantages of thepress conference, and three important factors and successful news coverage. In our nextlecture, we will continue to discuss how to become a competent news reporter.?

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