Insert particles or prepositions where necessary. Translate the sentences into Russian/Belarusian

1. Yesterday the president made a public statement … air.

2. Our national TV channels usually go … the air about midnight.

3. Adopted laws … censorship do not end the battle … their necessity.

4. Proponents of censorship are sure that such practices are beneficial … the public interest.

5. It would be impossible … all people at all times to agree ... the value of all ideas.

6. In a recent magazine article, the writer complained that his right … privacy had been infringed … by government.

7. His behavior could have extended the blame … the entire family.

8. Those who vigorously push … more civil freedoms may sometimes be abridged … the ones they already enjoy.

9. That information leak put the soldiers … risk for attack … the rebels.

10. Supporters of censorship cite that the possible use of harsh language or images may be detrimental … the values instilled … children … their parents.

11. Some questionable material that cannot be published is widely
circulated … the Internet.

Speech activities

Answer the following questions. Exchange your views on the issues considered.

1. What does the First Amendment presuppose? Is it really possible to create one map of correct values for a pluralistic society?

2. What is the danger of infringing upon the First Amendment according to Julie Hilden? Do you share her opinion and fears?

3. What’s your opinion on the point expressed by David Swanson? Do death, terrorist attacks, wars, accidents need to be shown on TV?

4. Do you agree that in times of war any journalist who leaks secret information is worse than an enemy and should be treated as such?

5. Do you think that governments should decide which journalists are cleared to report from hot spots?

6. Is complete freedom within the media from censorship possible? Necessary? Desirable? Dangerous?

Sum up arguments for and against censorship mentioned in the text. Think of some other pro and con arguments. For more ideas read the supplementary text “TV Prepares for Major Shake-up”.

Read the following quotations about censorship and comment on their meaning.

1. “There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.” Joseph Alexandrovitch Brodsky

2. “One of the most curious things about censorship is that no one seems to want it for himself. We want censorship to protect someone else: the young, the unstable, the suggestible, the stupid. I have never heard of anyone who wanted a film banned because otherwise he might see it and be harmed.” Edgar Dale

3. “It seems not more reasonable to leave the right of printing unrestrained, because writers may be afterwards censored, than it would be to sleep with doors unbolted, because by our laws we can hang a thief.” Samuel Johnson

4. “Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there.” Clare Booth Luce

5. “Censorship ends in logical completeness when nobody is allowed to read any books except the books that nobody reads.” George Bernard Shaw

6. “Censorship is telling a man he can’t have a steak just because a baby can’t chew it.” Mark Twain

7. “Adam did not want the apple for the apple’s sake, he wanted it only because it was forbidden. The mistake was in not forbidding the serpent; then he would have eaten the serpent.” Mark Twain

Do you know any other citations or judgments about censorship? Can you provide any of your own?

READING TWO

BBC Chiefs Order Tough Curb on TV Sex and Violence

The BBC today announced a tough new curb on TV sleaze, ordering program-makers to cut back on explicit scenes of sex, violence and bad language.

In a new code of practice for producers described as “the most comprehensive code of ethics in broadcasting”, chairman Sir Christopher Bland has signaled he will no longer tolerate casual inclusions of swearing before the watershed, or explicit depictions of sex on TV.

Sir Christopher has also told producers that sex scenes after 9 p.m. must not be gratuitous in any way. The new handbook says: “For each of us sexual activity happens after moral decisions have been made: its portrayal, therefore, should not be separated from recognition of the moral process”.

The guidelines will bee seen as a direct response to Heritage Secretary Virginia Bottomley’s recent concerns about sex and violence on screen. Director-general John Birt said: “the BBC aims to set the highest editorial and ethical standards in program-making”.

The expanded guidelines on taste and decency acknowledge that the British public has become more relaxed about TV sex, but warn producers this does not give them the same license to increase its incidence on screen. Excessive violence has also been ruled out-of-bounds, with the guidelines warning it should be avoided altogether. News producers must take great care not to linger on bloody consequences of an accident or terrorist attack.

Magazine For a Change, 2001

Language focus

1. Explain the following:

– to cut back on explicit things;

– the most comprehensive code;

– watershed;

– Heritage Secretary;

– out-of-bounds;

– to linger on bloody consequences.

2. Guess the words from their definitions:

– to place tough restraints on smth;

– smth of low moral standards;