Messages from theMedia

The weatherforecast,a story about the candidates in an election,and movie reviews areexamples of messages from the media. A communication medium , of which the

plural（复数的） form is media,is a means ofcommunicating a message.Examples of media are television,radio, newspapers andbooks and the telephone.The media that

can reach manypeople at once are callemass media.

2.It is notdifficult to think of other messages we receive through the mass media. Everyday we get hundreds of them.Think about advertisements,for example.We see and

hear these messagesalmost everywhere we go.Advertisements are important messages,even though theyare sometimes annoying.They help us compare and evaluate

products.

3.Most of us getmore information from the media than from the classroom. Think for a moment,about how you learn about local news and events.Do you depend on other

people or themedia?What about international news?What is the most important source ofinformation for you?People who are asked this question usually

answer,"Television".

4.Think of all themessages you received today.Perhaps you read a newspaper during breakfast, ormaybe you read advertisements on billboards（露天广告牌）on your way

to school. Did youlisten to a weather forecast or the sports news on the radio this morning?Rightnow you are getting information through a very important medium of mass

communication一a book.

5.We use theinformation we get from radio,television,newspapers and other media to makedecisions and form opinions.That is why the mass media are so

important.Editorialsand articles in newspapers help us decide how to vote,consumer reports ontelevision help up decide how to spend our money,and international news on

the radio makes usthink and form opinions about questions of war and peace.Television,radioand books are all important media of________.

A.sports news

B.our decisions andopinions

C.mass communication

D.our messages

E.source of information