Unit 4
Warming up and reading
Making the news
What do you think of when you see the title?
Suppose you are to be a journalist for China Daily, do you know what kind of jobs they have and how a newspaper is made?
journalist, editor, chief editor, advertiser editor, photographer, designer, distribution organizer, salesman, …
finding out news and telling people about it in the newspaper or on TV / radio
making sure the writing is clear, concise and accurate; checking facts
taking photographs of important people or events
laying out the articles and photographs
If you want to be a good journalist, what qualities do you think you need to have? Discuss the following qualities in pairs and then report to the class.
What level of education should a
good journalist have?
2. Dose work experience play an
important role in making the news?
3. Is being curious and active
important? Why / Why not?
4. Enthusiasm for the job is the key to
success, do you agree? Why / Why
not?
Do you still remember your first day at school? Primary school, middle school or high school?
Exchange your experience with your partner.
Everyone has unforgettable moments in his /her life. Now discuss in pairs how you would feel if you were offered a job on a famous newspaper.
excited, inspired, thrilled,
nervous, unforgettable,…
Look at the title and the picture .What do you think would make the first day at work “unforgettable”?
Doing things very special or meeting
somebody very important
Feeling very strange and uncomfortable
Not dressed correctly for the job or
dropping food or drink and feeling
embarrassed
Feeling at home straightaway because the atmosphere is so friendly
Solving a problem or showing some expertise which impresses your new boss or colleagues
What are they talking about?
They are talking about how to become a good reporter, including some necessary skills, some duties and so on.
Fast reading
Because his discussion with his new boss, Hu Xin, strongly influenced his life as a reporter.
Why will Zhou Yang never forget his first work assignment at the office of China Daily?
Find the words in the text according to the explanations.
very pleased
delighted
journalist
inform
concentrate
assist
a writer for newspapers and magazines
tell
direct one's attention on sth.
give help or assistance
acquire
to gain or come into possess
accuse
to charge sb. with doing wrong or breaking the law
publish
put into print
dilemma
a situation in which one has to make a difficult choice between two courses of action
update
modernize; supply with recent information
demand
to ask for firmly and not be willing to accept a refusal
sceptical
unwilling to believe a claim or promise; distrustful
the point in time at which something must be completed
deadline
List all the questions Zhou Yang asked.
1. Can I go out on a story immediately?
2. What do I need to take to take with me?
3. What do I need to remember when I go out
to cover a story?
Careful reading
4. What should I keep in mind?
5.Why is listening so important?
6. How can I listen carefully while taking notes?
7. Have you ever had a case where someone
accused your journalists of getting the
wrong end of stick?
No. Wait until you are more experienced.
1. Can I go out on a story immediately?
2. What do I need to take to take with me?
A notebook.
Find the answers to Zhou Yang’s questions.
3. What do I need to remember when I go  out to cover a story?
You need to be curious, have a good nose for a story and must us research to inform yourselves of missing parts of the story.
Don’t miss your deadline, don’t be rude, don’t talk too much but make sure you listen to the interviewee carefully.
4. What should I keep in mind?
5. Why is listening so important?
You have to listen for detailed facts. Meanwhile you have to prepare the next question depending on what the person says.
If the interviewee agrees, you can use a recorder to get the facts straight.
6. How can I listen carefully while taking  notes?
7. Have you ever had a case where
someone accused your journalists of
getting the wrong end of stick?
Yes.
1. According to the text, which of the following is NOT true?
A. The questions a reporter prepares to
ask are fixed.
B. A reporter must be able to tell when
people are lying.
C. Listening is a very important skill
for a reporter.
D. Zhou Yang’s colleagues are willing
to help each other.
A
Review the text and choose the best answers.
2. According to the text, which of the following is TRUE?
A. Zhou Yang was very sad on the
first day.
B. The footballer was proved not to be
guilty.
C. A reporter needs to take a camera
with him or her.
D. A reporter needs to take notes while
listening.
D
3. Who will take the pictures when Zhou
Yang goes out on a story for the first
time?
A. Zhou Yang himself.
B. A professional photographer.
C. Hu Xin.
D. A more experienced reporter.
B
4. Which of the following is NOT included
in Hu Xin’s list of “dos” and “don’ts”?
A. Don’t be rude.
B. Don’t talk too much yourself.
C. Make sure you listen to the
interviewee carefully.
D. Don’t laugh at the people being
interviewed.
D
Decide the following sentences True or False according to the text.
1. Hu Xin thinks Zhou Yang needs to learn from his colleagues before he starts to work on his own. ( )
2. A reporter needs to be able to ask good questions and get accurate information. ( )
3. Zhou Yang has to take a notebook and a camera with him when he goes out to cover a story. ( )
T
T
F
4. A good reporter must be patient, careful and well-organized. ( )
5. The footballer admitted in the interview that he took the money immediately. ( )
6. Zhou Yang must avoid being rude or  talking too much. ( )
7. Zhou Yang was eager to go out to cover  a story on his first day at work. ( )
8. A reporter should always use a small recorder to relax when necessary. ( )
T
F
T
T
F
1). It shows the students the skills
necessary to become a good reporter.
2). It wants to show how to conduct a
good interview.
The purpose of writing the passage
Discussion
The first time he will be sent with an
experienced reporter.
2) There is no need for him to take a
camera with him. He will have a
professional photographer with him
to take photographs.
What should a new reporter do on the first
day?
1) He needs to be curious.
2) A good reporter must have a “nose”
for a story.
3) He has to listen to the detailed facts
4) If necessary, he can prepare a recorder
to make sure that he gets the facts
straight.
What does a reporter need to remember when going to cover a story?
patient, well-organized, thorough, curious, careful, concise, professional, polite
creative, imaginative, technically good, gifted, professional, , patient well-organized
Use the reading to work out which adjectives best describe what is required for these two job.
concise patient imaginative well-organized technically good polite honest truthful thorough creative curious careful gifted professional
Summary
To the reporters, it’s ____________for them to take a camera because they have ______________________ with them. The reporters should be ________ and they must have a _____ for a story. They know how to _______the information they need. While interviewing, they won’t _______,___________________________, __________________________________. They will listen to the _______ facts and ask new questions. There is a trick of the______, that is ,with the permission of the interviewer, they would use _____________ which could keep the evidence to help __________their story.
unnecessary
professional photographers
curious
nose
acquire
be rude
they won’t talk too much themselves
and they listen to the answers carefully
detailed
small recorders
support
trade
Assignment
Imagine you are Zhou Yang and
you will cover a news story in an
earthquake area tomorrow. What
should you prepare and take with
you? Write it down and share
with your classmates in next class.
Homework
Review the text carefully and finish the assignment.
Find out the important and difficult words and expressions to you and finish exercises on page 28.