Do we need more good news stories?
Have you ever wondered why the news is full of death
and destruction?
Kaz and Finn decide to take a look at some good news
in this week's 6 Minute English
This week's question:
According to the BBC, three of the top ten most followed stories of 2012
were about the weather in the UK.But what kind of weather? Was it:
a) snow storms
b) flooding
c) heat
waves
Vocabulary:
the seedier
side of life - aspects of life that are morally degraded,
for example, sex scandals and corruption
mankind - the
human race
impact -
have an effect on or influence
exposure
- coverage
breakthroughs
- sudden, dramatic, and important discoveries or developments, especially in
science and medicine
tabloids
- newspapers of small format giving the
news in condensed form, usually with lots of pictures and often providing
sensational material
broadsheets
- serious newspapers with a larger page format
crass
- crude and rough
don't do it
justice - don't give it the credit it deserves
a grimace
- a twisted facial expression that shows distaste or disgust
Listen
Kaz:
Hello I’m Kaz and this is 6 Minute English. With me today is Finn. Hello Finn.
Finn:
Hello Kaz.
Kaz:
So, what news Finn?
Finn:
Oh nothing new from me. Just the same old stuff, Kaz.
Kaz:
Oh well, you know the saying: 'no news is good news'.
Finn:
That's certainly true, Kaz
Kaz:
It's also relevant to today's programme.
Finn:
How so?
Kaz:
Well, have you ever wondered why there's so little good news around?
Finn:
You're right, Kaz. It's usually bad news that makes the headlines: wars,
scandals, murders, financial troubles, disasters…
Kaz:
OK, so on the subject of bad news; let me try this quiz question on you.
According to the BBC, three of the top ten most
followed stories of 2012 were about the weather in the UK
Finn:
Mmm. I don't think it could be heat waves because we've had a pretty awful summer.
I'll try a) snow storms.
Kaz:
Is that your final answer Finn?
Finn:
Yup. 'Snow storms' is my final answer.
Kaz:
OK. We’ll find out if you’re right at the end of the programme. But now, let’s
hear from designer Wayne Hemingway. Now, he was invited into the BBC newsroom
and his message to broadcasters was that they should look for more good news,
rather than the disasters and grim events that lead most news stories. What kind
of stories would he like to get more exposure?
Wayne
Hemingway:
Perhaps it's time to reflect a little bit about why
the main news channels seem to help us concentrate on bad news stories and the
seedier side of life. What bothers me is that on the whole, stories that could
move mankind forward and positively impact on our lives don't get the exposure
they deserve.
Kaz:
Finn, what kind of stories would designer Wayne Hemingway like to see getting
more exposure?
Finn:
Now he says that stories that deserve more exposure are ones about moving mankind
forward and positively impacting on our lives – in short, stories about
improving our lives.
Kaz:
Yes, stories that 'move mankind forward'.
Finn:
That sounds quite grand Kaz – almost idealistic. I wonder what kind of stories
do that?
Kaz:
Well, let's find out. Here’s Wayne
Wayne
Hemingway:
In Japan Israel
Kaz:
So what are the two good news stories he mentions?
Finn:
The first is a breakthrough, a significant development, in stem cell research
that might lead to a cure for human infertility.
Kaz:
OK and the second?
Finn:
A story about a bicycle made from recycled cardboard.
Kaz:
Yes, it's a neat idea.
Finn:
He says these cardboard bicycles could bring cheap, clean transport to some of
the world's poorest, most polluted and congested cities.
Kaz:
Wayne Hemingway is passionate about getting his message across to broadcasters.
He thinks that if we are constantly fed a diet of bad news, it's what we'll end
up wanting. What word does he use to describe this situation?
Wayne
Hemingway:
It's like saying that tabloids sell more than
broadsheets. If that's fed to the people all of the time that's what they want
but, you know, surely we've got to look at things that make us happy sometimes
rather than think 'Oh I'm glad I'm inside in the warmth', or you know 'I'm glad
I'm not in that country, I'd hate to be there'. It all seems to be a little bit
crass at the moment and to me it seems to be getting worse.
Kaz:
Did you catch that word he used Finn to describe our appetite for bad news?
Finn:
It was 'crass'. He said the situation was 'a little bit crass' at the moment –
'crass'
- showing no intelligence or sensitivity.
Kaz:
And it's a situation that he thinks is getting worse.
Finn:
So what can we do about it?
Kaz:
Let's find out. Here's Wayne Hemingway again:
Wayne
Hemingway:
If you search the internet for good news stories there
are various websites that address this but they don't do it justice. Perhaps we
need fewer crime and more design correspondents, more science reporters and
fewer war reporters and that way we might just encourage people to go out and
achieve more and put a smile rather than a grimace on the face of the people at
the bus stop.
Kaz:
Finn, what do we need to redress this situation?
Finn:
He says that perhaps we need fewer crime correspondents and more design
correspondents.
Kaz:
OK, as a designer himself that makes sense.
Finn:
Yes, but don't forget that design is an important contributor to the British
economy – so more of those stories would improve things.
Kaz:
OK. And what else?
Finn:
More science reporters and fewer war reporters.
Kaz:
Yes, he says that this would encourage people to go out and achieve more.
Finn:
He says it would put a smile on people's faces, rather than a grimace.
Kaz:
Well, that’s all we have time for today. But before we go though, the answer to
this week’s question. According to the BBC, three of the top ten most followed
stories of 2012 were about the weather in the UK
Finn:
Well, I said a) snow storms because of the snowy weather we've been having
recently. Was I right?
Kaz:
I'm afraid not, Finn. The correct answer was … b) flooding. Thanks very much
Finn, goodbye.
Finn:
Goodbye.
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