Now read this essay and complete the gaps with one of the words or expressions from the table below. You may need to change the form of some of the words.

  broadcasts        broadsheets            censorship     check book journalism              

current affairs     coverage    documentaries

download       dumbing down             entertainment      

freedom of the press                gutter press         information                     informed

Internet         invasion of privacy           journalists       libel 

   paparazzi      reality TV       reporters           restriction      tabloid      unscrupulous              Web site

‘The media plays a valuable role in keeping us informed and entertained. However, many people  believe it has too much power and freedom.’ Discuss your views on this, giving examples and presenting a balanced argument both in favour of, and against, the power and freedom of the media.

Barely a hundred years ago, if we wanted to stay (1) .................. about what was going on in the world, we had to rely on word of mouth or, at best, newspapers. But because communication technology was very basic, the news we received was often days or weeks old.

We still have newspapers, of course, but they have changed almost beyond recognition. Whether we choose to read the (2) .................. with their quality (3).................. of news and other (4) .................. by top (5) .................. and acclaimed (6) .................. or if we prefer the popular (7) .................. with their lively gossip and colorful stories, we are exposed to a wealth of information barely conceivable at the beginning of the last century.

We also have television and radio. News (8) .................. let us know about world events practically as they happen, while sitcoms, chat shows, and (9) .................., etc., keep us entertained and informed. And there is also the (10) .................. where we can access information from millions of (11) .................. around the world which we can then (12) .................. onto our own computers.

However, these forms of (13) .................. and (14) .................. (or ‘infotainment’ as they are now sometimes collectively called) have their negative side. Famous personalities frequently accuse the (15) .................. (and sometimes even respectable papers) of (16) …………… by camera-wielding (17) .................. who are determined to get a picture or a story regardless of who they upset. Newspapers are often accused of (18) .................. by angry politicians who hate reading damaging lies about themselves, and there are frequent accusations of (19) .................., with (20) .................. newspapers paying people vast sums of money to tell them about the crime they committed or what their famous neighbor has been up to. Of course, it is not just the papers which are to blame. Sex and violence are increasing on the television, and many complain that there is increased (21) .................. of news and current affairs programs, with major stories being presented in a simple and attractive way, but with very little detail. Others argue that too much time is being given to (22) .................. shows, in which ordinary people are put into artificially created environments and situations for our entertainment. Meanwhile, anyone with a computer can go (23) .................. to find undesirable material placed there by equally undesirable people.

Some people argue that the government should impose stricter (24) .................. to prevent such things happening. But others argue that (25) .................. and media is the keystone of a free country. Personally, I take the view that while the media may occasionally abuse its position of power, the benefits greatly outweigh the disadvantages. Our lives would be much emptier without the wealth of information available to us today, and perhaps we are better people as a result.