Press in the United Kingdom

The daily circulation of papers in Britain is just over 14 million copies, which is about 3 papers for every 4 households. All British papers can be classified into two major groups: quality papers and popular papers. Traditionally, ‘quality’, serious-minded newspapers were referred to as ‘Broadsheets’ due to their large size. Popular papers were called ‘tabloid’ newspapers. However, due to considerations of convenience of reading, particularly in cafes and on trains, The Independent and The Times have both switched to a ‘compact’-sized format, traditionally used by tabloids. The Guardian has switched to a Berliner format, a bit wider and taller than a compact. Sunday serious-minded newspapers keep the broadsheet format to maintain the same level of content.

A quality paper is a serious national that aims at the educated reader. Quality papers contain detailed news coverage and comment, authoritative editorials, a wide range of topical

features written by experts in their fields, arts and literary reviews, and much professional advertising. The main quality papers are The Guardian, The Times, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times. A popular paper is a newspaper whose content is designed for the undemanding reader. They have brief news reports and a large number of photographs. Emphasis is put on personal stories, especially when sensational or involving a celebrity. Importance is also given to sports and to entertaining features such as cartoons and contests.

Newspapers in Britain are mostly owned by individuals or by big publishing companies called ‘the empires’, not by the government or political parties. The editors of newspapers are usually allowed considerable freedom of expression. This is not to say that newspapers are without political bias. The political tendency of quality newspapers varies from conservative {The Daily Telegraph) or independent/conservative (The Times and The Financial Times) to centre (The Independent) and liberal (The Guardian). Popular papers like The Daily Express, The Daily Star and The Sun, for example, usually reflect conservative opinion in their comment and reporting, while The Daily Mirror has a more left-wing bias.

In addition to national daily newspapers there are nine national papers published on Sundays. Most ‘Sundays’ contain more

reading matter than daily papers, and several of them include ‘colour supplements’ – separate colour magazines which contain photographically-illustrated feature articles. There is also quite a number of regional papers – usually evening papers or weeklies.

Translate the following sentences into English.
1. В Великобритании ежедневный тираж газет большой для страны такого размера.
2. Британские газеты можно подразделить на серьезные “качественные” газеты и популярные газеты.
3. В соответствии с форматом, британские газеты подразделяются на газеты компактного формата, берлинского формата и большого формата.
4. Серьезные воскресные газеты сохраняют большой формат, чтобы поддержать тот же объем содержания.
5. Серьезные общенациональные газеты предназначены для образованного читателя, содержание популярных газет рассчитано на нетребовательного читателя.
6. “Качественные” газеты содержат подробные новости и комментарии, обзоры искусства и литературы и рекламу.
7. Популярные газеты содержат краткие новости, много фотографий, информацию частного характера, часто касающуюся знаменитостей, карикатуры и конкурсы.
8. Газеты, в основном, принадлежат частным лицам или издательским “империям”.
9. Хотя редакторы газет обладают значительной свободой выражения, газеты обычно имеют консервативную, независимую, центристскую или либеральную политическую ориентации.
10. Воскресные газеты содержат большое количество материалов для чтения и часто имеют цветные приложения.

1. The daily circulation of newspapers in Great Britain is large for the size of the country.
2. British papers can be classified into serious-minded quality papers and popular papers.
3. According to their format, British papers are subdivided into compact-sized format papers, Berliner format papers and broadsheet format papers.
4. Sunday serious-minded papers keep the broadsheet format to maintain the same level of content.
5. Serious quality nationals aim at the educated reader. The content of popular papers is designed for the undemanding reader.
6. Quality papers contain detailed news coverage and comment, arts and literary reviews, and advertising.
7. Popular papers contain brief news reports, many photographs, personal stories often involving celebrities, cartoons and contests.
8. Newspapers are mostly owned by individuals or publishing ’empires’.
9. Though the editors of newspapers are allowed considerable freedom of expression, they usually have conservative, independent, centre or liberal political bias.
10. Sundays’ contain much reading matter and often have colour supplements.

Из пособия “ЕГЭ. Английский язык. Устные темы” Занина Е. Л. (2010, 272с.) – Part two. Additional topics.


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Press in the United Kingdom