45_The_Power_of_the_Press

45 The Power of the Press¶

In democratic countries any efforts to restrict the freedom of the press are rightly condemned. However, this freedom can easily be abused. Stories about people often attract far more public attention than political events. Though we may enjoy reading about the lives of others, it is extremely doubtful whether we would equally enjoy reading about ourselves. Acting on the contention that facts are sacred, reporters can cause untold suffering to individuals by publishing details about their private lives. Newspapers exert such tremendous influence that they can not only bring about major changes to the lives of ordinary people but can even overthrow a government.

The story of a poor family that acquired fame and fortune overnight, dramatically illustrates the power of the press. The family lived in Aberdeen, a small town of 23, 000 inhabitants in South Dakota. As the parents had five children, life was a perpetual struggle against poverty. They were expecting their sixth child and were faced with even more pressing economic problems. If they had only had one more child, the fact would have passed unnoticed. They would have continued to struggle against economic odds and would have lived in obscurity. But they suddenly became the parents of quintuplets, four girls and a boy, an event which radically changed their lives. The day after the birth of the five children, an aeroplane arrived in Aberdeen bringing sixty reporters and photographers.

The rise to fame was swift. Television cameras and newspapers carried the news to everyone in the country. Newspapers and magazines offered the family huge sums for the exclusive rights to publish stories and photographs. Gifts poured in not only from unknown people, but from baby food and soap manufacturers who wished to advertise their products. The old farmhouse the family lived in was to be replaced by a new $500, 000 home. Reporters kept pressing for interviews so lawyers had to be employed to act as spokesmen for the family at press conferences. While the five babies were still quietly sleeping in oxygen tents in a hospital nursery, their parents were paying the price for fame. It would never again be possible for them to lead normal lives. They had become the victims of commercialization, for their names had acquired a market value. Instead of being five new family members, these children had immediately become a commodity.

Words¶

democratic /ˌdɛməˈkrætɪk/ 民主的
restrict /riˈstrɪkt/ 限制
abused /əˈbjuzd/ 滥用
contention /kənˈtɛnʃən/ 论点
untold /ənˈtold/ 无限的
perpetual /pɚˈpɛtʃuəl/ 永久的
quintuplets /ˈkwɪnˈtʌpləts/ 五胞胎之一
radically /ˈrædɪkli/ 彻底地
nursery /ˈnɝsɚi/ 育婴室
commercialization /kəˌmɝʃəlɪˈzeʃən/ 商品化
commodity /kəˈmɑdəti/ 商品

Expressions¶

contention that+句子 ……的论点
untold harm/pain/damage 数不清的危害/痛苦/损失
live/work/remain in obscurity 默默无闻地生活/工作
exclusive access/right/use 独家的接触/权利/使用
nursery school/teacher/education 幼儿园/幼儿教师/幼儿教育
it is extremely doubtful whether… ……非常值得怀疑
act on… 按照……行事
pour in 涌来
press for 敦促；争取
act as 充当
press conference 记者招待会
oxygen tent 氧气帐
pay the price for 为……付出代价