Bihar Board Class 12 English: Dear students, “Mindbloom Study” (#1 Online Study Portal For Bihar Board Exams) has brought for you the Summary and Answer Question of “How Free is the Press”
SUMMARY
‘How Free is the Press’ is an interesting essay written by Dorothy L. Sayers. According to the writer, the freedom of the press is essential for the development of democracy. It is also an essential factor for the growth of a nation. She says that the press should be free from the censorship. The press should work freely, but its freedom is restricted during war. In this situation the British Press is singularly free. The editorial policy of a popular newspaper is controlled by two factors. It takes care of the interest of the advertiser from whom it gets money. It does not support a public policy which is against the interests of its advertisers. So, its policy is determined by the personal and political of its owner. Thus, the writer means to say that the press in India is not as free as the British Press. She points out that the press often misuses its freedom and cheats the general readers.
ANSWER QUESTIONS
B.1.1. Read the following sentences and write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements :
i. Press is free everywhere.
ii. There is no internal censorship on the press.
iii. Proprietors have their personal interests as well.
iv. Advertisers contribute to the revenue of the newspaper.
B.1. 2. Answer the following questions briefly :
1) What do free ‘people’ take for granted?
2) Are there restrictions on Press in time of war?
3) What do you mean by the term ‘free press’?
4) Who is the master – the state or the people?
5) What does the unofficial censorship seek to do?
6) Name two sources of revenue newspapers usually survive on.
B.2.1. Complete the following sentences on the basis of the unit you have just studied :
a) Accurate reporting has given place to reporting which is at best slipshod and at worst tendentious because it is assumed that ……… .
b) Sensational headlines, false emphasis and supposition of context are some of the ways to ……. .
c) …….. is the special accomplishment of the Press interviewer.
d) The date in the newspaper report had to be changed to …… .
B.2. 3. Answer the following questions briefly :
1. What are the two basic assumptions about the public?
2. What is supposition of context?
3. Name two things that make the reports unreliable reading?
B.3.1. Read the following sentences and write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements :
i. The author was very fond of gardening and keeping cats.
ii. The author had delivered 20,000 words in the space of an hour and a quarter.
iii. To misrepresent a man’s attitude and opinion is no offence.
iv. To get misleading statements corrected is very easy.
v. Any public person is subtly made to feel that if he offends the press he will suffer for it.
vi. The press can make or break reputation.
B.3.2. Answer the following questions briefly :
1) Why do books rarely criticise the Press?
2) How do the newspapers greet the slightest effort to hinder the irresponsible dissemination of nonsense?
3) Name the seven charges the author makes against the Press?
C. 1. Long Answer Questions
1. The editorial policy of a popular daily is controlled by two chief factors. Which are they? Explain
2. What is garbling? How does Sayers illustrate this form of distortion?
3. Describe in your own words the instances of deliberate miracle-mongering.
4. How are letters of protest treated by the newspapers? Describe in your own words.
5. Have you ever written a letter of protest to any newspaper? What was the fate of his letter?
6. ‘He that is unfaithful in little is unfaithful also in much.’ How does Dorothy L. Sayers cite trivial personal examples to prove that the newspapers misrepresent in various ways? Do you agree with her?
7. What is the author’s attitude to the freedom of Press? Do you agree with her?
8. ‘Indeed, we may say that the heaviest restriction upon the freedom of public opinion is not the official censorship of the Press, but the unofficial censorship by a Press which exists not so much to express opinion as to manufacture it.’ How does the writer view the relationship between the press and the public opinion? Explain.
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