(Upper-Intermediate) How the Media Ruins Elections

Amy Goodman is an American broadcast journalist, syndicated columnist, investigative reporter, and author. Since 1996, Goodman has hosted Democracy Now!, an independent global news program broadcast daily on radio, television and the Internet. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gandhi Peace Award for a "significant contribution to the promotion of an enduring international peace". 

1.

Before watching:

What do you think Goodman will say about how the media ruins elections? 

News-media vocab:

networks             pundit             coverage         to cover          The Fourth Estate      

Other vocab:

be piped in        trudge              pipeline          consent         shaming             a blip (in the radar screen)

static            veil             half-truths              to obscure        to cover for        to be for sth

Watch:

Amy Goodman: How The Media Is Ruining This Election 

1. What is like a huge kitchen table?

2. What’s wrong with pundits, according to Amy?

3. What does the media manufacture?

4. What is the dictionary definition of “static”? How does this differ with the ordinary meaning?

5. We need a media that _______ power, not covers ____ power

6. We need a media that is the Fourth Estate, not is __  the  _____

7. Why does Amy want the media to “create static”?

2.

Recently Goodman was charged with criminal trespassing for filming an attack on Native American-led pipeline protesters, will turn herself in to North Dakota authorities on October 17.

"I will go back to North Dakota to fight this charge. It is a clear violation of the First Amendment," said Goodman. "I was doing my job as a journalist, covering a violent attack on Native American protesters."

Watch the report which led to charges being laid:

Goodman facing charges


Breaking:

A North Dakota judge today refused to authorize riot charges against award-winning journalist Amy Goodman for her reporting on an attack against Native American-led anti-pipeline protesters.

Charges dismissed