CAE part 3

 Speaking part 3

They're all quite important influences, aren't they? But I'd say that nearly everyone watches television so it's got to be a big influence on people. 

And the radio - there are loads of people who have the radio on all the time. Whatever they’re doing. 

Yeah, that's because it's pretty easy to do things at the same time as you're listening. Tv’s not like that, you know, you've got to watch to make sense of it. 

The point is, does radio have as powerful an influence as TV?

No, probably not, but we are not supposed to be thinking about radio and TV separately, are we?

No, I suppose not. I'd say things like the news on TV can have a great influence because you can actually see what's happening. 

Ok -now we've got newspapers. I'd say quite a few people read these, but I think people tend to read the newspapers that agree with their political opinions, so they probably don't actually change many people's ideas or opinions. 

That's true or if they just want amusement, sport and things like that, they read one of the tabloids. Ok, so on to, erm, advertising. 

Advertising is just everywhere. You couldn't get away from it even if you wanted to. 

There's so much brand management now - it's all sort of subconscious. Companies sponsoring things and…

Too much money spent on advertising. 

Do you think it has much effect on people?

It must do, or the companies wouldn't spend so much money on it, would they?

I suppose not, but I'm not sure advertising affects me that much. I'm fairly sure I haven't bought anything because of an advert I've seen. 

Ah - that's what you say, but are you sure? We've already agreed that advertising can affect your sort of subconsciously- so that you don't think you've been persuaded, but in fact you have. 

That's the problem -you can never be sure, can you?

Ok - let's move on to the internet, which is massive, isn't it? In some countries it must be the most influential of all these things. 

You can just find out anything. 

Yeah, absolutely anything -Wikipedia, and all the social networking sites and stuff. 

and at least with the internet people have a huge choice. 

But don't forget all the banner ads and the pop ups

You see, you can never get away from advertising of some kind. 

I know - and almost all games people play online are packed with ads. 

In the end multinational corporations are responsible for that. They Are a lot more influential than we realize - because their wealth gives them power. 

Yeah - but it's less direct power isn't it?

I don't think it's less direct. It may be less obvious, but there is no doubt that large sections of the media are owned and controlled by the business interests of a few  powerful individuals. This means they influence peoples’ political views and control advertising. So in the end they do have a huge influence on how we spend our money. 

It’s all a bit sinister, don't you think?

Yeah, a bit Big Brother-ish - being told what to think. 

Imprecise language. 

Some kind of, sort of, stuff, things like that.  Two or three, a bit, several, a few, a lot, lots.  Nearly, fairly, pretty , quite, almost, probably. The suffix -ish

Now you have about a minute to decide which two of these influences have the greatest effect on people. 

I think we've more or less decided, haven't we?

I'm not sure we have. I mean, we both think the internet is very powerful, but lots of internet sites are packed with advertising, and that's how multinational corporations make their money, isn't it?

Yes, so what are we saying? That multinational corporations are the most powerful influence of all?

Well, that's what I think. 

I'm not sure. I'd say TV and radio were pretty powerful too. 

Yes, but a lot of broadcasting stations are funded by advertising, aren't they?

Yes, I'd never thought of that. 

Ok, so we think that multinational corporations are the most powerful. What's next?

Well, I'd say advertising - because that is everywhere. In newspapers, on the internet and on TV. 

So, do we agree?

Yes, I think we do.