The Press Conference
The press conference has certain advantages. The
first advantage lies with the (1)______ of the (1)______
event itself; public officials are supposed to submit to
scrutiny by responding to various questions at a
press conference. Secondly, statements previously
made at a press conference can be used as a
(2)______in judging following statements or (2)______
policies. Moreover, in case of important events,
press conferences are an effective way to break the
news to groups of reporters.
However, from the point of view of (3) ______, (3)______
the press conference possesses some disadvantages,
mainly in its (4)______and news source. The (4)______
provider virtually determines the manner in which a
press conference proceeds. This, sometimes, puts
news reporters at a(n) (5)______, as can be (5)______
seen on live broadcasts of news conferences.
Factors in getting valuable information
--preparation:a need to keep up to date on journalistic
subject matter;
--(6)______ of the news source. (6)______
1) news source’s (7)______to provide information; (7)______
2) news-gathering methods.
Conditions under which news reporters cannot
trust the information provided by a news source
--not knowing the required information;
--knowing and willing to share the information, but
without (8)______skills; (8)______
--knowing the information, but unwilling to share;
--willing to share, but unable to recall.
--(9)______ of questions asked (9)______
Ways of improving the questions:
--no words with double meanings;
--no long questions;
--specific time, place, etc.;
--(10)______questions; (10)______
--clear alternatives, or no alternatives in answers.