the press

To understand a press article
here are a few steps

1° Analyse and understand the headline: it is made to grab the reader and is not always clear at first sight (or reading)
Headlines are written in bold and are typically larger than the press release text. Conventional press release headlines are present-tense and exclude "a" and "the" as well as forms of the verb "to be" in certain contexts. So you will have to make up the missing words.

2° The lead, or first sentence, should grab the reader and say concisely what is happening. The next 1-2 sentences then expand upon the lead. Usually you have the main idea presented in the first paragraph (two to three sentences). It must actually sum up the press release and the further content must elaborate it.

3° Then you will find examples of facts or people that will illustrate your point.

4° This main idea will be further analysed and explained in the following paragraphs.

REMEMBER
The journalist always adopts a point of view.
It is important, in your analysis, to try and see what side the journalist backs (supports), not to say that he (or she) is biaised, but to explain why some facts are hammered out while others are left unsaid.


You can try this quiz
And of course learn the vocabulary
You'll find some basic words and concepts used in the press.

A gap filling exercice to learn some new words that are often used in Headlines (answers at the bottom of the page)

Another page with vocabulary, and questions.

Last a second quiz to master the vocabulary used to talk about the press