Spielberg movie

Sci-fi thriller War of the Worlds, which stars Tom Cruise, took $101.7 million in its first five days in the US, and $204.2 million worldwide since its release. The film, an adaptation of an H.G. Wells novel, cost a reported $135 million to make. It has received positive reviews and is expected to be one of the major hits of 2005.

C8 youngsters

Young people from the poorest and richest nations have gathered in Scotland to host a junior version of the G8 summit. Organised by Unicef, the event aims to discuss issues like poverty, HIV/Aids and education. One of the delegates, eleven-year-old Aminata Palmer from Sierra Leone, said “I want the G8 leaders to help stop suffering among children in the world. People are suffering – especially in my country.”

Soul singer dies

Soul singer Luther Vandross has died at the age of 54, two years after suffering a major stroke. During his career he sold 25 million albums and sang with top stars like David Bowie, Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin. Vandross had suffered for years from diabetes and hypertension as well as battling fluctuations in his weight.

Live 8 success

The Live 8 rock concerts were last night hailed a great success. Organiser Bob Geldof said that the concerts had been ‘full of hope and possibility and life’. The concerts were held in ten cities around the world including, London, Philadelphia, Paris, Berlin, Johannesburg, Moscow, Rome and Tokyo. They were designed to put pressure on the G8 leaders meeting in Scotland on 6th July when considering Africa’s future.

Ben and Jen

Hollywood actors Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have revealed they are married and expecting their first child. The couple met when they both appeared in the film Pearl Harbour but only started dating in July 2004.

Listening.

A) Listen to the interview with Hugh Stephenson, Professor of Journalism at City University, London. Put down the numbers he gives when speaking about the following papers.

B) Answer the questions.

1. How were the popular papers invented?

2. Which were the first British newspapers?

3. Why does regional press make a great deal of money?

4. What is “vanity publishing”?

5. How did Mr. Rupert Murdoch make his newspaper into a profitable

business?

6. Which in interviewer’s opinion are the best newspapers?

7. Where can “the cheap journalism” be found?

8. What does the political colour of a newspaper in Britain depend on?