What you must decide

Whose arguments sounded more convincing? Role cards

Journalist Aged 54

You are a well-known journalist. You were asked to lead the discus­sion. In setting the problems for discussion you are deliberately provoc­ative and extreme. Don't forget that you started your career as a pro­ducer of feature films and thus you argue in favour of cinematography. At the end of the discussion you mention your intention to write an article on youth and television and you thank the participants for their valuable contribution.

Psychologist Aged 40

You are a psychologist specialising in children's psychology. You are concerned with the impact of television on children. You state that those addicted to television have poorly developed speech habits, they become lazy, they read little, do not communicate with each other and their par­ents, in short, they become passive observers. You believe it's the par­ents' duty to regulate children's viewing time and choose suitable pro­grammes.

Postgraduate

You are a postgraduate in audio-visual techniques in teaching. You specialise in educational television. You are of the opinion that it cre­ates enormous possibilities for education. Close-circuit TV, language teaching, specialised subjects may serve as good examples. You can't argue that television ousts/displaces reading. But you do not object to a good screen version of a classic as a supplement to the original.

Ann Aged 21

You are a fourth-year student participating in a TV language teach­ing programme, so you are a real devotee of television. You speak of the growing popularity of television and think that it will definitely destroy/ oust the film industry since it brings entertainment and even education right into your home.

Mary Aged 22

You are a final-year student. You praise television as the shortest and easiest way to gain knowledge. Screen versions of classics have helped you more than once before literature examinations. Video cassette TV is becoming a popular way of viewing and you think that the future is with it.

Helen ' Aged 23

You are a final-year student, recently married. Both your husband and you believe that television prevents everybody from going out into the world itself. No second-hand experience for you, only real books, theatres and films. You are convinced that television deprives you of the enjoyment of entertaining and that it is no substitute for civilised plea­sures or for active hobbies and sports.

Robert/Caroline Aged 21

You are one of the British group on an exchange visit to Moscow. Dur­ing your stay you are to do a project on the educational value of television. You say a few words about the Open University as a form of adult educa­tion on television. There are a number of problems under discussion. What particularly concerns you is that people, children especially, are reading far less. They now prefer screenplays and TV serials to books.

Steve/Frankie

You are one of the British group on an exchange visit to Moscow. During your stay in the country you are to do a project on television in Russia. You are present at a discussion on the role of television in soci­ety. Your special interest is the impact of television on children as you are afraid that very often children grow up addicted to the telly and are exposed to rubbishy commercials, violence, etc. You'd like to know the content of TV programmes.