Read the article again and complete the information.

Module 6

Topic 15. Is it important to be informed? Getting news and information.

NEWSPAPERS STINGS

Getting news and information the hard way

1. What sort of things do investigative journalists report on?

Think of three more ideas for hidden camera investigative reports. For example:

a) A secret report on how children are treated at a kindergarten.

b) A hidden-camera investigation into the treatment that elderly patients receive at a nursing home.

2. Read the article once. Were any of your ideas from the Pre-reading activity similar to the ones in the article?

GLOSSARY

a newspaper sting n a secret operation in which journalists pretend to be someone else in order to obtain information from a public figure, often by secretly recording the meeting

undercover adj an “undercover” operation is one in which people have false identities

to trick into phr vb if you trick A into doing B, you convince A to do B by saying false things or doing dishonest things

Labour n the Socialist / left-wing (more or less) political party in the UK

bogus adj not real; false

a lobbying company n a company that tries to influence government ministers or MPs to change the law to the benefit of their clients

to set up phr vb if something is “set up”, it is prepared

bespoke adj that is especially designed for a specific purpose

an advisory board n a group of people who give advice to a company

to turn up phr vb to arrive

to go about exp if you “go about” doing something, you do that thing as part of your normal day

policy n a government’s “policies” are the things it plans to do

a cabinet minister n a member of the government

secretary n the head of a government department

to boast vb if someone “boasts” about something, they talk about it and say how good they are at it

a cab n a taxi

for hire exp if a taxi is “for hire”, it means that someone can stop it and use it

a receiver n the part of a phone that you speak into and listen to

no room for exp if you say there is “no room for” X, you are saying that X is not acceptable

to trade on phr vb if a minister “trades on” their office, they use their contacts and influence in government to make money

Britain has a long tradition of journalistic excellence. Part of this involves investigative reporting, and an important aspect of this is the newspaper sting – undercover, hidden-camera operations that are designed to trick public figures into revealing lots of interesting information.

One of the most recent undercover operations has become known as “The Cash for Influence Sting” or “Lobbygate”. As part of this, senior Labour members of parliament were secretly filmed offering to use their connections with government in return for money.

It was a highly complex operation. First of all, a bogus lobbying company (Anderson Perry Associates) was set up by journalists from The Sunday Times newspaper and Channel Four (a British television channel). The company claimed to be based in the US, and its website described it as a “ bespoke consultancy that helps organizations and individuals maximise and exceed expectation”. It alleged to have 120 clients in Europe, the Middle East and the US, operating primarily in the health and defence industries.

In total, 20 MPs were invited to attend meetings to discuss joining an advisory board. Eventually, ten MPs turned up – unaware that it was all a trick. The meetings were held at offices in London’s St James’s Square. During these, an undercover Sunday Times journalist asked the MPs how the company could go about influencing policy, and how they could improve their chances of winning government contracts. Meanwhile, a hidden camera recorded the conversations.

Among those secretly filmed were two former cabinet ministers: Stephen Byers and Geoff Hoon. Stephen John Byers (born on 13^th April 1953) has been a Member of Parliament since 1992. He has served in the cabinet as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and Secretary of State for Transport (among other things). During the interview, he boasted about how he had changed policy by lobbying his former colleagues. He asked for up to €7,000 a day for his services and, on one occasion, claimed to be able to use his friendship with Business Secretary Peter Mandelson to help his clients’ interests. He also described himself as a “bit like a sort of cab for hire ”.

Geoffrey “Geoff” William Hoon (born on 6th December 1953) served as Member of Parliament between 1992 and 2010. He is a former Defence Secretary and Transport Secretary amongst other things. Hoon told the undercover reporter he was interested in “translating my knowledge and contacts about the international scene into something that frankly makes money”.

Fellow MPs were shocked at their colleagues’ stupidity. The chancellor, Alistair Darling, told the BBC that, “The best answer when you get a call like that is to put the receiver back down again.” And Foreign Secretary David Miliband said, “There’s absolutely no room for anyone to trade on their ministerial office. People who come into politics… do so because of what they want to do for the country.”

Well, you wouldn’t have thought so!

Read the article again and complete the information.

1. The undercover operation has become known as…

2. Journalists set up a company called…

3. Twenty MPs were invited to…

4. Stephen Byers said during the interview that…

5. Geoffrey Hoon said during the interview that…

4. Language focus. Phrasal verbs with “turn”.

Look at this extract from the article, “...ten MPs turned up...” The writer has used a phrasal verb with “turn”: “to turn up”. Complete the following sentences with the correct participle.

1. Could you turn the volume, please? The music’s too loud.

2. She turned our job offer. She said the salary was too low.

3. It’s a bit of a disaster, but they’re hoping to turn the situation.

4. The witch cast a spell on him and turned him a frog.

Discussion.

1. Do you think newspaper stings are morally acceptable? Why? Why not?

2. Do you think public figures should be exempt from hidden-camera investigations? Why?

3. Is there a strong tradition of investigative journalism in your country? How effective is it?

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