Good news

 　　Kaz: Hello I’m Kaz and this is 6 Minute English. With me today is Finn. Hello Finn.

　　Finn: Hello Kaz.

　　Kaz: So, what news Finn?

　　Finn: Oh nothing new from me. Just the same old stuff, Kaz.

　　Kaz: Oh well, you know the saying: 'no news is good news'.

　　Finn: That's certainly true, Kaz

　　Kaz: It's also relevant to today's programme.

　　Finn: How so?

　　Kaz: Well, have you ever wondered why there's so little good news around?

　　Finn: You're right, Kaz. It's usually bad news that makes the headlines: wars, scandals, murders, financial troubles, disasters…

　　Kaz: OK, so on the subject of bad news, let me try this quiz question on you. According to the BBC, three of the top ten most followed stories of 2012 were about the weather in the UK. But what kind of weather, though? Was it a) snow storms, b) flooding or c) heat waves?

　　Finn: Mmm. I don't think it could be heat waves because we've had a pretty awful summer. I'll try a) snow storms.

　　Kaz: Is that your final answer Finn?

　　Finn: Yup. 'Snow storms' is my final answer.

　　Kaz: OK. We’ll find out if you’re right at the end of the programme. But now, let’s hear from designer Wayne Hemingway. Now, he was invited into the BBC newsroom and his message to broadcasters was that they should look for more good news, rather than the disasters and grim events that lead most news stories. What kind of stories would he like to get more exposure?

　　Wayne Hemingway:

　　Perhaps it's time to reflect a little bit about why the main news channels seem to help us concentrate on bad news stories and the seedier side of life. What bothers me is that on the whole, stories that could move mankind forward and positively¹ impact on our lives don't get the exposure they deserve.

　　Kaz: Finn, what kind of stories would designer Wayne Hemingway like to see getting more exposure?

　　Finn: Now he says that stories that deserve more exposure are ones about moving mankind forward and positively impacting on our lives - in short, stories about improving our lives.

　　Kaz: Yes, stories that 'move mankind forward'.

　　Finn: That sounds quite grand Kaz - almost idealistic. I wonder what kind of stories do that?

　　Kaz: Well, let's find out. Here’s Wayne again, talking about just that. What two stories does he mention?

　　Wayne Hemingway: In Japan scientists managed to create eggs from mice stem cells raising the hope of a cure for human infertility². The US Journal, Science, said it was one of the most important breakthroughs of the year but you've probably never heard of it. And in Israel, Izhar Gafni has developed a bicycle from recycled cardboard, which could bring cheap, clean transport to some of the world's poorest and most polluted and congested cities.

　　Kaz: So what are the two good news stories he mentions?

　　Finn: The first is a breakthrough, a significant development, in stem cell research that might lead to a cure for human infertility.

　　Kaz: OK and the second?

　　Finn: A story about a bicycle made from recycled cardboard.

　　Kaz: Yes, it's a neat idea.

　　Finn: He says these cardboard bicycles could bring cheap, clean transport to some of the world's poorest, most polluted and congested cities.

　　Kaz: Wayne Hemingway is passionate³ about getting his message across to broadcasters. He thinks that if we are constantly fed a diet of bad news, it's what we'll end up wanting. What word does he use to describe this situation?

　　Wayne Hemingway:

　　It's like saying that tabloids⁴ sell more than broadsheets. If that's fed to the people all of the time that's what they want but, you know, surely we've got to look at things that make us happy sometimes rather than think 'Oh I'm glad I'm inside in the warmth', or you know 'I'm glad I'm not in that country, I'd hate to be there'. It all seems to be a little bit crass⁵ at the moment and to me it seems to be getting worse.

　　Kaz: Did you catch that word he used Finn to describe our appetite for bad news?

　　Finn: It was 'crass'. He said the situation was 'a little bit crass' at the moment - 'crass' - showing no intelligence or sensitivity.

　　Kaz: And it's a situation that he thinks is getting worse.

　　Finn: So what can we do about it?

　　Kaz: Let's find out. Here's Wayne Hemingway again:

　　Wayne Hemingway: If you search the internet for good news stories there are various websites that address this but they don't do it justice. Perhaps we need fewer crime and more design correspondents, more science reporters and fewer war reporters and that way we might just encourage people to go out and achieve more and put a smile rather than a grimace⁶ on the face of the people at the bus stop.

　　Kaz: Finn, what do we need to redress⁷ this situation?

　　Finn: He says that perhaps we need fewer crime correspondents and more design correspondents.

　　Kaz: OK, as a designer himself that makes sense.

　　Finn: Yes, but don't forget that design is an important contributor to the British economy - so more of those stories would improve things.

　　Kaz: OK. And what else?

　　Finn: More science reporters and fewer war reporters.

　　Kaz: Yes, he says that this would encourage people to go out and achieve more.

　　Finn: He says it would put a smile on people's faces, rather than a grimace.

　　Kaz: Well, that’s all we have time for today. But before we go though, the answer to this week’s question. According to the BBC, three of the top ten most followed stories of 2012 were about the weather in the UK. What kind of weather was covered? Was it a) snow storms, b) flooding or c) heat waves? Now Finn, you said?

　　Finn: Well, I said a) snow storms because of the snowy weather we've been having recently. Was I right?

　　Kaz: I'm afraid not, Finn. The correct answer was … b) flooding. Thanks very much Finn, goodbye.

1 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

2 infertility   

n.不肥沃，不毛；不育

参考例句：

• It is the Geneva, Switzerland-based Biotech Company's second recombinant infertility drug. 它是瑞士生物技术公司在日内瓦的公司生产的第二种重组治疗不孕症的药。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术制药疫苗
• Endometritis is a cause of infertility. 子宫内膜炎是不育的原子。 来自辞典例句

3 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

4 tabloids   

n.小报，通俗小报（版面通常比大报小一半，文章短，图片多，经常报道名人佚事）( tabloid的名词复数 )；药片

参考例句：

• The story was on the front pages of all the tabloids. 所有小报都在头版报道了这件事。
• The story made the front page in all the tabloids. 这件事成了所有小报的头版新闻。

5 crass   

adj.愚钝的，粗糙的；彻底的

参考例句：

• The government has behaved with crass insensitivity.该政府行事愚蠢而且麻木不仁。
• I didn't want any part of this silly reception,It was all so crass.我完全不想参加这个无聊的欢迎会，它实在太糟糕了。

6 grimace   

v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭

参考例句：

• The boy stole a look at his father with grimace.那男孩扮着鬼脸偷看了他父亲一眼。
• Thomas made a grimace after he had tasted the wine.托马斯尝了那葡萄酒后做了个鬼脸。

7 redress   

n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除

参考例句：

• He did all that he possibly could to redress the wrongs.他尽了一切努力革除弊端。
• Any man deserves redress if he has been injured unfairly.任何人若蒙受不公平的损害都应获得赔偿。