VIP Class Notes (Raph)[R]

Vocabulary

Euphemism (n): 1- a word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word.
E.g.: “Senior citizen” is a euphemism for “old person”.
E.g.: The article made so much use of euphemism that often its meaning was unclear.

Hinder (v): 1- to limit the ability of someone to do something, or to limit the development of something.
E.g.: High winds have hindered firefighters in their efforts to put out the blaze.
E.g.: Her progress certainly hasn’t been hindered by her lack of experience.

Sobering (adj): 1- making you feel serious or think about serious matters.
E.g.: This was a very sobering thought.
E.g.: Surviving a car accident is a sobering experience.

Impeachment (n): 1- especially in the US, the action of formally accusing a public official of a serious offense in connection with their job. (v: Impeach)
E.g.: A resolution to be filed in the House of Representatives will call for his impeachment.
E.g.: Hopefully Trump will be impeached soon.

World Press Freedom Day 2018
(Source: www.51voa.com/VOA_Standard_English/world-press-freedom-day-2018-78828.html)

On May 3rd, we observe World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the importance of the unhindered flow of information to the public, and the critical role of media workers.It is a sobering reminder that in too many countries around the globe, media workers, including journalists, editors, and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained, and even murdered for simply doing their work, and publications are censored, fined, suspended and shut down.

It is no coincidence that the less democratic and more authoritarian a country’s government is, the harder it works to suppress the free flow of information. That’s because a free and unhindered press is often the only institution that can effectively and consistently expose government deception and corruption, and keep the public informed. Journalists keep the government and the powerbrokers honest. Indeed, a free and democratic society cannot exist without a free and independent press. A free press provides citizens with access to knowledge and information, thus safeguarding political systems based on the will of the people.

This year’s theme, “Keeping Power In Check,” highlights the importance of creating and maintaining a legal environment that supports press freedom, and the role an independent judiciary plays in ensuring protections for press freedom and guaranteeing the prosecution of crimes against journalists.

Pronunciation

Unpredictable: /ˌʌn.prɪˈdɪk.tə.bəl/

Euphemism: /ˈjuː.fə.mɪ.zəm/

Competition: /ˌkɑːm.pəˈtɪʃ.ən/

Everything: /ˈev.ri.θɪŋ/

Press: /pres/

Journalist: /ˈdʒɝː.nə.lɪst/

Publisher: /ˈpʌb.lɪ.ʃɚ/

Authoritarian: /əˌθɔːr.əˈter.i.ən/

Suppress: /səˈpres/

Powerbroker: /ˈpaʊ.ɚ ˌbroʊ.kɚ/

Political: /pəˈlɪt̬.ə.kəl/

Judiciary: /dʒuːˈdɪʃ.ɚ.i/

Prosecution: /ˌprɑː.səˈkjuː.ʃən/