The Information Age

The language of the information age is English. Computers talk to each other in English.

More than 80 percent of all the information stored in the more than 100 million computers around the world is in English.

Eighty-five percent of international telephone conversations are conducted in English as are three-fourths of the world's mail, telexes, and cables. Computer program instructions and the software itself are often supplied only in English.

German was once the language of science. Today more than 80 percent of all scientific papers are published first in English. Over half the world's technical and scientific periodicals are in English, which is also the language of medicine, electronics, and space technology.

Diplomacy

English is replacing the dominant European languages of centuries past. English has replaced French as the language of diplomacy; it is the official language of international aid organizations: such as Oxtam and Save the Children as well as of UNESCO, NATO, and the UN.

^{Mass media in Ukraine}

The role of mass media in our everyday life is enormous. Mass media bear great responsibility and should always give truthful and unbiased information to their readers and viewers.

Television (colloquially known as TV or telly) is now so popular in the whole world that it is hard to believe that it appeared only about fifty years ago. A first-rate colour TV set became ordinary thing in the Household today.

Modern television offers the viewers several programs on different channels. In addition to regular news programmes, you can see plays quizzes, soap operas, serials and sporting events. You can also get a lot of useful information on the education channel. A good serial (perhaps detective story or a screen version of a classical novel) can keep the whole family in front of the telly for days, and don`t we spent hours and hours watching our favourite football or hockey team in an important international event?

In Ukraine there are several information agencies that supply the population of the country with the latest news. These agencies have reporters in every administrative region of our country and in all major foreign countries. They collect most interesting and important information for the readers of newspapers and magazines and for the TV viewers.

There are newspapers and magazines for the readers of all ages and professions, with different interests, tastes and hobbies. For example those who are interested in politics can read the newspapers "Day", "Today", "Facts", "Kyivski Vidomosti". In these newspapers the readers can also find information about home affairs, culture and sports. These publications deal with the burning problems of our present life and history, and at the same time there you can find amusing stories, crosswords and puzzles, that can entertain you in your spare time.

The State TV and Radio Company operates two channels and includes editorial services that specialize in political analysis, socio-political programmes current information, youth and sports programmes. Private channels tend to broadcast music and news programmes a lot of advertising and talk shows.