Discussion

Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:

1 . Are there any public figures in your country whose private lives are often featured in the press ?
2.. Who are they ? Politicians ? Film stars? Pop stars? Sportspeople? Who else?
3. Are any of them only 'famous for being famous' ?
4. What aspects of their private lives are reported in the press?
5. Do any of these people object to what is said about them? Why?
Read ing
Read the newspaper article. Mark these sentences T (true) or F (false):
1. Natasha Davies was on a Caribbean island.
2. Tom Farrell was on a Caribbean island.
3. Tom Farrell has never met Natasha Davies.
4. The newspapers did not admit their mistake.

edWiti,� . Swi,:- ,ifan�!-1;: ::�ij i :!J���!imk�d;

�i:f��,i���,i
rotilantically -�itiiD,avie's�ili .ihi:pas[t::Btit '.on _ _
"Surprise! "

cohcemed, Farrell .is seel<ln{damages for

Discuss ion
' embarrassment' and the 'negative effect on Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
his personal and professional reputation'.
. .
1. What seems to be the writer's attitude towards
However, Farrell has had well-documented
,. . . . .

the journalists who took the photos?

relationships with a llumbei: of actresses and
pop stars. And he is not usually unhappy about
seeing his name in the papers• . With such a
high-profile lifestyle, it wil(be :int��estfug to
see how much, if any(hing; he� gets fr�in
the ;
courts, But far mo�� imp/jitii:ritly, ·if- .i� �a��;t
him with Natasha:DiYie••:,- s,:,,;_,:_:t_ hbii}vp� w*s' it?:� ,. :
,_ :_ G.: ·-:� . :
2. Do you approve of what they did or not? Why?
3. Why does the writer think that Tom Farrell will
not get very much money from the courts?
4. Do you think this is fair or not? Why?
5 . In general, what does the writer's attitude seem
to be towards gossip about the private lives of
famous people ?
6 . Do you agree with this attitude or not? Why?
Language
Cross out the collocation in each group which is not natural:

1 . a(n} casual 3. a fine

partial growmg
intimate relationship well-earned reputation
sexual poor
business broad
2. have 4. have
esta blish destroy
open a relationship with . . . damage a reputation
break off establish
maintain abolish

Complete the sentences below with complete expressions from the boxes above:
1 . We j ust have a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . We never see each other socially.
2. The stories in the press about his behaviour have completely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. She only started her company last year, but she has . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . for high quality work.
4. They were together for five years before she . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. Don't buy one of those cars! They have a very . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . for reliability.
6 . After years of hard work, he has finally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . as the best lawyer in town.
7. We always try to . . . . . . . . . good . . . . . . . . . . . . . . with our customers.
8. For years I thought we j ust had a fairly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and then suddenly she asked
me to marry her!

Discussion
Use the three questions below to discuss the situations i n pairs o r small groups:
1 . Can the story/photos be in any way considered to be 'in the public interest' ?
2. Should the press be allowed to publish the story/photos ? Why/why not?
3. If the case goes to court, what should happen?

Where do you stand?

The famous argue:
Everyone has 'the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and correspondence.'
(Article 8 - European Human Rights Act)
The press argue:
Everyone has 'the right to freedom of expression, freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart
information and ideas without interference by public authority.'
(Article 10 - European Human Rights Act)
Who is right? Discuss the question In small groups.
22 Public figures, private lives
Reading
1T 2F 3F 4F
Discussion
1 The writer doesn't seem to like them much
- he calls them 'ugly old journalists'.
2 Students' own answers.
3 'He is not usually unhappy about seeing his
name in the papers.'
4 Students' own answers.
5 He doesn't seem against it - in fact he is
curious about who Natasha Davies' companion
was.
6 Students' own answers.
The cartoon
Ask students who the 'William' of the cartoon is.
This could lead to a discussion of the problems of
growing up in the public eye or it could lead to a
discussion of William's mother, Princess Diana,
and the way the press hounded her - some might
say, to her eventual death.

Language
Cross out:
1 partial 2 open 3 broad 4 abolish
1 business relationship
2 destroyed his reputation
3 established a reputation/a growing reputation
4 broke off the relationship
5 poor reputation
6 established a reputation
7 maintain a (good) relationship
8 casual relationship