Local news, TV channels, Radio, Newspapers

Newspapers

 The local newspaper is the Baltimore Sun, published daily. Its advertisements are often helpful for learning about “sales” at local businesses. Ads for garage sales or yard sales appear on Saturdays. College students publish the Red & Black once monthly when the College is in session. It is a good idea to read the Red and Black to keep informed of events and activities on the campus. Information from the Office of Multicultural Affairs about International Students and Scholars periodically appears in the Red & Black. The weekly Pennysaver carries many advertisements for used goods and new items that are for sale, a section with ads for automobiles, and a section with community news. It is published each Wednesday and is distributed throughout the community available free from newspaper dispensers and elsewhere.

 The major city newspapers are the Baltimore Sun. The New York Times carries more national and international news than any other U.S. paper. The Christian Science Monitor is a smaller paper than the Times and has a higher proportion of international news. USA Today uses satellite technology to publish a weekday newspaper that is available in all parts of the United States. The Wall Street Journal is a major source of business-related news.

 The Catonsville Times and some other newspapers are available at dispensers on sidewalks outside many stores, and at news stores. The College library subscribes to some news from other countries, and keeps them in the periodical section.

Many bookstores carry newspapers from major U.S. cities, and can arrange to get newspaper from abroad.

Radio

 AM and FM Radio. Many radio stations can be received in the Baltimore County area. Most stations characterize themselves by the type of music they customarily play. Thus, most stations characterize themselves as “pop,” “classical,” “country,” “rock,” “oldies,” or “easy listening.” Radio stations in the U.S. can be broadly divided into two groups: commercial and public. Commercial stations are supported by advertising, and tend to focus their programming on age groups and consumer groups they believe will buy their advertisers’ products. Public stations are supported by government funding and voluntary listener contributions. (There is no subscription fee for public radio.)

 Stations affiliated with National Public Radio tend to carry more diverse programming than commercial stations, including more news and analysis. The NPR station received in this area is WYPR 88.1 FM.

 Many stations carry brief, hourly news programs. Most have weather forecast more than once per hour. You can also call 410-936-1212 and get the official “emergency weather information” about Baltimore.

 Short-Wave Radio. Many visitors from abroad like to listen for news from home via short-wave radio, and of course many have their own short-wave receivers. For people interested in access to a larger short-wave receiver, the Baltimore County Public Library has one available for checkout.

Television

 Television is the most popular form of entertainment in the United States, as it is in many other countries. Used television sets are available at relatively low prices from dealers and from private parties.

 With an external antenna – and most buildings have them – you can receive all of the major U.S. networks (CBS on channel 23, NBC on channel 11, and ABC on channel 12).

 With a cable service, you can receive more than 60 channels. However, cable service requires a one – time installation fee and then a monthly charge. The standard monthly charge does not connect you to three cable channels that broadcast mostly movies. An additional charge is required for access to them. 72 cable channels is the CCBC College channel. All broadcasts are provided in the original language, without English subtitles. The channels change periodically. Changes are announced to cable television subscribers.

 Call 410-427-9600 for specific scheduling information.

 Caution: Although television can be an excellent and entertaining way to improve one’s English, it can also have negative effects. First, it presents what most people would consider a distorted view of life in the United States. Second, people sometimes become addicted to “soap operas.” Addiction to soap operas can detract from a student’s academic performance.