Lesson54 The Press in the US
The press in the United States produces a wide variety of printed media, possible more than in any other country. There is a publication for almost every subject, from national news to more specialized subjects like industries, sports and even hobbies. Some of the most important publications are the national newspapers because of their broad coverage and wide circulation. The press's role in circulating daily news is very important to the everyday lives of the people, but it plays another, perhaps more important role as well. As in many other democratic countries, the press is the watchdog of the American political process.
The most important publications are the daily newspapers, a few of which have very high status. The most prominent among these is probably the Washington Post. Because the Post is published out of Washington, D.C., the nation's capital, it probably has the very best coverage of the national-level political scene.
On the business side, the most important publication is probably the Wall Street Journal, published in New York, America's business capital. The Journal, with its very strong business orientation, is a very conservative paper but it is careful not to take side politically.
But there are many other publications with very strong political orientations. Two examples of this are the two most widely circulated news weeklies, Newsweek and Time. Although these are both weekly news magazines reporting on a wide range of subjects, political, cultural and business, they are on opposite political sides. Time is a more liberal publication, generally supporting the Democratic Party, while Newsweek is conservatively oriented, supporting the Republicans.

prominent 显著的, 突出的

美国的新闻界
在美国的新闻界，印刷媒体的种类众繁多，可能超过其他任何国家。从全国性的新闻到更专业化的领域，像工业、体育、甚至业余爱好，几乎每一个领域都有出版物。全国性的报纸属于最重要的出版物，因为其覆盖面广、发行量大。新闻界传播每天新闻，这对人们的日常生活非常重要，但是它还有一个更重要的作用。就像在其他民主国家一样，美国新闻界是国内政治活动的监督者。
最重要的出版物是日报，有些具有很高的地位。《华盛顿邮报》可能是最著名的日报了。因为《华盛顿邮报》在美国的首都华盛顿特区出版，它能够很好地报道国家的政治动态。
在商业方面，最重要的出版物是《华尔街日报》。华尔街日报出版于美国的经济首都纽约，该报具有很强的商业倾向，是一份很保守的报纸，它很小心在政治上不偏向于任何一方。
但是很多其他的出版物都带有强烈的政治倾向。两份发行量最大的新闻周刊，《新闻周刊》和《时代周刊》就是这方面很好的例子。虽然两者都是每周出版的新闻杂志，都广泛报道政治、文化、商业等各方面的内容，它们有着相反的政治立场。《时代周刊》倾向于自由主义，一般支持民主党；而《新闻周刊》政治上保守，支持共和党。