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Sports Magazine Faces Trouble, May Stop Printing

Sports Illustrated faces uncertainty as its publishing license is lost, leading to potential mass layoffs and an uncertain future for the iconic title.
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A company called Sports Illustrated is having big problems. The company that makes the magazine can't do it anymore. People who work there might lose their jobs, and no one knows what will happen to the magazine. The owner says the magazine will keep going, and they are talking to other companies about it.

Sports Illustrated started in 1954 and is very famous for sports news. But it's having trouble because people are reading online instead of buying magazines. A group called Authentic Brands Group bought it in 2019 for a lot of money. But now there are problems because the company making the magazine didn't pay what they owed.

The company that makes Sports Illustrated and other magazines is not doing well. They had a big problem because they used computers to write stories, and people got very upset. They had to say sorry and fire some bosses. They also said they need to let go of more than 100 people because they owe too much money. A group that helps the workers wants the owners to make sure the magazine keeps being made.

Original news source: Sports Illustrated in further turmoil after AI scandal (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

πŸ“– Vocabulary:

1. difficulties
2. authentic
3. upset
4. owed
5. bosses
6. fired
7. workers
8. magazines
9. famous
10. purchased
11. ensures
12. debts

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Have students read the article and then write a short summary of the main points. Encourage them to include important details and use their own words.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a list of vocabulary words from the article. One student from each pair will choose a word and draw a picture to represent it, while the other student guesses the word. Encourage students to use their knowledge of the article to choose relevant words.
– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Pair up students and have them take turns summarizing the article to their partner. Each student will have one minute to summarize as much as they can remember. After one minute, they switch roles. Encourage students to focus on the main points and use their own words.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. One group will come up with the pros of reading magazines, while the other group will come up with the cons. Give each group a few minutes to brainstorm and then have them present their ideas to the class. Encourage students to use the information from the article to support their arguments.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students work in pairs or small groups. Ask them to discuss and make predictions about the future of magazines like Sports Illustrated. They should consider factors such as the rise of online reading, the decline of print media, and changing consumer habits. After their discussion, each group can share their predictions with the class. Encourage students to use their critical thinking skills and provide reasons for their predictions.

πŸ€” Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of the company that is having problems?

2. Why are people worried about their jobs at the company?

3. What is the name of the magazine that the company makes?

4. Why is the magazine having trouble?

5. Who bought Sports Illustrated in 2019?

6. Why did the company that makes the magazine get in trouble before?

7. What does a group want the owners to do?

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A company Sports Illustrated is having big problems. The company that makes the magazine can't do it anymore. People who work there might lose their jobs, and no one knows what will happen to the magazine. The owner the magazine will going, and they are talking to other companies about it. Sports Illustrated started in 1954 and is very famous for sports news. But it's having trouble because are reading online instead of buying magazines. A called Brands Group bought it in 2019 for a lot of money. But now there are s because the company making the magazine didn't pay what they owed. The company that makes Sports Illustrated and other is not doing well. They had a big problem because they used to write stories, and people got very upset. They had to say and fire some . They also said they need to let go of more than 100 people because they owe too much money. A group that helps the workers wants the owners to sure the magazine keeps being made.

πŸ’¬ Discussion Questions:

1. What is Sports Illustrated?
2. How would you feel if you lost your job?
3. Do you like reading magazines? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about reading news online?
5. How do you think the people who work at Sports Illustrated feel right now?
6. What would you do if you owed a lot of money?
7. Do you think it's important for companies to apologize when they make mistakes? Why or why not?
8. How do you think the workers at Sports Illustrated feel about the situation?
9. What is something you would do to help the workers at Sports Illustrated?
10. Do you think magazines will still be popular in the future? Why or why not?
11. How would you feel if you were the owner of Sports Illustrated right now?
12. What do you think the future holds for Sports Illustrated?

Individual Activities

πŸ“–πŸ’­ Vocabulary Meanings:

Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.

Words

1. difficulties
2. authentic
3. upset
4. owed
5. bosses
6. fired
7. workers
8. magazines
9. famous
10. purchased
11. ensures
12. debts

Meanings

(A) Hard times or problems
(B) People who are in charge at work
(C) Feeling sad or angry
(D) People who do jobs for money
(E) Needed to give someone money because you borrowed from them
(F) Books with pictures and articles that come out every week or month
(G) Money that is owed to others
(H) Bought something
(I) Real or genuine; not fake
(J) Makes certain that something will happen
(K) Known by many people
(L) Lost their job

πŸ”‘ Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the company having problems?
(a) Authentic Brands Group
(b) The owner
(c) Sports Illustrated
(d) The workers
2. When did Sports Illustrated start?
(a) 2019
(b) 2000
(c) 1985
(d) 1954
3. Why is Sports Illustrated having trouble?
(a) People are reading online instead of buying magazines
(b) They owe too much money
(c) The owner wants to sell the company
(d) The workers are not doing their jobs well
4. Who bought Sports Illustrated in 2019?
(a) The owner
(b) Authentic Brands Group
(c) The workers
(d) The company making the magazine
5. What did the company that makes Sports Illustrated do wrong?
(a) Didn't pay what they owed
(b) Fired some bosses
(c) Let go of more than 100 people
(d) Used computers to write stories
6. What does the group that helps the workers want?
(a) The company to close down
(b) The owners to make sure the magazine keeps being made
(c) The workers to find new jobs
(d) The owner to sell the company
7. What might happen to the people who work at Sports Illustrated?
(a) They might get a pay raise
(b) They might become bosses
(c) They might lose their jobs
(d) They might start a new company
8. What is Sports Illustrated famous for?
(a) Sports news
(b) Fashion news
(c) Cooking recipes
(d) Movie reviews

πŸ•΅οΈ True or False Questions:

The company that bought Sports Illustrated in 2019 is called Inauthentic Brands Group.
The company had a success because they used computers to write stories, which pleased people.
Sports Illustrated is an unknown magazine that was created in 1954 and is known for its fashion news.
The company has a surplus of money and needs to hire more than 100 people to improve their financial situation.
The people who work at Sports Illustrated might lose their jobs because of the company's troubles.
The owner of Sports Illustrated is trying to find other companies to help keep the magazine going.
The company that makes Sports Illustrated and other magazines is not doing well financially.
Sports Illustrated is a company that is facing big problems and might not be able to continue making their magazine.

πŸ“ Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

1. What is the name of the company that is having problems?
2. Why are people not buying magazines anymore?
3. Who bought Sports Illustrated in 2019?
4. Why did the company that makes the magazine have to say sorry?
5. What does the group that helps the workers want the owners to do?

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