Practice English with NewsPractice with News
Entertainment135 words1 min read

Stephen A. Smith Calls Journalist Group's 'Thumbs Down' Award a 'Hit Job'

Stephen A. Smith is a TV host. He is famous in the United States. A group of Black journalists gave him a bad award. The award is called a 'Thumbs Down' award. It means the group is not happy with him.

Smith did not like the award. He called it a 'hit job'. A hit job means an unfair attack on someone. Smith thinks the award is not fair to him.

The group of journalists is called NABJ. This name means National Association of Black Journalists. They give awards every year. Some awards are good. Some awards are bad, like the 'Thumbs Down' award.

Smith spoke about the award in public. He wanted people to know his opinion. He does not agree with the group's decision. Many people are talking about this story now.

Vocabulary15 words

host
a person who leads a TV or radio show
award
a prize given to someone
hit job
an unfair attack on someone
group
many people together
journalist
a person who writes news
decision
a choice someone makes
public
open for everyone to see
famous
known by many people
opinion
what a person thinks
fair
right and equal for everyone
unhappy
not happy
criticize
to say something is bad
national
about a whole country
association
a group of people with the same goal
attack
words or actions used against someone

Quiz

1. Who received the 'Thumbs Down' award?
2. What did Smith call the award?
3. Which group gave the award?

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

Stephen A. Smith is a TV _____. He is famous in the United States. A _____ of Black journalists gave him a bad award. The award is called a 'Thumbs Down' award.

Smith did not like the award. He called it a '_____ job'. A hit job means an unfair _____ on someone.

The group of journalists is called _____. This name means National Association of Black Journalists.

Smith spoke about the award in _____. He does not agree with the group's _____.

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