文档介绍：Lesson 12
How News es Opinion and Opinion Off-limits
Background
About the author
Salman Rushdie (1947- ) :British writer, born in Bombay, educated in England. No book in modern times has matched the uproar sparked by his The Satanic Verses (撒旦诗篇) in Sept., 1988, . Although the book was generally praised in Europe and America, it was widely condemned in the Muslim world. In 1989 protests burst into full public consciousness. The book was burned in England and Iran. Rushdie went into hiding .
Later in 1989 leader of the Iranian revolution, also the target of a freely satirical portrait in the novel, responded by issuing a denunciation (谴责, 告发)of Rushdie called a fatwa .(伊斯兰教)法学家的裁决in which he declared: “ I inform all zealous Muslims of the world that the author of the book entitled The Satanic Verses—which has piled, printed and published in opposition to Islam, the prophet, and the Qur’an---and  those involved in its publication who were aware of its content , are sentenced to death.
I call on all zealous Muslims to execute them quickly, wherever they may be found, so that no one else will dare to insult the Muslim sanctities. God Willing, whoever is killed on this path is a martyr.”
Shortly afterward Rushdie went into hiding, guarded by British policemen who were his panions until Iran lifted the fatwa in 1998.
Structure of the Text
Part I (Paras. 1—4)
a vivid introduction leading to the point of mon ground occupied by both novelists and journalists.
Part II (Paras. 5—6)
The theme of this essay is brought out in this section: "For the ultimate goal of both factual and fictional writing is the truth, however paradoxical that may sound. "
Part III (Paras. 7—9)
mon ground of journalism and novel writing before the advent of television.
Part IV (Paras. 10—12)
mon ground has ceased to exist since the appearance of televisions. News has e a matter of opinions.
Part V (Paras. 13—17)
This section deals with the power of "character" creation. As a result of pr