Deck 8: Law and Ethics in Media Writing

Question 1

The ______ Amendment is often viewed as the foundation upon which all the rights and responsibilities of the media reside.

A) Third
B) First
C) Fifth
D) Second

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Fighting words, threats, false advertising, and criminal solicitation are ______.

A) sometimes protected by the U.S. Constitution
B) protected by the U.S. Constitution
C) not protected by the U.S. Constitution
D) protected by the Declaration of Independence

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Broadcast journalism is governed through the ______ because of its use of the public airwaves.

A) federal Trade Commission
B) food and Drug Administration
C) federal Department of Agriculture
D) federal Communications Commission

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following would be able to claim fair use on a copyright and most likely win in a court case?

A) news outlets
B) advertisers
C) public relations firms
D) photographers

Question 5

Which of the following is a misconception regarding the First Amendment?

A) anyone can stop you from publishing what you want
B) the law applies only to professional media
C) freedom of the press does not protect you from ramifications
D) the rights established in the First Amendment are not absolute

Question 6

When someone disseminates inaccurate information in a mass media outlet, which form of libel has occurred?

A) identification
B) publication
C) falsity
D) defamation

Question 7

What is the ultimate defense against a libel suit?

A) truth
B) privilege
C) hyperbole and opinion
D) defamation

Question 8

______ protects website owners from libel suits based on the comments sections of their websites.

A) The Communications Decency Act
B) Libel
C) Defamation
D) Identification

Question 9

It is crucial that you ______ so you do not go beyond what you can prove or clearly attribute to an official source.

A) check your facts
B) do not extrapolate
C) reverify your information
D) take good notes

Question 10

Which of the following provides a halfway point for copyright owners who wish to see their work used but only in certain ways?

A) fair use
B) creative commons
C) identification
D) permission

Question 11

The most fragile thing you will deal with on a daily basis in media is ______.

A) copyright
B) libel
C) freedom of speech
D) trust

Question 12

The most valuable commodity in the field of media is ______.

A) connections
B) money
C) technology
D) comprehension

Question 13

A reporter dating a source is an example of ______.

A) plagiarism
B) a conflict of interest
C) libel
D) defamation

Question 14

Excerpting large sections of previously published materials without citing the material directly can lead to allegations of ______.

A) defamation
B) libel
C) plagiarism
D) malice

Question 15

______ provide the mutual understanding upon which the goals of the win/win relationship are outlined.

A) Means
B) Values
C) Connections
D) Ethics

Question 16

The Bill of Rights outlines the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Question 17

The Fifth Amendment has to do with freedom of expression.

Question 18

The First Amendment does not protect all forms of expression, despite its broad interpretation by many courts.

Question 19

There are no categorical limitations regarding the First Amendment.

Question 20

Newspapers still receive the broadest possible protection under the First Amendment.

Question 21

The United States licenses people who wish to disseminate information, and as such, the law makes demarcation between professional and amateur journalists.

Question 22

Current rulings regard the Internet as being akin to newspapers in terms of First Amendment protection.

Question 23

Courts do not seek to balance the rights of the public against the rights of those who exercise their free speech rights.

Question 24

People often erroneously assume speech cannot be halted at all.

Question 25

Freedom of the press protects you from the ramifications of your actions.

Question 26

The rights established in the First Amendment are not absolute.

Question 27

The First Amendment only applies to professional media.

Question 28

You might be liable if you libel someone.

Question 29

Libel is just a newspaper concern.

Question 30

You can libel someone in a press release, in an advertisement, on a blog post, through a tweet, on a television report, and many other places.

Question 31

The easiest and simplest way to avoid a problem with copyrights is to use the work to generate a profit.

Question 32

In libel cases, information must be sent to someone other than the person who claims to be libeled.

Question 33

In the United States, the law dictates that the plaintiff does not have to prove the statement is false in order for a libel suit to be successful.

Question 34

In cases of libel, the statements do not have to damage the plaintiff's reputation.

Question 35

An example of actual damages is the inability to earn an income or emotional suffering.

Question 36

Ethical guidelines outline the symbiotic nature of the reader-writer relationship.

Question 37

It is much easier for politicians, celebrities, and other public figures to win libel cases.

Question 38

Privilege is the ultimate defense against a libel suit.

Question 39

Absolute privilege allows officials to make statements in their official roles without fear of libel.

Question 40

What are the key legal defenses against libel?

Question 41

What are some ways to work through ethical dilemmas?

Question 42

In what ways can speech be limited?

Question 43

What are some misconceptions regarding the First Amendment?

Question 44

What are the key elements for proving libel?

Question 45

What are the key protections of the First Amendment?

Question 46

What is required to prove libel?

Question 47

What are legal defenses against libel?

Question 48

What are the rules associated with copyright protection?

Question 49

What are some key issues in ethics that all media professionals need to consider?