Deck 3: Normative Theories of Mass Communication

Question 1

Journalism codes of ethics do not include standards for _____.

A) balanced coverage of news events
B) accurate coverage of news events
C) politically correct coverage of news events
D) truthful coverage of news events

Answer 1

C

Question 2

______ is a form of journalism noted for scathing coverage of political and business corruption.

A) Public journalism
B) Red journalism
C) Muckraking
D) Fake news

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a normative theory?

A) Social responsibility theory
B) Limited effects theory
C) Action network theory
D) The self-righting principle

Answer 3

A

Question 4

If you believe that "no law means no law" where restriction of expression is concerned, you are a __________.

A) critical theorist
B) Socialist
C) First Amendment absolutist
D) media apologist

Question 5

Libertarianism depends on two factors to produce "truth." One is a rational, involved public, and the other is _______.

A) a large number of successful mass media
B) excellent broadcast and print news
C) Aggressive government regulation
D) people's access to the media for a large amount of divergent information

Question 6

A normative theory describes the way media systems _____.

A) ideally should be structured
B) are structured currently
C) will be structured in the near future
D) have codes of ethics to encourage professionalism

Question 7

The Hutchins Commission ___________.

A) conducted a "witch hunt" looking for communists in the media
B) provided a definitive formulation of social responsibility theory
C) recommended government censorship of media to stop communism
D) strongly criticized Chicago School theories

Question 8

The Fourth Estate refers to _______.

A) the press
B) Congress
C) the various state legislatures
D) the legal profession

Question 9

The idea that government allows business to operate freely and without official intrusion is called ________.

A) oligopoly
B) media intrusion theory
C) deregulation
D) laissez-faire

Question 10

_______ theory is a normative theory that suggested that all forms of communication be under the control of a governing elite or authorities.

A) Social Responsibility
B) Dual-Purpose
C) Mass Society
D) Authoritarian

Question 11

In the theory of the _________, ideas are "traded" freely among people and the correct or best ideas will prevail.

A) social responsibility
B) marketplace of ideas
C) Bill of Rights
D) normative structure

Question 12

Where contemporary advocates for media's ability to serve local communities' communication needs tout technologies like low-power FM radio, others fear that the public will be _______; that is, people will talk only to those residing within their cultural borders.

A) disempowered
B) re-empowered
C) silenced
D) Balkanized

Question 13

Many observers believe that the Internet opens public discourse up to a wide variety of topics and issues that legacy media simply would not because they were simply not worthy of being heard. In other words, these ideas, once in the _______, are now more likely to be discussed.

A) sphere of deviance
B) sphere of consensus
C) filter bubble
D) Internet silo

Question 14

Several governments around the world, especially in emerging nations, embrace the Revolutionary concept normative theory.

Question 15

Those who argue that media practitioners can't be trusted to communicate responsibly or to effectively use media to serve vital public needs-especially during times of crisis or social upheaval-often call for technocratic, or other official control of media.

Question 16

One of the fundamental concepts underpinning the Founders' belief in press freedom is attainment of truth, the idea that media should serve as a forum allowing people to deduce between good and evil.

Question 17

The marketplace of ideas theory assumes that ideas are like commodities that can be bought and sold, with better products outperforming others.

Question 18

Early broadcasters fiercely resisted federal regulation of the airwaves, arguing that the market would best serve their interest.

Question 19

Central to this country's regulation of broadcasting is the idea that the airwaves belong to the people.

Question 20

Ronan Farrow's magazine story exposing the sexual assaults and other crimes against women committed by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein unleased the #MeToo Movement. Farrow could rightly be called a modern-day muckraker.

Question 21

Recognizing that legacy media are indeed for-profit businesses, Social Responsibility Theory argues that media professionals, in order to ensure their outlets stay in business, should first and foremost be accountable to their employers and the market.

Question 22

Agenda cutting occurs when breaking news "cuts into" a media outlet's already prepared news agenda.

Question 23

One of the limitations in relying on professionalism to ensure proper function of the American media system is that fact that, in contrast with other professions, media practitioners tend to have less independent control over their work.

Question 24

The filter bubble refers to the idea that online personalization tools and computer algorithms render people more partisan and less open to different or opposing points of view by exposing them to only the news and information with which they already agree or enjoy.

Question 25

Most nations in the world have adopted Social Responsibility Theory as their guiding normative media theory.

Question 26

In Hallin's sphere-of-influence model, legitimate debate appears on the front and home pages of American newspapers, in their opinion sections, and on the Sunday morning television news roundtables.

Question 27

One area in which propaganda and mass society theories differ is in their demands for tougher media regulation.

Question 28

One reason that media industries adopt professional standards and codes of ethics is to provide a means of licensing practitioners.