Question 1

By the 1960s, people started to rely more on __________ news than newspapers for their political information.

Accepted Answer

The 1960s marked a rise in television news broadcasts, which people began to rely on more heavily for their political information compared to newspapers.

Question 2

Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst, the most famous newspaper publishers in the Partisan Era (1790 to 1900), used __________ to sell papers and attract readers.

Accepted Answer

Pulitzer and Hearst used a combination of comics, large type, provocative headlines, and pictures to attract readers and sell newspapers, a style known as yellow journalism.

Question 3

A__________ is a website that provides a forum for "bottom-up" commentary, description of events, video postings, and general conversation.

Accepted Answer

A blog is a website that allows individuals to post commentary, descriptions, videos, and engage in conversations, often in a "bottom-up" manner where users contribute content.

Question 4

In 2012, nearly 50 million Americans listened to talk radio, and the majority of them listened to __________ programs.

Accepted Answer

In 2012, the majority of talk radio listeners in the United States were tuning into conservative programs, as conservative talk radio has historically been more popular and widespread.

Question 5

Conduct or language that incites rebellion again the authority of a state is called _________.

Accepted Answer

Seditious libel refers to conduct or language that incites rebellion against the authority of a state. It involves written or published statements that are intended to criticize or undermine the government.

Question 6

In a series of essays published in New York newspapers, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay responded to the Antifederalists' fierce campaign against the Constitution in what are today known as __________ and are still regarded as a leading source for understanding the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

The Federalist Papers were a series of essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay to support the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and counter the Antifederalists' arguments.

Question 7

The 1978 landmark Supreme Court decision in __________ established the precedent that the FCC has the legal authority to fine any media outlet that knowingly allows the expression of obscene content, under certain circumstances.

Accepted Answer

The 1978 Supreme Court decision in FCC v. Pacifica Foundation established the precedent that the FCC can regulate indecent content on public airwaves, allowing them to fine media outlets for broadcasting obscene content.

Question 8

President _________ started his own newspaper in order to get his message out.

Accepted Answer

The answer of President _________ started his own newspaper in...

Question 9

President Theodore Roosevelt coined the term "________" for journalists who engaged in investigative reporting that sought to uncover corruption and wrongdoing.

Accepted Answer

President Theodore Roosevelt coined the term "muckraking" to describe journalists who investigated and exposed societal issues, corruption, and wrongdoing.

Question 10

Who did Americans rate "the most trusted man in America" in 1973?

Accepted Answer

Walter Cronkite, a prominent television news anchor for CBS, was widely regarded as "the most trusted man in America" during the 1970s.

Question 11

_________ was a form of journalism that distorted the presentation of events and could mislead the public in the interest of boosting sales.

Accepted Answer

Yellow journalism was characterized by sensationalism and exaggeration to attract readers and increase sales, often at the expense of accuracy.

Question 12

What novel exposed the horrors of the meatpacking industry in 1906?

Accepted Answer

Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" exposed the unsanitary and inhumane conditions of the meatpacking industry in the early 20th century, leading to public outcry and reforms.

Question 13

When Benjamin Day began selling his paper for a penny an issue he began the era of the __________.

Accepted Answer

Benjamin Day's innovation of selling newspapers for a penny each started the era of the "penny press," which made newspapers affordable to a wider audience.

Question 14

Of the cable news networks, __________ has the largest audience.

Accepted Answer

Fox News has consistently had the largest audience among cable news networks, often leading in viewership ratings compared to CNN, MSNBC, and others.

Question 15

President John Adams' Sedition Act (1798) made it illegal to print or publish any "_________" about the federal government.

Accepted Answer

The Sedition Act of 1798 made it illegal to print or publish any "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the federal government, with the intent to defame or bring it into disrepute.

Question 16

Statistics on the changing media environment suggest two main lessons:

Accepted Answer

Americans are known for quickly adopting new media technologies, and the current media environment offers more options for accessing news than ever before.

Question 17

__________ is news with fewer hard facts, more emphasis on personal stories that engage (or shock) the public, and often appeals to the emotions rather than the intellect.

Accepted Answer

The answer of __________ is news with fewer hard facts,...

Question 18

Benjamin Franklin's writing of __________ defended objectivity in journalism. Although it contradicted the prevailing view at the time, it would help set the standard for future American journalism.

Accepted Answer

"An Apology for Printers" is the work by Benjamin Franklin that defended objectivity in journalism, advocating for the publication of diverse opinions and setting a standard for future American journalism.

Question 19

The decline of newspapers raises concerns because newspapers tend to contain more __________-fact-based stories, as opposed to interpretive narratives-than are reported on TV.

Accepted Answer

Hard news refers to fact-based reporting on significant issues, which is more commonly found in newspapers compared to other media like TV.

Question 20

The __________ waged a fierce campaign against the Constitution, and those supporting the Constitution responded, most famously in a series of essays published in New York newspapers.

Accepted Answer

The Antifederalists waged a campaign against the Constitution, while the Federalists supported it, responding with the Federalist Papers.

Quiz 7: The News and Social Media