Question 1

The prime minister of Canada calls a federal general election and is subsequently interviewed by the leading network news anchors. What term best categorizes the kind of news source the prime minister represents?

Accepted Answer

The term that best categorizes the kind of news source that the prime minister of Canada represents is "official news source," as he is the head of the government and his actions and statements represent the official stance of the government.

Question 2

Canada lives in the shadow of a media giant, the United States of America, and consequently our society is inundated with books, magazines, television, cinema, and Internet content that is American based. The sheer volume of this content greatly exceeds our cultural products. What term is used to characterize this situation?

Accepted Answer

The term used to describe this situation is "cultural imperialism", which refers to the domination and influence of one culture over another, often through media and cultural products.

Question 3

A Japanese girl is sipping on a can of Coke and reading a US Weekly magazine. She is considering plastic surgery to change her eyes because she wants to look more like the girls in US Weekly magazine. Which of the following best characterizes this situation?

Accepted Answer

This situation best characterizes cultural imperialism, which refers to the domination of one culture over another through media, economic, or political means. The girl in this scenario is being influenced by the images and messages conveyed by US Weekly magazine, which promotes a Western standard of beauty that is not natural or attainable for many in other parts of the world. The desire to alter her physical appearance to conform to this standard is a manifestation of this cultural imperialism.

Question 4

According to the text, what do ordinary news sources do?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, what do ordinary...

Question 5

In the analysis of news sources, which category do corporate executives typically fall into?

Accepted Answer

Corporate executives typically represent the official positions and statements of their respective companies or organizations, making them official sources. They are likely to provide insights and viewpoints from the perspective of the company they represent.

Question 6

In January 1991, when Americans led an attack on Iraqi forces during the first Persian Gulf War, CNN was the only television network that had people in Baghdad who reported as the bombing on the city began. This event brought CNN legitimacy and popularity because it provided a news value that other networks could not. What news value did this provide for viewers?

Accepted Answer

The fact that CNN was the only network with reporters in Baghdad during the bombing provided immediacy, as they were able to report on events as they were happening in real-time.

Question 7

In a picture, there is a group of people divided by a long, narrow red carpet. Walking down the carpet is a woman in a white dress and a man in a tuxedo. What sociological term best explains why most Canadians would interpret this picture as a wedding?

Accepted Answer

The term framing refers to the process by which individuals interpret and give meaning to various social phenomena. In this case, the image of a woman in a white dress and a man in a tuxedo walking down a red carpet is a common frame or cultural script for a wedding in Canadian society. Thus, most Canadians would interpret this picture as a wedding based on this shared cultural understanding or frame.

Question 8

In Bangladesh, the overwhelming majority of movies come from India's Bollywood film production industry. What term best identifies the movie viewing content available in Bangladesh?

Accepted Answer

The term "cultural imperialism" refers to the dominance of one culture over another, often through economic and media means. In this case, the fact that the overwhelming majority of movies available in Bangladesh come from India's Bollywood industry can be seen as an example of cultural imperialism, where the dominant Indian culture is penetrating and dominating the cultural landscape of Bangladesh.

Question 9

A news team interviewed Jason, a homeless man living on the streets of Toronto. According to the text, why would they interview Jason rather than focus the news report on statistics or causes of homelessness in the city?

Accepted Answer

Focus on an individual makes the issue more concrete and familiar.

Question 10

According to the text, which of the following best describes the hierarchy of access to the media?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, which of the...

Question 11

What term best characterizes how diverse media programming allows individuals to personally construct understandings and identities?

Accepted Answer

Representation refers to the portrayal of identities, experiences, and perspectives in media programming, which allows individuals to personally construct understandings and identities.

Question 12

Consider the following headlines: "If anyone's insulted the voters, it's Mayor Rob Ford" and "Toronto Mayor vows to fight tooth and nail to keep job." According to sociologists, these headlines are examples of which one of the following terms?

Accepted Answer

These headlines are examples of framing, as they present a particular interpretation of events (in this case, Mayor Rob Ford's actions and statement regarding his job) to shape public perception.

Question 13

An advertiser is having problems buying advertising time on television because there are now so many channels to choose from, each with its own audience demographics. According to the text, this abundance of choice is in part due to what postmodern view of society?

Accepted Answer

The abundance of channels with their own audience demographics implies that society is becoming more fragmented, with people having diverse interests and preferences. This aligns with the postmodern view that societies are characterized by a lack of a unified center or identity and instead are made up of diverse groups with varying beliefs and values.

Question 14

A teary-eyed victim of an apartment fire is being interviewed by a television journalist while standing on the street in her pyjamas as the apartment block burns in the background. According to the text, which term best categorizes this news source?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A teary-eyed victim of an apartment fire...

Question 15

During a newscast about an ongoing transportation strike, Fred, a union representative, is interviewed. He explains why the union ceased negotiations and walked out on strike. What role does Fred play in the newscast?

Accepted Answer

Fred, being a union representative, is likely biased towards his organization's position and may not present a neutral perspective. Therefore, he would be considered an alternative news source rather than an official or ordinary news source.

Question 16

A roaming television journalist called a "storm-chaser" reports live from a roadside ditch as a tornado passes by. According to the text, why do journalists value this kind of reporting?

Accepted Answer

The text states that the journalist is a "storm-chaser," implying that they specialize in covering extreme weather events. This kind of reporting has news value because it informs the audience about a significant event that could potentially affect their safety or disrupt their daily lives. While the reporting may also be dramatic and embody danger, these factors are secondary to its news value.

Question 17

According to Randall Collins, Canadian culture is beyond Americanization for which of the following reasons?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Randall Collins, Canadian culture is...

Question 18

When two journalists have compelling news stories, the editor must decide which article to put more emphasis on within the newspaper. An editor will most likely choose an article based on the timing, writing skill of the journalist, and compelling narrative to present events and issues. According to the text, what term best describes the newsworthiness of a media report?

Accepted Answer

The term that best describes the newsworthiness of a media report is news values. News values are the criteria used by journalists and editors to determine the relative importance of a news story. These criteria may include factors such as timeliness, impact, proximity, conflict, human interest, and novelty.

Question 19

According to the text, which of the following is considered a "news value"?

Accepted Answer

News value refers to the criteria that news outlets may use to determine the newsworthiness of a story. Extraordinariness, or how unusual or rare a story is, is one of the key news values. Depersonalization, historicity, and subjectivity are not typically considered news values.

Question 20

Which aspect of media coverage has especially frequent "personalization" of the news?

Accepted Answer

Political news coverage often includes a heavy focus on individual politicians and their personal lives or actions, rather than solely focusing on policy or political issues. This can lead to a high degree of personalization in the news.

Quiz 5: Communication and Mass Media