Question 1

In the 1991 case of Masson v. New Yorker Magazine, the Supreme Court ruled that fabricated quotations attributed to a public figure were libelous only if the fabricated account "materially changed" the meaning of what the person actually said.

Accepted Answer

This is an accurate statement of the ruling in Masson v. New Yorker Magazine.

Question 2

Thousands of leaks each year are quietly and seamlessly incorporated into the news.

Accepted Answer

Leaks are often used by journalists as sources of information for news stories, and they are frequently incorporated into news coverage. Many leaks are not publicly disclosed as such, and they are often presented as anonymous sources or confidential information. Therefore, thousands of leaks each year are quietly and seamlessly incorporated into the news.

Question 3

For the most part, an audience can easily distinguish even a well-designed press release from an actual news story.

Accepted Answer

A well-designed press release is crafted to mimic the tone and structure of a news story, making it difficult for the general audience to distinguish between the two.

Question 4

In the Pentagon Papers case, the Supreme Court ruled that the government could block publication of secret Department of Defense documents.

Accepted Answer

In the Pentagon Papers case (New York Times Co. v. United States, 1971), the Supreme Court ruled that the government could not block publication of the secret documents. The Court stated that prior restraint (governmental censorship) was permissible only under very limited circumstances, such as to prevent publication that would clearly endanger national security. In this case, the Court found that the government had not met the high burden of proof required to justify prior restraint.

Question 5

In the United States, the print media are subject to the long-standing federal regulation of prior restraint.

Accepted Answer

The print media in the United States are generally protected from prior restraint by the First Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of the press. Prior restraint refers to government censorship or approval of content before it is published, and is generally not allowed except in limited circumstances such as national security or obscenity.

Question 6

In the United States, license renewals for radio and TV stations are almost always granted automatically by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Accepted Answer

License renewals for radio and TV stations are typically granted automatically by the FCC, as long as the station is in compliance with FCC rules and regulations. However, the FCC can choose to deny a renewal application if there are concerns about the station's performance, such as a pattern of indecency violations or a failure to serve the public interest.

Question 7

The U.S. government sometimes pays foreign reporters to write favorable accounts of its activities and efforts.

Accepted Answer

This practice is known as "paid propaganda" and has been used by the U.S. government in the past. However, it is important to note that this practice is controversial and has been heavily criticized for undermining journalistic independence and credibility.

Question 8

Journalists and editors make great efforts to prevent being manipulated by their sources.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Journalists and editors make great efforts to...

Question 9

Individuals who are personally attacked on a broadcast program must be given the opportunity to respond.

Accepted Answer

This is a basic principle of journalistic ethics and fairness. Giving the other side the opportunity to respond helps to ensure that all viewpoints are represented and that the audience has a complete understanding of the issue at hand.

Question 10

A 2005 academic study by economist Timothy Groseclose and political scientist Jeffrey Milyo found a pronounced conservative bias in the news presented by many major papers and all but one broadcast network.

Accepted Answer

The study actually found a liberal bias in the news presented by major papers and broadcast networks, not a conservative bias.

Question 11

According to experts, over half of the articles in a newspaper on any given day are based on press releases.

Accepted Answer

According to experts, over half of the articles in a newspaper on any given day are based on press releases.

Question 12

Most leaks originate with low-level whistle-blowers.

Accepted Answer

Most leaks actually come from senior officials within organizations or governments, who have access to high-level information and the motivation to share it, often for strategic or political reasons.

Question 13

Less than ten giant corporations now controls over half of all media, including television networks, movie studios, record companies, cable channels, local cable providers, book publishers, magazines, and newspapers.

Accepted Answer

According to various sources and reports, less than ten giant corporations like Disney, News Corp, ViacomCBS, Comcast, AT&T, Sony, etc. do control over half of all media, including television networks, movie studios, record companies, cable channels, local cable providers, book publishers, magazines, and newspapers.

Question 14

Broadcasters must provide candidates for the same office equal opportunity to communicate their messages to the public.

Accepted Answer

This is known as the Equal Time Rule, stated in the Federal Communications Act, which requires broadcast stations to give equal opportunities to all legally qualified political candidates for any office to communicate their messages to the public.

Question 15

The 1996 Telecommunications Act compelled emerging media conglomerates to split up.

Accepted Answer

The 1996 Telecommunications Act actually lifted many restrictions on media ownership, leading to increased consolidation and fewer companies owning more media outlets. It did not compel emerging media conglomerates to split up.

Question 16

For all intents and purposes, the American print media can publish anything they want about a public figure.

Accepted Answer

This statement is generally true due to the First Amendment's protection of freedom of the press. However, there are some limitations on this freedom, such as libel and slander laws. Additionally, the media may face backlash and criticism for publishing certain content.

Question 17

In the United States, the print media are heavily regulated by the government.

Accepted Answer

The print media in the United States are not heavily regulated by the government. While there are some regulations in place to prevent obscenity or defamation, the First Amendment of the US Constitution ensures freedom of the press and limits government intervention in the media.

Question 18

A majority of journalists consider themselves to be liberal or liberal-to-moderate.

Accepted Answer

Multiple surveys have shown that a majority of journalists in the US consider themselves to be liberal or liberal-to-moderate in their political beliefs. However, it is important to note that this does not necessarily mean that their reporting is biased or influenced by their personal views.

Question 19

Politicians avoid social media outlets because they are a waste of time.

Accepted Answer

Politicians frequently use social media outlets as a means of communication and engagement with their constituents, as it allows them to reach a wider audience and receive feedback in real-time. However, they may also limit their use of social media if they feel it is detracting from their other responsibilities or if they are concerned about negative feedback or online harassment.

Question 20

According to new FCC regulations, a single company is permitted to own only one major media outlet such as a major daily newspaper, a television, or a radio station within a single metropolitan market.

Accepted Answer

The statement is not entirely correct. The FCC regulations allow a company to own up to two TV stations in a market, but only if certain criteria are met, such as having at least eight independent media voices in the market. The rules regarding radio ownership are more complex and vary depending on the market size and other factors. The regulations also do not apply to non-commercial entities like public broadcasting stations or newspapers that are not major dailies.

Quiz 14: The Media

In the 1991 case of Masson v. New Yorker Magazine, the Supreme Court ruled that fabricated quotations attributed to a public figure were libelous only if the fabricated account "materially changed" the meaning of what the person actually said.

Thousands of leaks each year are quietly and seamlessly incorporated into the news.

For the most part, an audience can easily distinguish even a well-designed press release from an actual news story.

In the Pentagon Papers case, the Supreme Court ruled that the government could block publication of secret Department of Defense documents.

In the United States, the print media are subject to the long-standing federal regulation of prior restraint.

In the United States, license renewals for radio and TV stations are almost always granted automatically by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The U.S. government sometimes pays foreign reporters to write favorable accounts of its activities and efforts.

Journalists and editors make great efforts to prevent being manipulated by their sources.

Individuals who are personally attacked on a broadcast program must be given the opportunity to respond.

A 2005 academic study by economist Timothy Groseclose and political scientist Jeffrey Milyo found a pronounced conservative bias in the news presented by many major papers and all but one broadcast network.

According to experts, over half of the articles in a newspaper on any given day are based on press releases.

Most leaks originate with low-level whistle-blowers.

Less than ten giant corporations now controls over half of all media, including television networks, movie studios, record companies, cable channels, local cable providers, book publishers, magazines, and newspapers.

Broadcasters must provide candidates for the same office equal opportunity to communicate their messages to the public.

The 1996 Telecommunications Act compelled emerging media conglomerates to split up.

For all intents and purposes, the American print media can publish anything they want about a public figure.

In the United States, the print media are heavily regulated by the government.

A majority of journalists consider themselves to be liberal or liberal-to-moderate.

Politicians avoid social media outlets because they are a waste of time.

According to new FCC regulations, a single company is permitted to own only one major media outlet such as a major daily newspaper, a television, or a radio station within a single metropolitan market.