Question 1

Which of the following does the mass media virtually unanimously endorse?

Accepted Answer

Mass media virtually unanimously endorses core American values, such as democracy, freedom of speech, and individualism. While there may be individual outlets or journalists who lean towards certain political ideologies (such as liberalism or socialism), these are not endorsed by the entire mass media. Therefore, choices A, D, and E are not accurate.

Question 2

Based on research sponsored by the Screen Actors Guild examining fictional television shows from 1994 to 1997,there were ____ women on TV shows than women in the population of the United States.

Accepted Answer

The statement says that the research examined fictional television shows from 1994 to 1997, and there were fewer women on TV shows than women in the population of the United States. Therefore, the best choice is D, which says 28% fewer.

Question 3

Despite improvements in recent decades,critics who are sympathetic to feminism and the plight of racial minorities have charged the mass media with:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Despite improvements in recent decades,critics who are...

Question 4

According to Hermann and Chomsky,several mechanisms help to bias the news in a way that supports powerful corporate interests and political groups.Which of the following is one of those mechanisms?

Accepted Answer

Advertising is a mechanism that can bias news sources towards supporting powerful corporate interests. Advertisers may withdraw their support if they feel that a certain news story or outlet is not showing support for their interests.

Question 5

When governments and big corporations routinely attack journalists who depart from official and corporate points of view,they are using what Hermann and Chomsky call:

Accepted Answer

Flak refers to the negative responses and attacks that are made against journalists who do not follow official or corporate narratives. This can include verbal or written criticism, threats, or other forms of pressure to conform to the preferred point of view. Hermann and Chomsky identified flak as one of the five filters used to shape media coverage, alongside ownership, advertising, sourcing, and anti-communist ideology.

Question 6

The representation of African Americans is now ____ their representation in the United States population.

Accepted Answer

African Americans make up approximately 13.4% of the U.S. population. There is no option that exactly matches this percentage, but the choice that suggests their representation is "about 5% lower than" their actual population percentage is the closest to accurate, considering no other option is closer to the reality of their representation.

Question 7

Based on research sponsored by the Screen Actors Guild examining fictional television shows from 1994 to 1997,there were ____ white men on TV shows than white men in the population of the United States.

Accepted Answer

The research indicated that there were 29% more white men on TV shows than in the actual population of the United States during that period.

Question 8

60 Minutes refused to broadcast a damaging interview with a former Philip Morris executive because CBS was threatened with legal action by the tobacco company.This is an example of the use of:

Accepted Answer

The situation described is an example of flak, which refers to negative reactions and threats of legal action from powerful individuals or organizations in response to critical journalism or reporting. In this case, CBS was threatened with legal action by Philip Morris, leading them to not broadcast the interview.

Question 9

While the arguments of the conflict theorists are compelling,there are limitations to this perspective.One limitation is that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of While the arguments of the conflict theorists...

Question 10

Conflict theorists make a valid and convincing point if they restrict their argument to how the mass media supports:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Conflict theorists make a valid and convincing...

Question 11

Comparing racial minority representation in fictional television roles in 1991-1992 with minority representation in fictional television roles in 1994-1997,roles for minorities:

Accepted Answer

According to studies, there was an increase in minority representation in fictional television roles from 1991-1992 to 1994-1997. This increase was particularly evident in shows that featured predominantly minority casts or ones that focused on the experiences of distinct racial or ethnic groups.

Question 12

According to Hermann and Chomsky,through their sponsorships corporations seek to influence the news so it will reflect positively on them.This is an example of how news is influenced by:

Accepted Answer

Corporations use advertising as a tool to influence news content, ensuring it reflects positively on them, as suggested by Hermann and Chomsky.

Question 13

Conflict theorists argue that dominant classes and political groups benefit disproportionately from the mass media because:

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists argue that the mass media is dominated by powerful elites who control the messages that are conveyed to the public. They maintain that ownership of the mass media is highly concentrated in the hands of a small number of people, who use it to promote their own interests and maintain their position of power and privilege. As a result, dominant classes and political groups benefit disproportionately from the mass media, while marginalized groups struggle to gain representation and have their voices heard.

Question 14

How does violence in the mass media affect audiences?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does violence in the mass media...

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT one of the mechanisms that bias the news so as to support powerful corporate interests and political groups,according to Hermann and Chomsky?

Accepted Answer

Hermann and Chomsky identified four mechanisms through which the news is biased towards supporting powerful corporate interests and political groups: advertising, sourcing, flak, and the "common ideology" of the media owners and elites. Network broadcasting is not one of these mechanisms.

Question 16

Controlling more and more production in one particular industry is known as:

Accepted Answer

Horizontal integration refers to the process of a company increasing production of goods or services at the same part of the supply chain, often by acquiring or merging with competitors in the same industry.

Question 17

The tendency to define oneself in terms of the goods and services one purchases is known as:

Accepted Answer

Consumerism is the tendency to define oneself in terms of the goods and services one purchases. Individualism pertains to valuing the preferences and goals of the individual over those of the group. Corporatism refers to the control of a state or organization by large interest groups or corporations. Humanism is a belief system that emphasizes human values and concerns.

Question 18

While the arguments of the conflict theorists are compelling,there are limitations to this perspective.One limitation is that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of While the arguments of the conflict theorists...

Question 19

News agencies rely heavily on press releases,news conferences,and interviews organized by large corporations and government agencies.The latter routinely slant information to reflect favorably on themselves.This process is known as:

Accepted Answer

The process described in the question is known as sourcing, which is the practice of journalists relying on external sources for information. In this case, the sources are large corporations and government agencies who provide press releases, news conferences, and interviews. However, these sources may slant the information to reflect favorably on themselves, which can lead to biased reporting.

Question 20

Controlling more and more production and distribution in related industries (such as film production,film distribution,video store merchandising,television station ownership,etc.)is called:

Accepted Answer

Vertical integration refers to the practice of controlling multiple aspects of a supply chain or production process, including production, distribution, and retailing. In this case, controlling various aspects of the film industry, such as production, distribution, and even television station ownership, would fall under vertical integration. Horizontal integration, on the other hand, involves merging with or acquiring similar companies at the same stage of the supply chain or production process. Social integration and productive integration are not relevant to the context of the question, and diagonal integration is not a commonly used term in business.

Quiz 18: The Mass Media

Which of the following does the mass media virtually unanimously endorse?

Based on research sponsored by the Screen Actors Guild examining fictional television shows from 1994 to 1997,there were ____ women on TV shows than women in the population of the United States.

Despite improvements in recent decades,critics who are sympathetic to feminism and the plight of racial minorities have charged the mass media with:

According to Hermann and Chomsky,several mechanisms help to bias the news in a way that supports powerful corporate interests and political groups.Which of the following is one of those mechanisms?

When governments and big corporations routinely attack journalists who depart from official and corporate points of view,they are using what Hermann and Chomsky call:

The representation of African Americans is now ____ their representation in the United States population.

Based on research sponsored by the Screen Actors Guild examining fictional television shows from 1994 to 1997,there were ____ white men on TV shows than white men in the population of the United States.

60 Minutes refused to broadcast a damaging interview with a former Philip Morris executive because CBS was threatened with legal action by the tobacco company.This is an example of the use of:

While the arguments of the conflict theorists are compelling,there are limitations to this perspective.One limitation is that:

Conflict theorists make a valid and convincing point if they restrict their argument to how the mass media supports:

Comparing racial minority representation in fictional television roles in 1991-1992 with minority representation in fictional television roles in 1994-1997,roles for minorities:

According to Hermann and Chomsky,through their sponsorships corporations seek to influence the news so it will reflect positively on them.This is an example of how news is influenced by:

Conflict theorists argue that dominant classes and political groups benefit disproportionately from the mass media because:

How does violence in the mass media affect audiences?

Which of the following is NOT one of the mechanisms that bias the news so as to support powerful corporate interests and political groups,according to Hermann and Chomsky?

Controlling more and more production in one particular industry is known as:

The tendency to define oneself in terms of the goods and services one purchases is known as:

While the arguments of the conflict theorists are compelling,there are limitations to this perspective.One limitation is that:

News agencies rely heavily on press releases,news conferences,and interviews organized by large corporations and government agencies.The latter routinely slant information to reflect favorably on themselves.This process is known as:

Controlling more and more production and distribution in related industries (such as film production,film distribution,video store merchandising,television station ownership,etc.) is called: