Deck 5: Media Manipulation: Fake News, Bias, and Advertising

Question 1

Above all, reasonable skepticism means that we

A) refuse to believe every claim found in the media or online.
B) believe claims only when there is a legitimate reason for doing so.
C) reject any news story about an event we have not witnessed ourselves.
D) no longer use the internet or print media as sources for news.

Answer 1

believe claims only when there is a legitimate reason for doing so.

Question 2

Critical thinking tells us that it is reasonable to

A) suspend judgment on claims we are unsure of.
B) reject claims that contradict our existing beliefs.
C) accept claims we strongly feel are true.
D) accept claims that make us feel good.

Answer 2

suspend judgment on claims we are unsure of.

Question 3

In order to read a news source critically, we must ask ourselves if the claims we encounter have been examined by fact-checkers, are plausible, and

A) are accepted by most people.
B) reinforce what we'd like to believe.
C) are supported by evidence.
D) contradict our existing beliefs.

Answer 3

are supported by evidence.

Question 4

Fake news often succeeds because

A) it's impossible to distinguish fake news from real news.
B) people desire evidence that supports their beliefs.
C) most people lack the ability to think critically.
D) people don't care about the truth of what they read.

Question 5

According to ethicists, concocting or deliberately sharing fake news is morally problematic because doing so

A) insults people's intelligence.
B) violates people's integrity.
C) undermines people's autonomy.
D) offends people's standards of decency.

Question 6

In journalism, _______ entails faithfulness to the evidence.

A) objectivity
B) completeness
C) lack of bias
D) accuracy

Question 7

Ensuring that a news story exhibits no explicit or implicit preference for one set of values over another is known as

A) objectivity.
B) completeness.
C) lack of bias.
D) accuracy.

Question 8

The feelings and attitudes associated with words beyond their literal meaning is known as

A) denotation.
B) metaphor.
C) connotation.
D) bias.

Question 9

The expression of views that cannot be verified entirely through objective evidence is called

A) bias.
B) opinion.
C) analysis.
D) connotation.

Question 10

The terms "excessive," "erratic," "reckless," and "horrific" are examples of _______ language.

A) evaluative
B) biased
C) figurative
D) objective

Question 11

In the news business, writing that offers examinations, interpretations, or explanations of events is called

A) opinion writing.
B) commentary.
C) news reporting.
D) analysis.

Question 12

Nowadays opinion writing that takes a side on an issue, has a specific point of view, and argues to justify it is called

A) fake news.
B) biased reporting.
C) advocacy journalism.
D) propaganda.

Question 13

According to Adam J. Schiffer, author of Evaluating Media Bias, accusations of partisan bias seem right but are probably wrong because accusers often

A) fail to specify an ideological standard.
B) cherry-pick disconfirming evidence.
C) fail to distinguish fake news from real.
D) ignore disconfirming content.

Question 14

Editing together disparate videos to distort or fundamentally alter the story being told is called

A) splicing.
B) doctoring.
C) fake news.
D) misrepresentation.

Question 15

Hoaxes, satirical writing, and propaganda are all forms of fake news.

Question 16

False statements that arise because of mistakes, errors, or misunderstandings do not constitute fake news.

Question 17

A lie is simply a false statement.

Question 18

The so-called "Pizzagate" incident illustrates how much of fake news is simply funny or ridiculous.

Question 19

Legitimate reasons are reasons that increase the likelihood of a claim being true.

Question 20

Although citing Wikipedia as a source in an academic paper is often frowned on, Wikipedia articles are a useful place to start a research project.

Question 21

Objectivity requires that journalists put aside their opinions, judgments, explanations, and interpretations and stick strictly to the facts.

Question 22

One of the most obvious indicators of bias is the use of emotional and evaluative words to skew an audience's view.

Question 23

Even if a news site does not publish inaccurate information, it can still be guilty of bias.

Question 24

Partisan reporters necessarily produce biased stories.

Question 25

The difference between news and opinion is always clear-cut.

Question 26

One reason news stories are often incorrectly accused of bias is because people are bad at telling the difference between news and opinion.

Question 27

Despite popular claims to the contrary, finding particular instances of reporting that leans left or right in ostensibly neutral media organizations is very difficult.

Question 28

According to decades of research, popular claims of an overall, systematic partisan bias in news coverage are unsupported.

Question 29

According to the principle of reasonable skepticism, all advertising claims are false and advertising is never genuinely informative or useful.

Question 30

The primary function of advertising is to help consumers make informed, rational choices about available options.

Question 31

Because of Federal Trade Commission guidelines, social media ads are usually tagged as "Sponsored Content," Promoted," "Recommended for You," or "Promoted Stories."

Question 32

Manipulated videos have become the go-to tactic for political smearing, propaganda, and hatchet jobs.

Question 33

A photoshopped gif circulated on social media showing Parkland student and gun-control advocate Emma Gonzalez ripping the U.S. Constitution illustrates the use of doctoring.

Question 34

The 2016 political ad that appears to show Donald Trump declaring a love of nuclear weapons illustrates the use of misrepresentation.

Question 35

Have you ever encountered an example of fake news? What was it and how did you know it was fake?

Question 36

How does fake news differ from propaganda, opinion writing, biased reporting, hoaxes, and satire?

Question 37

What strategies can people employ to protect themselves from fake news? Have you employed any of these strategies in your life?

Question 38

What are the characteristics of a reliable fact-checker? What are some examples of reliable fact-checkers?

Question 39

What are the differences between news, opinion, and analysis?

Question 40

What is bias and how does it manifest itself in news reporting? Does a partisan reporter always produce biased stories? Why or why not?

Question 41

Why are accusations of partisan bias in news media less credible than they seem?

Question 42

Describe a misleading ad that you've seen. What about it was misleading and how were you able to tell?

Question 43

Why is political advertising a bigger challenge to critical thinking than most other forms of advertising?

Question 44

Describe a negative political ad that you've seen. What persuasive techniques did it employ? Were these techniques effective in your view? Why or why not?