Deck 10: Media and Politics

Question 1

It has been said that in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq War, the media in the United States acted in the same manner that William Randolph Hearst acted in the run-up to the Spanish-American War. Is this a fair assessment?

Answer 1

The comparison between the media's role in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq War and William Randolph Hearst's actions in the run-up to the Spanish-American War is a matter of historical debate and interpretation. To assess whether this is a fair comparison, it's important to understand the context and actions of both periods.

William Randolph Hearst was a powerful newspaper publisher in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is often accused of practicing "yellow journalism," which involved sensationalizing news stories, sometimes distorting facts or reporting unverified rumors, to sell more newspapers and influence public opinion. It is said that Hearst's and other publishers' sensationalist reporting on the events leading up to the Spanish-American War in 1898, such as the sinking of the USS Maine, helped to stir up public sentiment in favor of the war.

Fast forward to the early 2000s, in the period leading up to the Iraq War, the U.S. media faced criticism for its coverage of the events and information provided by the government. Critics argue that many media outlets did not sufficiently question the Bush administration's claims about Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and links to terrorism, which were used to justify the invasion. After the war began and no WMDs were found, these claims were widely discredited, leading to a retrospective critique of the media's role in the lead-up to the war.

Is it fair to compare the two? Here are some points to consider:

1. **Media Landscape**: The media landscape during Hearst's time was very different from that of the early 2000s. Hearst's newspapers were among a limited number of news sources, whereas by 2003, there was a much more diverse array of news outlets, including 24-hour cable news, the internet, and social media.

2. **Government Influence**: In both cases, the government's influence on media reporting is a key factor. In Hearst's time, the media were accused of fabricating stories to support the war effort. In 2003, the media were criticized for not being critical enough of government sources and for relying too heavily on official statements without independent verification.

3. **Public Sentiment**: Hearst's newspapers were accused of actively shaping public sentiment to support the Spanish-American War. In 2003, it's argued that the media failed to adequately represent public skepticism and did not thoroughly investigate the government's claims, thus contributing to a climate where going to war seemed like the only option.

4. **Journalistic Standards**: The standards of journalism have evolved over time. By 2003, there was a greater expectation for fact-checking and balanced reporting. Critics argue that these standards were not fully upheld in the coverage of the Iraq War.

5. **Consequences and Accountability**: In both cases, the media's role in shaping public opinion had significant consequences. The Spanish-American War and the Iraq War had far-reaching impacts, and the media's role in these events has been scrutinized for its part in leading to conflict.

In conclusion, while there are similarities in the media's role in building public support for war, the contexts are quite different. The comparison may be fair in the sense that the media in both cases have been accused of not adequately challenging the prevailing narratives that led to war. However, the nature of the media, the methods of reporting, and the expectations of journalistic integrity have changed significantly over time, making a direct comparison more complex. It's important to analyze each situation on its own merits while considering the broader implications of media influence on public opinion and policy.

Question 2

Conservatives often claim that the media have a "liberal bias." What might account for this belief? Do you believe that they are correct? What evidence can you find to support this contention?

Answer 2

There are a few factors that might account for the conservative belief that the media have a "liberal bias." One reason is that many journalists and media professionals tend to be more liberal-leaning in their personal beliefs and values. This can lead to a perception of bias in the way news stories are reported and the issues that are given attention.

Additionally, media outlets in urban areas, where many major news organizations are based, often have a more liberal audience and may cater to their preferences in order to maintain viewership or readership. This can result in a perceived bias in the stories that are covered and the way they are presented.

There is also evidence to support the contention that the media have a liberal bias. Studies have shown that journalists are more likely to identify as liberal and to vote for Democratic candidates. Furthermore, certain media outlets have been criticized for their coverage of certain political issues, with accusations of favoring liberal perspectives over conservative ones.

However, it is important to note that bias in the media is a complex and multifaceted issue. While there may be instances of liberal bias, there are also examples of conservative bias in certain media outlets. It is also important to consider the role of individual journalists and their personal biases, as well as the influence of corporate ownership and advertising on media content.

Ultimately, whether or not the media have a liberal bias is a matter of perspective and interpretation. It is important for consumers of news to critically evaluate the sources they rely on and seek out a diverse range of perspectives in order to form well-rounded opinions.

Question 3

How does the almost-exclusive focus on the president by political reporters affect public policy? Consider whether or not citizens get a distorted image of the ability of the president to make public policy from news coverage.

Answer 3

The almost-exclusive focus on the president by political reporters can have a significant impact on public policy. When the media constantly fixates on the actions and decisions of the president, it can create a distorted image of the president's ability to make public policy. This can lead to a misconception among citizens that the president has more power and influence over public policy than they actually do.

In reality, public policy is shaped by a complex interplay of factors, including Congress, the judiciary, federal agencies, state and local governments, and various interest groups. By overly emphasizing the role of the president, the media may downplay the importance of these other actors in the policy-making process.

This narrow focus on the president can also lead to a lack of attention on important policy issues that are being addressed at other levels of government. State and local policies, for example, can have a direct impact on citizens' daily lives, yet they often receive less media coverage than presidential actions.

Furthermore, the intense scrutiny of the president's every move can create a hyper-partisan environment, where policy decisions are viewed through a lens of political allegiance rather than their actual impact on the public. This can hinder constructive debate and compromise on important policy issues.

Overall, the almost-exclusive focus on the president by political reporters can distort the public's understanding of the policy-making process and the various actors involved. It is important for citizens to seek out diverse sources of information and to be aware of the broader context in which public policy is developed and implemented.

Question 4

How might the relationship between politicians and the media best be described? They both need and distrust one another. How do politicians and the media interact? Is their relationship a dysfunctional one? Walter Cronkite said: "Politics and media are inseparable. It is only politicians and the media that are incompatible." Was he correct?

Question 5

Why do people believe in the myth of media manipulation? Do people assume that while they themselves are not subject to media influence, most other people are?

Question 6

Some say that the concentration of ownership of the media in the United States is bad for democracy. They contend that the federal government should step in to enforce more diversity in ownership in radio, television, and the print media. Do you agree or disagree? What might be some difficulties in trying to reduce the concentration of ownership? What might be some arguments against reducing concentration?

Question 7

Objectivity was established as a key journalistic principle in the early twentieth century. Has this principle been abandoned with the rise of networks such as Fox and the advent of blogs as key sources of political information? Was the goal of objectivity always impossible? Is the return of partisan media simply more honest?

Question 8

All of the following are criteria used by newscasters to select stories when reporting the news EXCEPT:

A) Timeliness
B) The presence of violence or scandal
C) Familiarity with the subject matter
D) Likeability of the reporters

Question 9

An individual who releases information about government or corporate wrongdoing may be referred to as a:

A) Plant
B) Do-gooder
C) Goodwill leaker
D) Whistle-blower

Question 10

Approximately 85% of the domestic news stories covered by television and news magazines involve:

A) Well-known people
B) Average citizens
C) Members of the middle class
D) Voters

Question 11

As a consequence of the Kennedy-Nixon debates:

A) Newspaper competition greatly increased
B) Television networks began competing to produce the most highly rated news programs
C) The potential of radio as a news source was fully realized
D) Yellow journalism became more widespread in the mass media

Question 12

Bloggers were catapulted onto the national scene in 2003 when they reported on what appeared to be ____ remarks made by a U.S. senator.

A) antireligious
B) sexist
C) antigay
D) prosegregation

Question 13

During recent presidential campaigns:

A) Television has devoted an increasing amount of time to allowing candidates to speak to the public directly
B) Television coverage of the horse-race characteristics of campaigns has declined
C) Reporters covering the campaigns have been allotted more airtime than the candidates themselves
D) Critical or negative candidate sound bites have increased dramatically

Question 14

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licenses for radio stations must be renewed every ____ years.

A) two
B) four
C) five
D) seven

Question 15

Generally, the president can count on local media to be:

A) Objective
B) Activists who are critical of most policies
C) Supporters of the administration
D) Less critical

Question 16

In 1928, the Federal Radio Commission:

A) Reallocated radio frequencies to favor commercial broadcasting
B) Required that broadcasters commit a large amount of time to public service
C) Limited the amount of time that could be reserved for entertainment programming
D) Reallocated radio frequencies to favor nonprofit operators

Question 17

In order to make money, media outlets must keep their ratings high by:

A) Employing a diverse staff to sell advertising time
B) Offering faith-based programming to their audience
C) Selling their audience to advertisers
D) Advertising to ethnic groups

Question 18

When a plant is used to draw media attention or gauge public reaction, this is defined as:

A) Someone who unknowingly tips off the media
B) A fake tip to draw attention to a certain cause
C) A trial balloon
D) A carefully placed tip designed to defame a political candidate

Question 19

Media coverage of Congress tends to emphasize:

A) The value of compromise
B) Partisan conflict and scandal
C) Committee actions
D) Leadership and competition

Question 20

Most White House reporters simply repeat the information given to them by:

A) The president's press secretary
B) Party leaders
C) Critics of the president
D) Other reporters off the record

Question 21

FCC licenses for television stations must be renewed every ____ years.

A) two
B) four
C) five
D) seven

Question 22

Not to be outdone by the latest technology, media conglomerates are:

A) Trying to overtake smaller cable stations
B) Investing in internet content
C) Creating their own technology in the cable field
D) Trying to get control of most media outlets

Question 23

One might expect about ____ of the average daily newspaper to feature advertising.

A) 10%
B) 20%
C) 40%
D) 60%

Question 24

One of the first presidents who recognized the political potential of the media was President:

A) Truman
B) Eisenhower
C) Wilson
D) Roosevelt

Question 25

Political events can be scripted, as demonstrated by President ____, who held mock news conferences to prepare for them.

A) Kennedy
B) Johnson
C) Bush
D) Reagan

Question 26

Political scientist Thomas Patterson points out that political candidates have become ____ in the media as a result of reporters' actions.

A) overly publicized
B) covertly covered
C) nonentities
D) voiceless

Question 27

Politicians are aware of the impact media has and now work closely with the media by:

A) Informing them of newsworthy events
B) Holding special media-only events
C) Offering to buy them luxury items
D) Attending even the unseemliest media event

Question 28

President Bush used the media to send a rather undiplomatic warning to:

A) Congress
B) State legislatures
C) The United Nations
D) The prime minister of Iraq

Question 29

Priming refers to:

A) Making the president the prime focus of media coverage
B) Political events that are staged solely to attract media coverage
C) The power of the media to define what will be the number-one news event of the day
D) The media's capacity to isolate issues as criteria for evaluating politicians

Question 30

Prior to the 1830s, American newspapers were:

A) Widely distributed to the population at large
B) Dedicated to presenting an unbiased perspective
C) Produced to reach an elite audience
D) Generally fact-based and objective, but brief

Question 31

When the media focuses on economic performance as a measure for determining the success of a president, this is an example of:

A) Agenda-setting
B) Manipulation
C) Priming
D) Fact-checking

Question 32

Pseudo-events are events that:

A) The media stage to get the government's attention
B) Are influenced by the world of screen and stage
C) Are supposed to happen but then never do
D) Politicians stage to get the media's attention

Question 33

In the 21^st century, presidential candidates have made more use of social media, radio call-in shows, television talk programs and town meetings, and late-night television shows than in the past. These outlets are examples of:

A) Video news releases
B) The new media
C) Pseudo-events
D) Selective exposure

Question 34

The FCC might properly enforce the equal-time rule by requiring:

A) The president to give Congress a chance to respond to his State of the Union address
B) A radio station to allow only those debates with three or more candidates
C) A television network to present a civil rights story written by an African American journalist
D) A television station to give a political candidate an opportunity to present a campaign message

Question 35

The age of mass journalism in the United States began with the publication of the:

A) New York Sun
B) New York Times
C) Chicago Tribune
D) Washington Post

Question 36

The main criterion used to select news stories is guided primarily by a desire to:

A) Educate the public
B) Begin a dialogue
C) Inculcate the audience with a particular point of view
D) Keep an audience interested

Question 37

The era of popular journalism-when newspapers were first published for the public at large-began in the United States:

A) In the 1830s, with the penny press
B) About fifty years ago, with the New York Times
C) About a century ago, with the Hearst and Pulitzer papers
D) During the Great Depression, under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's influence

Question 38

The erosion of network dominance is due to the growth of:

A) Private sector ownership
B) Public television stations
C) Media enhancements
D) Cable television

Question 39

The first radio station to begin regularly scheduled broadcasting in the 1920s was located in:

A) New York
B) Pittsburgh
C) Chicago
D) Los Angeles

Question 40

Frustrations concerning White House relations with the media increase throughout a president's term, because as the term progresses:

A) There are fewer things to report about
B) Television coverage becomes more negative
C) The media become less interested in the presidency
D) Print media are generally co-opted by the press secretary

Question 41

The government regulates control over print media in the areas of:

A) Slander and libel
B) Obscenity and libel
C) Truth in advertising and obscenity
D) Vulgarity and print advertising

Question 42

The mass media in the United States are:

A) Not subject to any regulations or requirements
B) Freer of regulation than media in any other nation
C) Subject to the same regulations in place in all countries
D) More regulated than the media in most other Western democracies

Question 43

The media do not seem to cover Congress as closely as they do the White House because Congress:

A) Is more liberal than the president
B) Has no single leader on which the media can focus
C) Is secretive and unwilling to be interviewed
D) Is so open and easy to reach that there is no challenge

Question 44

The media has less impact on people's attitudes when:

A) They do not have a good attitude about the media
B) Their attention is focused elsewhere
C) They are very knowledgeable about events and issues
D) They pay attention to only those stories that interest them

Question 45

The media have their greatest effect on political opinion on subjects:

A) With which the public has little experience
B) About which liberals can demonstrate their feelings
C) About which most people have conservative opinions
D) About which the public is highly emotional

Question 46

The myth of media manipulation says that:

A) The government's policies are formed by the press.
B) The government regulates the values of the print media.
C) Public opinion governs the political programming in the broadcast media.
D) The public's political opinions are controlled by the press, radio, and television.

Question 47

The publication of sensationalized news in the late nineteenth century is referred to as:

A) Broadcast journalism
B) Yellow journalism
C) The penny press
D) Rank partisanship

Question 48

The strategy of going public involves the White House circumventing:

A) The national media
B) The courts
C) Congress
D) Interest groups

Question 49

The relationship between the media and government is one that balances conflict and:

A) Competition
B) Dependence
C) Indifference
D) Imitation

Question 50

The standards used by journalists to report the news often:

A) Reflect their own beliefs
B) Are in contrast to what they really perceive
C) Give an advantage to those people they are trying to discredit
D) Work to the advantage of officials who use the media for promotion

Question 51

The term penny press refers to:

A) The late-nineteenth-century sensational journalism responsible for the Spanish-American War
B) The news handouts and briefings given daily at the White House for the media
C) The scandalous weekly pulp newspapers now available in the supermarket
D) The first generation of American newspapers with mass appeal

Question 52

The text suggests that yellow journalism:

A) Was eliminated by the rise of the New York Times
B) Was rejected by the general public and forsaken by editors
C) Has continued to dominate the nation's newspapers
D) Eventually became less mainstream

Question 53

There are over ____radio stations in the United States.

A) 3,000
B) 14,000
C) 11,000
D) 9,000

Question 54

To say that the media's influence has increased the horse-race nature of political campaigns means that:

A) Many more candidates are now entering political races
B) The public is now betting on the outcome of political elections
C) Debate over political issues has become intense and competitive
D) Who is ahead in a political race is more important news than the issues being discussed

Question 55

Video news releases (VNRs) are what:

A) Candidates use to get good local television coverage
B) The media use to distort the president's policies
C) The president's press secretary uses to control news conferences
D) The FCC uses to control the horse-race coverage of political campaigns

Question 56

What effect does selective exposure have on the media's manipulation of public opinion?

A) It increases manipulation because people are exposed to the worst news
B) It increases manipulation because the media select those stories that will be most likely to draw in viewers
C) It limits manipulation because people accept what they already agree with
D) It limits manipulation because the media don't expose all of the facts

Question 57

What importance did political news have in the early days of radio and television broadcasting?

A) News was the largest part of their programming activity
B) News was of great importance to their popularity and profits
C) News was of minor importance, behind entertainment and advertising
D) Despite economic losses, radio and television promoted news coverage

Question 58

What two prominent figures are credited with creating yellow journalism?

A) Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein
B) Samuel L. Clemens and William Randolph Hearst
C) Joseph Pulitzer and Jack Anderson
D) Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst

Question 59

When existing beliefs influence the way people interpret what they see, that process is known as:

A) Cognitive dissonance
B) Cue theory
C) Framing
D) Selective perception

Question 60

Which of the following does NOT explain reporters' reliance on interviews?

A) Interviews help personalize the news.
B) Interviews provide a dramatic element to a story by increasing the sense of conflict between adversaries.
C) Interviews preserve the appearance of objectivity on the part of the reporter.
D) Interviews give the media a chance to present unknown people.

Question 61

Which of the following most accurately describes the trend in ownership and control of the modern American media?

A) Concentration of influence in the hands of a few people
B) A decreasing role of chains and networks
C) Increasing competition
D) Uncontrolled expansion of outlets

Question 62

The example used in the text to explain the myth of media manipulation is:

A) Campaign advertising
B) The War of the Worlds
C) Watergate
D) The invasion of Iraq

Question 63

According to the myth of media manipulation:

A) The media has significant power to change the minds of politicians
B) Others are more likely to be susceptible to manipulation than we are
C) The press is controlled by politicians trying to further their agendas
D) The media chooses stories based upon the desires of their advertisers

Question 64

According to the text, there are nearly ____ websites.

A) 100 million
B) 250 million
C) 650 million
D) 1.1 billion

Question 65

In the early days of the press, many newspapers:

A) Were targeted at the general public
B) Acted as the voice of political parties
C) Were published daily
D) Ignored politics altogether

Question 66

Which of the following would be a good example of yellow journalism?

A) A story about the budget
B) An editorial attacking the president's State of the Union address
C) A story about a member of Congress allegedly having an affair with a staff member
D) An investigative story exposing corruption in bidding processes at the Department of Defense

Question 67

Which newspaper first brought objectivity to news coverage?

A) The Washington Post
B) The Dallas Morning News
C) The Boston Globe
D) The New York Times

Question 68

Before 1928, most radio stations were:

A) Focused on political news
B) Nonprofits focused on educating the public
C) Focused on talk radio and entertainment
D) Owned by newspaper owners

Question 69

The first radio network to focus on news coverage was:

A) ABC
B) CNN
C) NBC
D) CBS

Question 70

Why did television corporations begin to add news coverage to their programming after 1960?

A) The Federal Communications Commission mandated it
B) The Kennedy-Nixon debate showed viewers would watch news
C) The Quiz Show scandals created holes in the programming that needed to be filled
D) Advertisers demanded it

Question 71

According to the text, the most common source of news on social media is:

A) LinkedIn
B) Reddit
C) Facebook
D) Twitter

Question 72

According to the text, about ___ of adults use Facebook.

A) 10%
B) 30%
C) 40%
D) 60%

Question 73

About ____ of all newspapers are owned by one of the major chains.

A) 40%
B) 60%
C) 80%
D) 95%

Question 74

Roughly ____ of all U.S. cities have more than one newspaper.

A) 2%
B) 5%
C) 10%
D) 15%

Question 75

During a thirty-minute network news program, you will see approximately ____ minutes of news coverage.

A) thirty
B) twenty-five
C) eighteen
D) fifteen

Question 76

A story about political leaders who normally disagree working together privately on a major piece of legislation best meets the _____ criterion for newsworthiness.

A) novelty
B) scandal
C) violence
D) people to Interview

Question 77

Most social science research shows that the people are _____ to change their established beliefs based on what they see on the news.

A) very likely
B) somewhat likely
C) selectively likely
D) unlikely

Question 78

In general, viewers of partisan news:

A) Are likely to seek out news sources that express values they already hold
B) Turn to a wide variety of news sources to gain a breadth of knowledge
C) Have been shown to have a significant impact on informed voters
D) Are less likely to vote than viewers of nonpartisan news

Question 79

"News seekers" are:

A) Reporters who chase political stories
B) Individuals who gravitate to partisan news programming
C) Individuals who obsessively follow political news on the Internet
D) Political pundits who host cable news talk shows

Question 80

According to the text, the most- AND least-trusted television news source is:

A) PBS
B) MSNBC
C) Comedy Central
D) Fox