Deck 11: Police and the Media

Question 1

In the chapter, the authors describe the relationship between the police and media as ______.

A) distinct, but harmonious
B) fraught, but mutually beneficial
C) cooperative and chaotic
D) intertwined and positive

Answer 1

B

Question 2

In the context of the chapter, who is most equipped to push a sensational narrative, such as a police shooting, to the forefront of the public's attention?

A) police officers and unions
B) journalists and reporters
C) vloggers and activists
D) educators and social workers

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following statements best explains the relationship between the media and the police?

A) Both like each other, but don't need each other.
B) Both like each other, and both need each other.
C) Neither like each other, and neither need each other.
D) Neither like each other, but both need each other.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The public perception of law enforcement is mostly derived from which of the following?

A) direct knowledge
B) what the public read, hear, and see in the media
C) experiences of family and friends
D) political culture

Question 5

Which theory argues that people develop knowledge, perceptions, and beliefs of reality through interaction and that the media plays a large role in facilitating those interactions?

A) biological determinism
B) structural functionalism
C) symbolic interactionism
D) social constructionism

Question 6

In the chapter, social construction is compared to ______.

A) functionalism
B) biological determinism
C) direct experience
D) symbolic interactionism

Question 7

Which of the following is considered to be the most featured component of the justice system in entertainment media?

A) law enforcement
B) corrections
C) crime legislation
D) courts

Question 8

According to the authors, most people have direct experience or contact with police in which setting?

A) after committing a traffic violation
B) in the community
C) during a criminal investigation
D) in courtroom

Question 9

Most findings on the depictions of police and police work find that prime-time portrayals are most often about ______.

A) community relations
B) crime solving
C) punishment
D) crime policy

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the prime-time portrayals of police and police work in the media?

A) balanced
B) full of action
C) under dramatized
D) overwhelmingly anti-police

Question 11

According to the text, the vast majority of depictions show the police as ______.

A) law breakers and instigators
B) prejudiced and violent
C) courteous and helpful
D) crime fighters and problem solvers

Question 12

Which of the following statements pertaining to the news media is true?

A) The lines between news and entertainment are clear and distinct.
B) Most people do not rely on the news for information about crime.
C) The media is known to take responsibility for "body bag" journalism.
D) Most people assume that what they see is what is happening in the world.

Question 13

Which of the following statements pertaining to investigative journalism is true? Investigative journalists ______.

A) see themselves as patrol officers
B) are beholden to the police and not a media organization
C) believe that the public has a right to know
D) only report positive stories

Question 14

Which type of reporter goes deeper, with the goal of unearthing evidence, usually of wrongdoing?

A) columnist
B) media correspondent
C) beat
D) investigative

Question 15

Investigative reporters view themselves as ______.

A) community liaisons
B) administrators
C) detectives
D) patrol officers

Question 16

According to the authors, the link between media content and fear of crime is ______ dimensional.

A) one
B) two
C) three
D) multi

Question 17

The purpose of broadcasting real crime and crime statistics in the news is to ______.

A) inform the public
B) establish legitimacy
C) solve crimes
D) entertain and gain viewership

Question 18

Police administrators employ public information officers, who deal directly with reporters and the public in order to maintain ______.

A) organizational authority
B) police subculture
C) organizational legitimacy
D) police discretion

Question 19

Which type of media creates a venue for innovative crime ideation and methodology?

A) print media
B) social media
C) entertainment media
D) news media

Question 20

According to the authors, much of what makes the news comes from ______.

A) news reporters through television
B) the public through social media
C) broadcasters through radio
D) actors through film

Question 21

The example of the police officer in New York buying socks for a man experiencing homelessness illustrates which of the following?

A) pro-social relationships between the public and police
B) misperceptions of what police do or can do
C) sensationalization of police actions
D) promulgated and unbalanced focus on violent or bizarre crime

Question 22

Which of the following best explains the unrealistic expectations juries have about forensic evidence available in trials?

A) CSI effect
B) self-fulfilling prophecy
C) cultivation theory
D) Law and Order effect

Question 23

Which of the following is an example of a crime that can be committed by using social media?

A) arson
B) murder
C) fraud
D) assault

Question 24

Which constitutionally protected form of expression can be enhanced by social media?

A) protesting
B) blocking traffic
C) damaging property
D) looting

Question 25

Present-day mainstream media coverage focuses on the positive strides that police have made rather than the negative history of policing.

Question 26

Public perceptions about police are more about what the media choose to share and how the story is framed, than about what the police actually do.

Question 27

People's perspectives are more likely to be shaped and molded by our direct experiences, rather than our interaction with others.

Question 28

Most people have direct experience or contact with police.

Question 29

Fear of crime and fear of victimization are compounded by beliefs that police are unable to do anything about crime.

Question 30

Fear of crime has a lot to do with actual victimization.

Question 31

The fear of crime has a significant impact on quality of life issues for most people.

Question 32

People are more likely to experience actual victimization of crime than fear of crime.

Question 33

The use of social media contributes to the social construction of crime and justice.

Question 34

Law enforcement uses only the news media, rather than social media, to disseminate information to the public.

Question 35

Describe the relationship between the media and its audience. Why might some argue that media coverage of the police does not reflect reality?

Question 36

Explain the theory of social constructionism. What does it argue?

Question 37

Explain why the link between media content and fear of crime is multidimensional.

Question 38

Explain investigative reporting. What do investigative reporters believe their role is in the newsroom and for the public?

Question 39

Explain how the public uses social media. Can you think of any recent examples where the public has used social media to bring attention to issues concerning law enforcement, whether positive or negative?