Deck 6: The Media

Question 1

Which of the following statements best characterizes media ownership in the United States?

A)Most of the country's television networks,movie studios,record companies,cable channels,book publishers,magazines,newspapers,and digital media sites are owned and operated by the federal government.
B)Most of the country's television networks,movie studios,record companies,cable channels,book publishers,magazines,newspapers,and digital media sites are owned and operated by state governments.
C)A small number of giant,privately owned corporations control most of the country's television networks,movie studios,record companies,cable channels,book publishers,magazines,newspapers,and digital media sites.
D)A large number of small,privately owned corporations control most of the country's television networks,movie studios,record companies,cable channels,book publishers,magazines,newspapers,and digital media sites.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following statements best characterizes the traditional news media's relationship to objectivity?

A)Given that completely objective reporting is unattainable because people inevitably have biases that shape their understanding of events,journalists do not attempt to be objective and instead report only one side of a story.
B)While completely objective reporting is unattainable because people inevitably have biases that shape their understanding of events,journalists attempt to be objective by reporting both sides of a story.
C)Journalists are trained to be objective in their reporting,so their personal biases rarely matter and their coverage of events almost always succeeds in objectively presenting both sides of a story.
D)The Federal Communications Commission requires that all journalists sign a "pledge of objectivity" before being employed at a media company.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The trend in concentration of traditional media ownership occurred in large part due to

A)the relaxation of government regulations in the 1980s and 1990s.
B)government regulations enacted in the 1970s that required small media companies to
Sell their holdings to larger corporations.
C)the Supreme Court's decision in Red Lion Broadcasting Company v.Federal Communications Commission.
D)the federal government's decision to end the fairness doctrine in 1968.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is a good example of a media monopoly?

A)the New York Times
B)ESPN
C)Fox News
D)Disney

Question 5

Large media conglomerates,such as the Hearst,McClatchy,and Gannett corporations,
Own approximately ________ percent of daily newspapers.

A)25
B)40
C)55
D)75

Question 6

The traditional news media aims to provide objective reporting on current events by

A)excluding the personal views of reporters or editors from their coverage.
B)including the personal views of reporters and editors in their coverage.
C)quoting only official government sources in their coverage.
D)quoting only nongovernment sources in their coverage.

Question 7

Public broadcasting in the United States

A)accounts for a much larger share of the media market than in other Western democracies,such as France,Germany,and Denmark.
B)accounts for a much smaller share of the media market than in other Western democracies,such as France,Germany,and Denmark.
C)accounts for a roughly the same share of the media market as in other Western democracies,such as France,Germany,and Denmark.
D)is illegal under the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Question 8

Privately owned media companies in the United States earn most of their revenue from

A)advertising.
B)subscriptions.
C)government grants.
D)charitable donations.

Question 9

Digital subscription models in which people pay to access news content have

A)proven to be a profitable approach for many smaller or mid-sized local newspapers but not for elite,national newspapers.
B)proven to be a profitable approach for many elite,national newspapers but not for smaller or mid-sized local newspapers.
C)proven to be a profitable approach for all newspapers,regardless of their size and focus.
D)proven to be a failure for all newspapers,regardless of their size and focus.

Question 10

During the last decade,the number of newspaper journalists working in the United States has

A)grown by more than 40 percent.
B)decreased by 40 percent.
C)decreased by 100 percent.
D)remained constant.

Question 11

The media are sometimes referred to as the "fourth branch of government" because

A)they receive a number of subsidies paid for through tax revenue.
B)they could not do their job without cooperation from the executive,legislative,
And judicial branches.
C)they are explicitly discussed in Article IV of the Constitution.
D)they provide a check on the power of government and political leaders.

Question 12

All the following are important roles for the media in American democracy EXCEPT

A)helping inform the public about current political issues and events.
B)providing a forum in which candidates,politicians,and even the public can debate policies and issues.
C)enabling privately owned companies to advertise their products to the public.
D)serving as a watchdog on the actions of politicians and other political actors.

Question 13

In the United States,freedom of the press is protected by

A)Article I of the Constitution.
B)the Declaration of Independence.
C)the First Amendment of the Constitution.
D)the Freedom of the Press Act of 1790.

Question 14

The practice of training reporters to produce a standardized,seemingly neutral news product
Was the result of

A)strikes and boycotts by journalists and newspaper readers during the early 1900s.
B)the newspaper industry's realization that the best way to make a profit was to not alienate potential readers who held liberal or conservative political views.
C)federal government regulations that made blatant instances of media bias illegal.
D)state government regulations that made blatant instances of media bias illegal.

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of a media outlet that receives funding from the government?

A)the New York Times
B)the American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
C)the National Broadcasting Network (NBC)
D)National Public Radio (NPR)

Question 16

During the 2016 campaign,Hillary Clinton received

A)double the amount of media coverage as Donald Trump.
B)half the amount of media coverage as Donald Trump.
C)1/10th the amount of media coverage as Donald Trump.
D)roughly the same amount of media coverage as Donald Trump.

Question 17

Which of the following stories would an American news outlet that relies primarily on advertising revenue be LEAST likely to cover?

A)a celebrity wedding
B)a sex scandal involving a high-ranking government official
C)an economics professor providing testimony to a congressional committee on the effect of tariffs
D)an attack advertisement from a presidential candidate that accuses her opponent of racially insensitive remarks

Question 18

The fact that a decreasing number of companies owns an increasingly large share of the
American media is a concern primarily because

A)it limits the ability of all news organizations to remain profitable.
B)it violates the First Amendment to the Constitution.
C)it increases the risk that politicians and citizens who express less popular or minority viewpoints will have difficulty finding a public forum.
D)it increases the risk of government censorship.

Question 19

"Public broadcasting" refers to any television,radio,and digital media that

A)receive funding from the public through license fees,subsidies,or tax dollars.
B)report extensively on government officials and political issues.
C)sell subscriptions to members of the public.
D)make their content available to the public at no cost.

Question 20

If a number of newspapers published stories exposing an elected official's acceptance of
Monetary bribes from a corporation in exchange for passing a particular law,it would be an
Example of the media serving in their role as

A)a first branch.
B)a first estate.
C)a watchdog.
D)a judge and jury.

Question 21

Which of the following statements best describes where younger and older Americans get their news?

A)Social media tend to be a secondary news source after television for most Americans,but a primary news source for the young.
B)Social media tend to be a primary news source after television for most Americans,but a secondary news source for the young.
C)Social media have become the primary news source for Americans of all ages.
D)Despite an increase in the number of people who get their news through social media,newspapers remain the primary news source for Americans of all ages.

Question 22

The fact that only 63 percent of high school graduates have broadband internet access at
Home while almost 90 percent of college graduates do is an example of

A)the "filter bubble."
B)"collegiate privilege."
C)the "digital divide."
D)the "education dividend."

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT a reason why many Americans appear to prefer online news?

A)the accuracy and objectivity compared to traditional media outlets
B)the depth of the information available online
C)the up-to-the-moment currency of the information available online
D)the convenience of getting news online

Question 24

A website devoted entirely to reporting on climate change and other environmental issues would
Be an example of ________ journalism.

A)protest
B)adversarial
C)niche
D)nonprofit

Question 25

News produced by individuals and organizations who are not employed as professional journalists
Is called

A)advocacy journalism.
B)adversarial journalism.
C)citizen journalism.
D)fake news.

Question 26

________ is the power the media have to shape what issues Americans think about and
________ is the power the media have to influence how Americans think about those issues.

A)Agenda-setting; framing
B)Framing; agenda-setting
C)Framing; priming
D)Priming; framing

Question 27

Social media usage tends to

A)have very little impact on politics because most people already have strong political opinions that cannot be shaped by news events.
B)influence the opinions of older Americans only because younger Americans are more skeptical of the information found on social media.
C)exaggerate partisan polarization among the mass public because people pick their own friend networks and can avoid disagreeable ideas.
D)minimize partisan polarization among members of the mass public because people are exposed to new ideas and sources of information.

Question 28

If public concern and interest in data security issues increased after a number of television
And newspaper stories about "hacking," it would be an example of the media's

A)agenda-setting power.
B)framing power.
C)priming power.
D)indexing power.

Question 29

Despite its widespread availability,________ typically report(s)on the narrowest range of
Topics and provide(s)the least depth of news coverage.

A)radio
B)television
C)the internet
D)newspapers

Question 30

It is estimated that over ________ percent of Americans have a television.

A)50
B)66
C)75
D)95

Question 31

Journalists exhibit selection biases in favor of news stories they view as

A)favorable to leaders and issues they support.
B)having a great deal of dramatic or entertainment value.
C)sympathetic to the government as a whole.
D)critical of leaders and issues they oppose.

Question 32

"Filter bubbles" appear when

A)news aggregation sites include content from a wide variety of sources and give no preference to American media organizations.
B)search engines automatically screen out information that might challenge or broaden a person's worldview.
C)journalists choose to cover only those stories that are acceptable to advertisers.
D)people intentionally expose themselves to perspectives that challenge what they already believe to be true about the political world.

Question 33

The term "fake news" is most accurately characterized as

A)news stories that criticize only one political party or candidate.
B)false news stories circulated to generate ad revenue or to benefit one political candidate or party over another.
C)news stories that reference anonymous sources.
D)news stories that are published on blogs or social media platforms.

Question 34

Individuals with home high-speed internet access and the technology and literacy skills to use
It are called

A)pro-sumers.
B)digital citizens.
C)news aggregators.
D)online natives.

Question 35

Google News,Reddit and Real Clear Politics are good examples of

A)nonprofit journalism.
B)the penny press.
C)news aggregators.
D)niche journalism.

Question 36

Which of the following news sources reaches the MOST Americans?

A)radio
B)television
C)the internet
D)newspapers

Question 37

The number of radio stations in the United States has grown from ________ in 1990 to more
Than ________ today.

A)100; 250
B)200; 300
C)300; 1,000
D)400; 2,000

Question 38

Priming refers to the

A)bias that news organizations show toward covering dramatic and entertaining stories.
B)process of preparing the public to bring specific criteria to mind when evaluating a politician or issue.
C)tendency that people have to seek out news sources that confirm their prior beliefs about politics.
D)fact that many important news stories go uncovered by the mainstream media.

Question 39

A widely circulated story during the 2016 presidential election stating that the Pope had endorsed Donald Trump for president was a good example of

A)fake news.
B)adversarial journalism.
C)yellow journalism.
D)nonprofit journalism.

Question 40

What is niche journalism?

A)news reporting targeted for a demographic of readers based on content or
Ideological presentation
B)journalism that is uncritical of government officials and the status quo
C)journalism that is highly critical of government officials and the status quo
D)any political reporting that can only be found online

Question 41

The fact that journalists referred to the Obama administration's health care initiative as
"reform" instead of as "health care rationing" is an example of

A)agenda-setting.
B)framing.
C)sound bites.
D)adversarial journalism.

Question 42

In the Pentagon Papers case,the Supreme Court ruled that

A)President Nixon did not commit an impeachable offense.
B)President Nixon would be impeached.
C)the government could not block the release of the papers.
D)the government could block the release of any documents that were illegally
Leaked to the press.

Question 43

The Pentagon Papers were released as a result of

A)President Nixon's repudiation of the Johnson administration's strategy in Vietnam.
B)investigations led by Washington Post reporters in 1972.
C)a leak by a minor Defense Department staffer.
D)a Freedom of Information Act request by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Question 44

In 1987,the federal government stopped enforcing the ________,arguing that it was no longer necessary due to the increasing number of television and radio stations.

A)fairness doctrine
B)right of rebuttal
C)equal time rule
D)Communications Decency Act

Question 45

The Communications Decency Act was struck down by the Supreme Court because it
Violated the

A)First Amendment right to freedom of speech.
B)equal time rule of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
C)right of rebuttal of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
D)Fourteenth Amendment due process clause.

Question 46

The fairness doctrine required that

A)all network news reports be balanced and fair-minded or they would be labeled editorials.
B)broadcasters who aired controversial issues provide time for opposing viewpoints.
C)all regulated newspapers establish a section of the editorial page for letters from readers.
D)all broadcasters provide candidates for the same political office with equal opportunities to communicate their messages to the public.

Question 47

Low-level officials who hope to publicize what they view as their bosses' or the government's improper activities are usually called

A)"bell ringers."
B)"whistle-blowers."
C)"adversarial journalists."
D)"watchdogs."

Question 48

The frequent reporting on the federal investigation by Robert Mueller regarding whether
Anyone close to Trump participated in Russia's 2016 election interference is an example of the
Media's commitment to

A)adversarial journalism.
B)yellow journalism.
C)niche journalism.
D)fake news.

Question 49

If a television station sold commercial time to a Republican candidate for governor but refused
To sell time to the Democratic candidate for governor,this station would be in violation of the

A)Telecommunications Act of 1996.
B)fairness doctrine.
C)equal time rule.
D)Communications Decency Act.

Question 50

The ________ provides candidates for the same political office equal opportunities to
Communicate their messages.

A)equal time rule
B)Fairness Doctrine
C)Diversity in Media Doctrine
D)Communications Decency Act

Question 51

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the government and the media
In the United States today?

A)The government controls most media content through regulations and tightly controlled press briefings.
B)The government owns,but does not control,the major sources of media.
C)The government does not own but regulates the content and ownership of broadcast media.
D)The government heavily regulates print media but imposes no regulations on radio and television broadcasts.

Question 52

In Red Lion Broadcasting Company v.Federal Communications Commission (1969),the
Supreme Court upheld the

A)fairness doctrine.
B)right of rebuttal.
C)equal time rule.
D)framing doctrine.

Question 53

Edward Snowden is most known for

A)creating and maintain the WikiLeaks site.
B)leaking the Pentagon Papers to the press.
C)leaking the material that revealed widespread global surveillance programs by the
U)S.government and major telecommunication companies.
D)leaking information about the Iraq War to the press while serving as Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff.

Question 54

The BBC in Britain is owned by

A)the government but allowed to report whatever it wants.
B)a private corporation but not allowed to report anything without first receiving government approval.
C)the government and not allowed to report anything without first receiving government approval.
D)a private corporation and allowed to report whatever it wants.

Question 55

Which of the following requires an FCC license in order to legally broadcast in the United States?

A)newspapers
B)magazines
C)internet websites
D)over-the-air television stations

Question 56

Reporting in which the media adopt a skeptical or even hostile posture toward the government
And public officials is referred to as

A)adversarial journalism.
B)yellow journalism.
C)niche journalism.
D)"fake news."

Question 57

Which media source is regulated by the federal government?

A)newspapers
B)television
C)magazines
D)the internet

Question 58

The Communications Decency Act

A)made it illegal to make "indecent" sexual material on the internet accessible to those under age 18.
B)made it illegal to broadcast explicit sexual and excretory references between 6 A.M.
And 10 P.M.on the radio and on television.
C)imposed a tax on all websites containing obscene material.
D)required that individuals be given the opportunity to respond to personal attacks broadcast on radio and television.

Question 59

In recent years,________ has released thousands of secret government documents
Exposing government corruption,torture,and war crimes.

A)the New York Times
B)the Washington Post
C)WikiLeaks
D)Lewis "Scooter" Libby

Question 60

Which agency regulates broadcast media?

A)Federal Bureau of Investigation
B)Federal Communications Commission
C)Public Broadcast System
D)Department of Commerce

Question 61

Newspapers,television,and radio are the three most important nondigital sources of information for Americans attempting to learn about politics.Write an essay that evaluates these three news sources in contemporary American politics.What are some of the distinct characteristics of each medium? How do the sources differ from each other in terms of the ways in which they disseminate news as well as the audiences they reach?

Question 62

Digital media have revolutionized the way Americans get their news.Discuss the requirements of digital citizenship and how these requirements produce the so-called digital divide.In addition,weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the internet as a tool for Americans to learn about politics.

Question 63

The 1996 Telecommunications Act was important because

A)it ended the federal government's licensing of radio and television stations.
B)it established the fairness doctrine.
C)it allowed for less concentration of media ownership than had been possible since regulation of the industry began in 1934.
D)it allowed for a greater concentration of media ownership than had been possible
Since regulation of the industry began in 1934.

Question 64

The First Amendment assigns a special place for the media by protecting freedom of speech and freedom of the press.What are the three primary roles that the media should serve in a democratic society? What are some of the challenges the American media face in fulfilling these roles? In your answer,be sure to address the impact of the profit motive in American media coverage,and the country's unique system of media ownership.

Question 65

Although the First Amendment protects freedom of the press,the federal government has passed many laws regarding media communications.Discuss the differences in how the federal government regulates different kinds of media.In your answer,be sure to discuss the 1996 Telecommunications Act,the Communications Decency Act and at least three regulations that grew out of the FCC's licensing power.

Question 66

Which statement about the FCC is correct?

A)The FCC was established in 1949 by President Harry Truman.
B)The FCC licenses radio stations but not television stations.
C)The FCC licenses television stations but not radio stations.
D)The FCC does not regulate newspapers.

Question 67

The content and character of news programming can have far-reaching political consequences.Discuss three kinds of media effects and give a detailed example of each.Is there any bias in the kind of issues media chooses to report? Explain.

Question 68

If a radio station aired a personal attack against a candidate but refused to allow the same candidate the opportunity to respond to that attack on its station,the station would be in violation of the

A)Telecommunications Act of 1996.
B)fairness doctrine.
C)right of rebuttal.
D)Communications Decency Act.