Question 1

The study of the power of the news media in shaping individuals' political knowledge, preferences, and political behavior is called the ______.

Accepted Answer

The study of the power of the news media in shaping individuals' political knowledge, preferences, and political behavior is called the media effect. The other options (horse race phenomenon, "feeding frenzy" and partisan bias) refer to specific aspects or phenomena concerning the media and politics, but do not encompass the overall study of media's impact on individuals in politics.

Question 2

A perennial critique of the American news media is that it demonstrates a ______ partisan bias.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A perennial critique of the American news...

Question 3

The shaping of content and focus of news based on the desire to capture the market of news consumers is called ______.

Accepted Answer

Commercial bias refers to the way in which the content and focus of news is shaped by the desire to capture the market of news consumers and generate profits for media organizations. This can lead to a prioritization of entertainment and sensationalism over quality journalism, and a bias towards stories that will generate high ratings or clicks, rather than what is most important or informative for the public. Partisan bias refers to a preference for reporting news in a way that is consistent with a particular political ideology or party. Horse race phenomenon refers to the tendency of news organizations to focus on the strategies and tactics of political campaigns, rather than their substantive policy proposals. Reporter bias refers to the influence of a reporter's personal beliefs, opinions, or background on their reporting.

Question 4

One of the most important developments in the internet age has been the rise of ______ media like Facebook.

Accepted Answer

Social media such as Facebook have had a significant impact on the way people communicate and share information online, making it the best choice. Broadband refers to a type of internet connection, self-published is more about content creation, and citizen-created media is a broader term that can include social media but also encompasses other types of user-generated content.

Question 5

By allowing or restricting access by journalists, candidates and politicians can strategically put a ______ on a story to benefit themselves.

Accepted Answer

The term "spin" refers to the way in which information or events are presented to the public in a particular light, often in a way that benefits a specific agenda or viewpoint. By controlling access to journalists, candidates and politicians can strategically spin a story to their advantage. The other answer choices are not as commonly used to describe this tactic.

Question 6

The intentional use of the media to support a political party or presentation of material that the news agency knows to be untrue or unverified could be referred to as ______ news.

Accepted Answer

The intentional presentation of material that the news agency knows to be untrue or unverified is commonly referred to as "fake news."

Question 7

Which of the following has often been a focus of government regulation regarding the media?

Accepted Answer

Government regulation often focuses on media content to ensure it adheres to standards of decency, accuracy, and fairness, and to prevent the spread of harmful or misleading information.

Question 8

Watching political comedy shows such as The Daily Show may decrease individuals' support for and engagement with ______.

Accepted Answer

Political comedy shows often criticize political institutions and politicians, which could lead individuals to view them in a negative light and become less engaged or supportive of them.

Question 9

Stories that focus on celebrity and personality rather than underlying issues are known as ______.

Accepted Answer

Soft news refers to stories that are entertaining and focused on celebrity and personalities rather than serious, underlying issues.

Question 10

Coverage of political campaigns that focuses more on the drama of the campaign than on policy issues is known as the ______.

Accepted Answer

The horse race phenomenon refers to the tendency of media coverage of political campaigns to focus on the drama of the campaigns, such as poll numbers and candidate strategies, rather than on policy issues.

Question 11

Although journalists are more likely to self-identify as liberal compared to the general public, they are expected to operate under the professional expectations that reward ______.

Accepted Answer

Journalistic ethics prioritize objectivity and impartiality in reporting. While journalists may have personal political beliefs, they are expected to set those aside in their reporting and provide balanced coverage. Therefore, the correct answer is B) objectivity. The other choices, A) subjectivity, C) political bias, and D) conservatives, are not in line with the professional expectations of journalism.

Question 12

The political goal of a politician who wishes to control the media is to ______.

Accepted Answer

By controlling the media, a politician can focus on one message per news cycle day, ensuring that their message is the primary one heard by the public. This allows them to shape the narrative around their campaign and control the political conversation.

Question 13

The blurring of the lines between providing information and entertaining audiences when covering events is known as ______.

Accepted Answer

The blurring of the lines between providing information and entertaining audiences when covering events is known as infotainment.

Question 14

When reporters are assigned to specific types of news, policies, or events this is known as ______.

Accepted Answer

The beat system refers to the practice of assigning reporters to cover specific topics such as politics, crime, or sports. This allows reporters to develop expertise in their field and build relationships with sources.

Question 15

With technological revolutions in the 20th century, demands for regulation came from ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of With technological revolutions in the 20th century,...

Question 16

Government effort to control the media has oftentimes focused on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Government efforts to control the media typically focus on media ownership, as controlling who owns media outlets can give the government greater influence over what is reported and how it is reported. Restrictions on media ownership can limit the number of voices and perspectives being presented to the public, therefore giving the government or dominant groups more control over public discourse.

Question 17

When some news outlets pursue inflammatory and sensational coverage to secure the niche marketplace while other news outlets may avoid coverage so as not to upset their audience, this is referred to as ______.

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes commercial bias, which occurs when news outlets prioritize content that will attract and retain a particular audience, rather than focusing on providing unbiased and informative coverage.

Question 18

Whether true or not, scandals often crowd out discussions of policy. This is a pattern that political scientist Larry Sabato has called a ______.

Accepted Answer

Larry Sabato has called the pattern of scandals crowding out policy discussions a "feeding frenzy."

Question 19

Efforts to regulate the media have focused primarily on what two things?

Accepted Answer

Efforts to regulate the media have focused primarily on media ownership, to prevent a monopolization of the market and ensure diverse voices, as well as media content, to ensure accuracy, fairness, and responsible reporting. While issues of celebrity and bias may contribute to discussions on regulation, they are not the primary focus of such efforts.

Question 20

Soft news can act to engage individuals with ______ issues.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Soft news can act to engage individuals...

Quiz 6: The Media: Truth, Power, and American Democracy