Question 1

The increase in coverage of scandals and controversies is all part of the rise of what?

Accepted Answer

The increase in coverage of scandals and controversies is known as attack journalism, where the focus is on exposing and criticizing public figures and institutions.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a key characteristic of most modern American media?

Accepted Answer

Hard news is a key characteristic of most modern American media. Attack journalism, soft news, horse race coverage, and competition in the marketplace are all commonly seen in modern American media.

Question 3

The most noticeable media trend in the past two decades has been the sudden expansion of the Internet. How does the information on the Internet differ from that available from traditional print and broadcast sources? What are the benefits and drawbacks to obtaining political information on the Internet?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The most noticeable media trend in the...

Question 4

Explain how Americans learn from the media. Discuss the by-product theory of information transmission and how it applies to patterns of media usage by Americans.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain how Americans learn from the media....

Question 5

Which one of the following is NOT a criticism of the media's contribution to American democracy?

Accepted Answer

The criticism that the media focuses too much on hard news is not commonly made. Rather, the criticism is often that there is too much focus on soft news and sensational coverage, as well as horse race coverage and attack journalism.

Question 6

Describe how the number and variety of media outlets has changed from colonial times to modern America. What were the main factors in producing these changes? What are the positive and negative outcomes of the changes?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how the number and variety of...

Question 7

When the media focus on the relative standing of candidates rather than their policy proposals, they are engaged in:

Accepted Answer

Horse race coverage refers to the media's focus on the competition between candidates, rather than on their policy proposals. It can include reporting on poll numbers, fundraising totals, and other metrics that gauge a candidate's perceived momentum in a given race.

Question 8

The fact that politicians and bureaucrats work hard to get news coverage that is in line with their preferred policy outcomes suggests:

Accepted Answer

The fact that politicians and bureaucrats work hard to get news coverage that is in line with their preferred policy outcomes implies that they believe media coverage has an impact on public policy. Therefore, choice D is the best answer as it suggests a link between media coverage and public policy.

Question 9

What do surveys reveal about the public's perception of media bias?

Accepted Answer

Surveys consistently show that Democrats believe the media are biased toward conservatives, while Republicans believe the media are biased toward liberals. This suggests that perceptions of media bias are often determined by one's ideological perspective.

Question 10

Why do the media focus so much of their coverage on stories that include conflict and controversy? Drawing on what you know about the types of stories the media report (for example, horse race stories and attack journalism), discuss the affect this has on the relationship between news coverage, the public's response, and government policy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why do the media focus so much...

Question 11

Which of the following terms describes a situation in which the media influences the types of issues that people pay attention to?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following terms describes a...

Question 12

What is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)? What are its primary responsibilities? How has its attitude toward the media changed over time? What do you think of these changes? Are they good for American democracy or not? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)?...

Question 13

Drawing on the discussion in your text, explain the ways that media sources can differ from each other. What are the advantages and disadvantages of getting your news from newspapers, radio, television, and the Internet? Which do you believe provides the best news coverage and what is your definition of "best" in that case?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Drawing on the discussion in your text,...

Question 14

How do the media influence people? What are the differences between slant, framing, priming, and filtering effects? Give an example of two.

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do the media influence people? What...

Question 15

Perhaps the most controversial decision by the Federal Communications Commission in recent years has been to engage in deregulation. What is deregulation and what are the two sides in the debate? Which side do you support and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Perhaps the most controversial decision by the...

Question 16

Which of the following terms describes a situation in which people's opinions change as a consequence of the details, explanations, and context mentioned in press stories?

Accepted Answer

The framing effect refers to the way in which people's attitudes and reactions towards a particular issue or event can be influenced by the way it is presented in the media. This includes the language used, the context provided, and the overall tone of the report. The framing effect can change people's opinions as they are exposed to different viewpoints and perspectives, and it can also affect how they interpret and respond to the information provided.

Question 17

Take a major media story of the past four years. Explain how coverage of that story might differ depending on the source (newspaper, TV, radio, Internet, and so on). Use that media story to explain how the media engage in any two of the following media effects: slant, framing, priming, and filtering.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Take a major media story of the...

Question 18

When editors and reporters decide which issues to cover and which to ignore, they are engaging in the:

Accepted Answer

The filtering effect refers to the process by which editors and reporters select and prioritize certain issues over others, and decide which stories to cover and which to ignore. This can be influenced by a variety of factors, including news values, resource constraints, and editorial biases.

Question 19

Research about media bias shows that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research about media bias shows that:
...

Question 20

Which of the following is a reason why media coverage falls short of our expectations?

Accepted Answer

Competition between media outlets for audience attention often leads to sensationalized or oversimplified coverage of complex issues in an effort to attract more viewers or readers. This can result in a lack of depth and nuance in media coverage, which may not meet our expectations for informative and insightful reporting.

Quiz 7: The Media