Question 1

The Chicago Sun-Times running a week-long feature on voter registration and providing information about registering is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

C

Question 2

An increasing number of young people are getting their news from __________.

Accepted Answer

Recent studies have shown that a growing number of young people are turning to the internet as their primary source of news, with social media platforms also playing a significant role in the consumption of news. Newspapers, news magazines, and radio are all declining in popularity among younger generations.

Question 3

The television is on for how many hours on average in U.S.homes every day?

Accepted Answer

On average, the television is on for about 7 hours a day in U.S. homes.

Question 4

When comparing the usage of the Internet as a news source to television,newspapers,and radio,the Pew Research Center has discovered what trend over the last decade?

Accepted Answer

Internet usage as a news source has seen a continuous increase over the last decade, while traditional sources such as television, newspapers, and radio have experienced a decline in usage. This trend reflects the broader shift towards digital platforms for news consumption.

Question 5

Which of these is an example of soft news?

Accepted Answer

60 Minutes is an example of soft news because it often focuses on human interest stories, in-depth interviews, and feature segments, which are characteristic of soft news programming.

Question 6

This is the most important source of media power.

Accepted Answer

The answer of This is the most important source of...

Question 7

When a newspaper decides that education reform is a key issue,it is doing which of these?

Accepted Answer

When a newspaper decides to focus on education reform as a key issue, it is setting an agenda for the public and bringing attention to the topic. This is known as agenda setting, a common function of the media in shaping public discourse and influencing policy decisions. Newsmaking refers to the process of reporting news events, while engaging in censorship involves suppressing or limiting the flow of information. Socializing refers to the process of teaching individuals the norms and values of a particular society.

Question 8

What is narrowcasting?

Accepted Answer

Narrowcasting refers to the broadcasting of specialized content to a smaller, niche audience instead of broadcasting to a mass audience. Therefore, option B is the best choice as it closely defines the term.

Question 9

What is the main determinant of advertising revenue for newspapers?

Accepted Answer

The main determinant of advertising revenue for newspapers is their circulation. The more people that subscribe to or purchase the newspaper, the more valuable it is to advertisers who want to reach larger audiences. Prestige and quality of data presented can also be factors, but they are not as significant as circulation. The number of pages may also be a slight factor, but not as significant as circulation.

Question 10

When the New York Times decides to present schoolteachers as the good guys and politicians cutting their budgets as bad guys,it is engaging in __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When the New York Times decides to...

Question 11

According to the "Who's Getting What? The Generation Media Gap" box,people over 65 are most likely to get their news via __________ compared with younger people.

Accepted Answer

The box states that people over 65 are most likely to get their news via newspapers compared with younger people.

Question 12

When the media engage in agenda setting,they are telling us __________.

Accepted Answer

Agenda setting refers to the power of the media to influence what topics and issues the public thinks about. Therefore, the correct statement is that when the media engage in agenda setting, they are telling us what to think about. The other options (endorsing candidates, instructing how to think, and explaining why to support policies) do not fully capture the essence of agenda setting.

Question 13

Which of these do Americans choose most often as a source of news?

Accepted Answer

According to a 2020 Pew Research Center survey, 57% of Americans said they often get their news from television, followed by the Internet at 38%, radio at 25%, and newspapers at 20%.

Question 14

When it comes to television,skillful politicians understand that,historically,__________.

Accepted Answer

Skillful politicians understand that in the world of television, image is more important than substance. In other words, how they come across on screen, their presence, tone, and body language, can be just as influential, if not more so, than the actual content of what they are saying. This is because TV is a visual medium and viewers are often swayed by what they see, rather than what they hear. Politicians who understand this fact can use it to their advantage by carefully crafting their image and message for maximum impact.

Question 15

Political conflict is mostly carried out in __________.

Accepted Answer

Political conflict is often carried out in the mass media through the use of news coverage, opinion pieces, and social media. While Congress and caucuses may be venues for political conflict, these are specific institutions that may not apply to all countries or political systems. Local political debate is also a possibility, but it may not be the primary arena for national political conflict.

Question 16

Media's choices about what is news and what isn't are known as __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Media's choices about what is news and...

Question 17

When the authors of this text say that reporters "tell stories," they are referring to which of these aspects of media influence?

Accepted Answer

Reporters are responsible for interpreting events and information and presenting them in a cohesive and informative way, which is a key aspect of telling stories in journalism. Agenda setting refers to the media's power to focus public attention on particular issues, persuading refers to attempting to sway public opinion, and newsmaking refers to the media's ability to create or influence events that become newsworthy.

Question 18

Which of these best describes the Corporation for Public Broadcasting?

Accepted Answer

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is a public nonprofit organization that was created by Congress in 1967 to fund and support public broadcasting in the United States. It operates as a private, nonprofit corporation, but receives federal funding. While it does fund some news programs, it is not primarily a news agency, nor is it a television channel on its own.

Question 19

How many minutes of news and entertainment do Americans get for one minute of commercials during prime time?

Accepted Answer

On average, Americans receive about three minutes of news and entertainment for every minute of commercials during prime time. This ratio reflects the typical structure of television programming, where commercial breaks are interspersed with content segments.

Question 20

Which of these media outlets is MOST likely to be criticized by your very conservative Uncle Frank for being biased?

Accepted Answer

The New York Times is often criticized by conservative individuals for having a liberal bias. Fox News, The Rush Limbaugh Show, and The Sean Hannity Show are all conservative-leaning media outlets that would not be criticized by a very conservative individual.

Quiz 6: Mass Media: Setting the Political Agenda