Ch 12 Prep Quiz Gov

When the media regularly focus public attention on violent crime, political corruption, or economic woes, they are engaged in which of the following?

Agenda setting

Until the 1980's ABC, CBS, and NBC held 80% of TV viewership. What changed that?

Cable TV

Why might selective exposure be problematic for democracy?

Citizens are not hearing the other side of issues, and this can increase polarization.

Which of the following refers to the ability of the media to alter the public's view on an issue by presenting it in a particular way?

Framing

What effect can newspaper reporting on members of Congress have?

It leads to voters holding their legislators accountable.

Which of the following is a potential problem with concentrated media ownership?

It may result in a limited watchdog function.

Available evidence seems to indicate that most journalists and reporters have which of the following?

Liberal leanings

In which court case did the Supreme Court rule that freedom of the press applies to state governments, so they cannot impose prior restraint on newspapers?

Near v. Minnesota (1931)

Why is the public less trusting of the media today than in 1970?

Politicians' decreased trust in the media.

The main focus of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was to do which of the following?

Relax the rules governing media ownership

What made it possible for the internet to replace TV as many Americans' primary news source?

The expansion of broadband or high-speed internet connections

In New York Times v. Sullivan, the Supreme Court ruled that public officials may not win a libel suit unless they can prove not only that the statement was false, but also which of the following?

The writer knew it was false or had a reckless disregard for the truth.

What is one consequence of declining local news coverage?

There is less public knowledge about local government and less engagement in politics.

States whose capital cities have a vigorous press have less corruption because the media in those states act as what?

Watchdogs

While most of the mass media in the United States is privately owned, which of the following is also correct?

They do not operate free of government regulation.

In this country, libel laws make it almost impossible to prevent press criticisms of whom?

public figures

Which of the following amendments to the Constitution protects the freedom of the press?

Frist Amendment

Media framing of public programs in terms of waste and fraud could have what effect?

It would decrease support for public programs.

While a majority of newspaper reporters are Democrats and liberals, bias is limited in part by which of the following?

Journalistic norms of objectivity

Which of the following statements about libel laws is correct?

Laws governing libel are much stricter in Great Britain than in the United States, making it easier for British politicians to sue newspapers for publishing articles that defame or ridicule them.

Compared with the print media, the electronic media are which of the following?

More competitive and more strictly regulated

In comparison with the general public, the national news media tend to be which of these?

More liberal

How does the United States restrict the press compared to other democratic nations?

Much less than

Most Americans rely on which of the following as their primary source for news?

Television

Framing is best defined as an influence on which of the following?

Public opinion as a result of the way a story is presented or covered, including the details and context offered in the report

The power of the media to determine what the government ought to do is referred to as which of the following?

Setting the public agenda

When the media uncovers public wrongdoing and brings that wrongdoing to the public's attention, it is engaged in which role of the media?

Setting the public agenda

In New York v. Farber, what did the Supreme Court rule?

The accused person's right to a fair trial includes the right to compel the production of evidence, even from reporters.

Why are some people critical of horse-race journalism?

They feel like the coverage ignores the importance of issues.

What does it mean when the media typically reports presidential elections as horse races?

They focus more on the contest itself than on the issues of the campaign

In places where a local paper has closed, citizens can be characterized by which of these?

They know less about the issues and are less politically active.

When does selective exposure occur?

When citizens only hear one side of an issue: the one they agree with