Chapter 7: The Media (Inquizitive)

Identify whether the characteristic of media coverage is the result of audience pressure or other pressures.

result of audience pressure: - reporters exaggerating importance of a story - newspapers putting content online other journalistic pressures: - journalists protecting identity of sources

Which media source is the most dominant source for political information today?

the Internet

In general, Democrats think the media favor ______, and Republicans think the media favor _______.

- Republicans - Democrats

_____ states have shield laws; however, there_____ a shield law at the federal level.

- Some - is not

When trying to decide which reporter to give information to, who are politicians most likely to go to first?

- a reporter who has written favorable stories in the past

According to the ______ theory, most Americans gain their political information _______ while they are otherwise going about their lives.

- by-product - accidentally

Study the graphic, and then complete the following statement. The graphic shows all of the Walt Disney Company. With its vast array of holdings, Disney is a classic example of a media ______.

- conglomerate

Juan is a Republican. Although there are certain media sources such as Fox News that he trusts, because of ______ he believes that the media overall tend to favor _____.

- the hostile media effect - Democrats

Which headlines are examples of horse race election coverage?

Correct Ans: - "Allegations of Misconduct Eroding Candidate Jones's Lead in Polls" - "Race Tightens as Jones's Lead Over Smith Narrows" Incorrect Ans: - "Candidate Smith Says Climate Change is Greatest Threat to Country" - "Candidate Jones Accused of Sexually Harassing Former Employees"

Which of the following are reasons a news outlet might strongly consider not publishing a potential story?

Correct Ans: - Doing so might endanger a valuable source. - The story contains important national security secrets. Incorrect Ans: - The story is likely to be very controversial. - The story is likely to be very popular with readers and viewers.

Why might a reporter prefer to write a horse race story about the election?

Correct Ans: - It can be easily updated. - It attracts a wide audience. - It is straightforward to write. Incorrect Ans: - It has important implications for the electoral outcome.

How has the Internet influenced the way reporters cover the government?

Correct Ans: - It has increased competition among reporters to find interesting stories. - It has increased the demand for new stories. Incorrect Ans: - It has reduced the incentive to put out new stories. - It has decreased the resources reporters have to draw on.

New politicians often grant access to reporters in an attempt to control the media. These attempts to control the media often ______ because reporters have incentives to get sensational material.

fail

If a TV station allows a state's Republican gubernatorial candidate to appear on a talk show but refuses to allow the Democratic candidate a similar opportunity, the TV station is guilty of violating the

equal time provision

Which characteristics distinguish yellow journalism?

Correct Ans: - sensational stories - bold headlines Incorrect Ans: - impartiality - complete coverage of events - accuracy

When politicians fight over calling a bill "health care reform" or "health care rationing," or advocates argue for calling their side "pro-choice" or "pro-life," what are they trying to shape?

Correct Ans: - how the media frame the issue Incorrect Ans: - the media's willingness to report about the issue - the public's ability to use certain criteria when considering the issue

Match the news source to the ideological group that tends to prefer it.

Fox News - conservatives CNN, NPR - liberals

When reporters write horse race stories, which aspects of the election do they tend to cover?

Aspects Horse Race Stories Cover - which candidate is ahead in the polls today - a prediction about which candidate is likely to win the race Aspects Horse Race Stories Do NOT Cover - an analysis of how a candidate is likely to behave in office - a description of the candidate's campaign promises

Which of the following is an example of media concentration?

Clear Channel owing multiple FM radio stations in the same city

How has the Internet changed the media landscape?

Correct Ans: - It has increased the average American's access to political news. - It has created opportunities for two-way interactions between citizens and reporters. Incorrect Ans: - It has increased the budgets available to traditional TV and radio news stations. - It has increased newspaper and magazine readership.

In which ways has the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) changed its approach to regulation over its history?

Correct Ans: - Restrictions on media ownership have been relaxed. Incorrect Ans: - Media outlets no longer need to maintain the equal time provision. - The FCC is allowed to regulate only wireless communication companies now. - The FCC was eliminated in the 1930s.

Which of the following statements about media bias are accurate?

Correct Ans: - Some journalists or commentators take an ideological or a partisan perspective. Incorrect Ans: - The media are systematically biased against liberals. - All journalists and commentators avoid taking ideological or partisan positions. - The media are systematically biased against conservatives.

Which of the following are reasons for why the rise of the Internet has not led to a better-informed citizenry?

Correct Ans: - The Internet only makes the information available; people still need to actively seek it out. - People do not consult a wide range of sources. Incorrect Ans: - Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit have distracted people from learning about politics. - The Internet does not have any reputable news.

Why do news organizations filter and frame?

Correct Ans: - They are trying to attract as large an audience as possible. - They are trying to make stories simple. Incorrect Ans: - They are trying to convert people to a particular ideology. - They are trying to persuade readers to feel a certain way.

In which of the following ways do the media function as a linking institution?

Correct Ans: - They provide citizens with information on what the government is doing. Incorrect Ans: - They organize people to run for office in order to win elections. - They measure what citizens think about an issue. - They try to lobby the government to influence policy outcomes.

In which of the following situations is a government official giving a reporter information on background?

Correct Ans: - anonymously releasing future campaign stops Incorrect Ans - holding a press conference to announce a campaign - giving an interview about a campaign that will be shown on 60 Minutes - posting a campaign advertisement to YouTube

What reasons might make a reporter hesitant to report a story?

Correct Ans: - concerns about the event being staged to generate good coverage - concerns about jeopardizing national security - concerns about maintaining good relationships with sources Incorrect Ans: - concerns about a competitor releasing a story with a different point of view

Which of the following stories can be considered attack journalism?

Correct Ans: - describing a bureaucratic agency's failures to regulate an industry - investigating a senator suspected of having an affair - reporting on congressional misconduct and scandals Incorrect Ans: - identifying potential candidates for the presidential primary - covering the latest results from a presidential race

Which of the following are considered media effects?

Correct Ans: - filtering - framing Incorrect Ans: - equal time - leaking

Which of the following are examples of the by-product theory of information?

Correct Ans: - learning about an election from watching The Daily Show - learning about a scandal because it is trending on Twitter or Facebook Incorrect Ans: - learning about a scandal from watching NewsHour - learning about an election by searching for it on Politico

The Federal Communications Commission was originally developed to serve which of the following functions?

Correct Ans: - promote competition in the broadcast industry - regulate broadcast content Incorrect Ans: - increase the political knowledge of American citizens - censor news that the government did not want released

The media are systematically biased toward one ideology.

False

Based on the infographic, sort the following into examples of filtering or framing

Filtering - Newspapers decide to publish leaked NSA documents. - A television station stops airing pieces about Iraq now that most American troops have withdrawn. Framing - A report focuses on recent grisly murders in a city even though overall crime is down.

Match the news story to the type of media coverage.

Hard news: - a senator introducing an equal pay bill - a governor expanding Medicaid coverage in her state - the president issuing a veto Soft news: - the vice president's family adopting a dog - the president appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon - a member of Congress decorating his office to match a TV show

What is the single biggest explanation for why the American media's coverage of politics emphasizes attack journalism and soft news?

Soft news and attack journalism attract larger audiences than hard news

Coverage of the Green New Deal demonstrates all three media effects—filtering, framing, and priming.

True

Which of the following statements about information on background is correct?

When a reporter gets information on background, they can use the information but cannot identify its source.

Which of the following is an example of a leaked story?

a journalist using insider information to determine that the NSA had been spying on Americans

What is a shield law?

a law that allows reporters to refuse to name their sources

Which of the following news topics are the media most likely to report on?

a senator being investigated for bribery

Which factor most expanded the media's role as watchdog?

changes in technology

The following chart tracks the number of media stories on gun control between February and May 2018. Which media effect is best demonstrated?

filtering

When the media do not report on a particular idea, which form of influence are they exercising?

filtering

Which media effect best describes stories that presented Democratic victories in special elections as a reflection of public dissatisfaction with President Trump?

framing

Match the source of media power to its influence on public opinion.

framing - what opinions Americans hold on issues filtering - what issues Americans think about