PLAP Quiz Questions

Imagine A. J. Pennypacker, a wealthy industrialist, comes to Charlottesville and buys both The Daily Progress and Channel 29, the local NBC television affiliate. This is an example of which of the following: A. crossmedia ownership B. public ownership C. semipublic ownership D. owner-imposed bias E. multiple ownership

A. Crossmedia ownership

Which of the following developments made it easier for media owners to acquire additional properties: A. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 B. The FCC rules changes of 2003 C. The Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2006 D. both a and b E. none of the above

D. both a and b

T/F: According to Pew Research Center data presented in class, the top news sources of "consistent liberals" are more concentrated (less varied) than those of "consistent conservatives."

False

T/F: According to Pew Research data examined in class, partisan polarization in television news viewership has been evident since at least the early 1990s.

False

T/F: Gilens and Hertzman base their conclusions primarily on face-to-face interviews with journalists who cover the telecommunications industry

False

T/F: Gillens and Hertzman undertake a content analysis of television coverage

False

T/F: In Food Lion vs. ABC News, the jury ruled against ABC on the grounds that the content of its reporting was inaccurate and misleading.

False

T/F: Ladd writes that the United States has had "an independent, powerful, widely respected news media" since the mid-18th century

False

T/F: Newspapers now receive more revenue from digital advertising than from print advertising

False

T/F: Television is the main source of news for Americans age 18-29.

False

T/F: The Charlottesville Daily Progress is currently owned by Media General

False

T/F: The FCC has jurisdiction over media content but not media ownership

False

T/F: The FCC requires complaints about broadcast indecency to be submitted in person at specially scheduled hearings

False

T/F: Younger Americans watch more television news than older Americans

False

Tocqueville advocated centralized government ownership and control over newspapers

False

T/F: According to Farnsworth and Lichter, in 2008 Sarah Palin received more favorable coverage on Fox News than did any other candidate.

True

T/F: According to Gilens and Hertzman, newspapers owned by corporations with heavy television interests gave more favorable coverage to provisions of the 1996 Telecom Act that benefit television owners than did newspapers owned by corporations without television interests

True

T/F: According to Patterson, in 1960 the vast majority of the evaluative references to the major presidential candidates appearing in newsmagazines were favorable, while the majority of the evaluative references in 1992 were unfavorable.

True

T/F: According to Pew Research Center data presented in class, "consistent liberals" tend trust more news media sources than do "consistent conservatives."

True

T/F: At its height, the embedded reporters program included journalists from all over the world, including the Middle East.

True

T/F: Druckman finds that television debate viewers rely more on personality traits (e.g., perceptions of leadership and integrity) than do radio listeners when it comes to evaluating the candidates.

True

T/F: On an average night, more Americans watch a network newscast (ABC, CBC or NBC) than a cable news program.

True

T/F: Television is Americans' main source of local news

True

T/F: Television is Americans' main source of national and international news

True

T/F: Television is the main source of news for Americans in general.

True

T/F: The FCC indecency case against Viacom for the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show was not resolved until 2012

True

T/F: The Voice of American represents public broadcasting as defined by Graber

True

T/F: The longstanding ban on "domestic propaganda" was finally lifted in 2013.

True

T/F: Viewership of broadcast network evening news has declined over the last 30 years.

True

T/F: Younger Americans are more likely to watch cable news than network news

True

"Perhaps cable news would have turned hard toward the story, and the kind of coverage that eventually drew the attention of the president and the governor of Missouri would have taken place...but nothing much good was happening in Ferguson until it became a hashtag." What aspect of traditional media is, according to the author of the quote, most clearly challenged by Twitter and other forms of social media? Who is the author? A. the agenda-setting function of traditional media B. the political polarization of news audiences C. the liberal bias found in most newsrooms D. the "Watchdog" role of journalists over government officials E. the reliance on advertising revenue by print media

A. the agenda-setting function of traditional media - author is Carr

"Language or material that, in context, depicts or describes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium, sexual or excretory organs or activities," and therefore subject to regulation by the FCC although protected by the First Amendment. A. what is "indecency"? B. what is "pornographic content"? C. what is "obscenity"? D. what is "educational content"? E. what is "age-inappropriate content"?

A. what is "indecency"?

A private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967; its mission is to provide funding for, facilitate the development of, and ensure universal access to, non-commercial high-quality programming and telecommunications services. It does this in conjunction with non-commercial educational telecommunications licensees across America. A. what is CPB? B. what is CNN? C. what is C-SPAN? D. what is PBS? E. what is NPR?

A. what is CPB?

According to Graber, this small number of journalists has "final control over story choices" and includes reporters, editors and others who select stories and make final decisions about "what news to use." As a result, these decision makers "wield an awesome amount of political power." A. who are gatekeepers? B. who are liberals? C. what is the New York Times? D. who are News Corporation employees? E. who are media elites?

A. who are gatekeepers?

This author or set of authors wrote: "In sum, concentrated corporate control of the media has produced a broadcast journalism that is great at generating profit, pleasing advertisers, and protecting powerful institutions from scrutiny, but lousy at what it's supposed to do: informing the citizenry and confronting abuses of power. If we are serious about democracy, we need decent journalism. And to get decent journalism, we need to make fundamental reforms in our media system." A. who is McChesney? B. who is Tocqueville? C. who are Swensen and Schmidt? D. who is Lippmann? E. who are Gilens and Hertzman?

A. who is McChesney?

Which of the following authors or sets of authors wrote: "...what carries a story is not necessarily its truth or importance, but whether it is driven by dominant officials within institutional decision-making arenas. . . The advantage generally goes to those officials with the greatest perceived power to affect the issues or events at hand, the greatest capacity to use the levers of office to advance their news narratives on a regular basis, and the best communication operations to spin their preferred narratives well." A. Goldberg B. Bennett, Lawrence, and Livingston C. Gilens and Hertzman D. Parenti E. Tocqueville

B. Bennett, Lawrence, and Livingston

Which of the following authors suggests that concentration of media ownership is not something to be concerned about at the present time? A. Lippmann B. Compaine C. McChesney D. Schudson E. Goldberg

B. Compaine

Which of the following authors writes about the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal? A. Rutten B. Kalb C. Druckman D. Patterson E. none of the above

B. Kalb

Illustrating an ABC news story with footage from a Disney movie showing asteroids striking the Earth can be understood as a violation of which permeable membrane? A. Opinion vs. News B. News vs. Advertising C. Localism vs. Competition D. New Media Sources vs. Traditional Media E. News vs. Entertainment

B. News vs. Advertising

Who said the following in 2009: "Journalistic integrity, you know, fact-based reporting, serious investigative reporting, how to retain those ethics in all these different new media and how to make sure that it's paid for, is really a challenge. But it's something that I think is absolutely critical to the health of our democracy." A. Lee Bollinger B. Barack Obama C. Robert McChesney D. Nancy Pelosi E. Eric Cantor

B. Obama

According to Kalb, which of the following is not a feature of the "New News"? A. a willingness to report stories simply because they are "out there" B. an emphasis on the use of polls and focus groups C. a blurring of the lines between reporters and participants D. a decline in quantity and quality of sources E. a blurring of the lines between commentators and reporters

B. an emphasis on the use of polls and focus groups

Iyengar and Kinder set up couches and provide research subjects with coffee in order to maximize which of the following: A. the realism of their manipulations B. external validity C. internal validity D. randomization E. participant comfort

B. external validity

In an authoritarian political system, the media are primarily used to do which of the following: A. help bring government policy in line with public opinion B. help bring public opinion in line with the policies or interests of the governing regime C. help bring citizens or subjects some news about the state of their public weal D. help citizens act collectively to pursue their interests and passions E. help enhance the quality of representation

B. help bring public opinion in line with the policies or interests of the governing regime

Suggesting that the media are biased because a majority of reporters self-identify as liberal Democrats is an example of which of the following: A. observational claims of bias B. inferential claims of bias C. a self-selected sample D. liberal media bias E. content analysis

B. inferential claims of bias

Swensen and Schmidt (2009) argue in favor of which of the following? A. greater corporate ownership of media B. reformulating newspapers as non-profit entities supported by endowments C. tax credits for newspaper subscriptions D. all of the above E. none of the above

B. reformulating newspapers as non-profit entities supported by endowments

According to Tim Rutten, what was significant about the revelation that John Edwards had lied about an affair with a campaign staffer? A. beginning with this story, the practice of news organizations paying sources for information became commonplace B. the story was initially investigated and reported primarily by non-traditional, "tabloid" news media C. the story was confusing and difficult to follow for most Americans D. the story represented the first time a presidential campaign had been derailed by allegations of an extramarital affair E. the story was covered with unusual balance and objectivity by the mainstream news media

B. the story was initially investigated and reported primarily by non-traditional, "tabloid" news media

Commenting on a controversial media story, Marvin Kalb asks, "in an industry theoretically still devoted to truth-telling, can deception, in whatever guise, be regarded as an acceptable way of getting the news?" To what deceptive practices was he referring? A. using actors to dramatize or recreate news stories B. the use of hidden cameras or microphones C. plagiarism D. revealing confidential sources E. failing to acknowledge a conflict of interest based on media ownership

B. the use of hidden cameras or microphones

"Language or material that, in context, depicts or describes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium, sexual or excretory organs or activities," and therefore subject to regulation by the FCC although protected by the First Amendment. A. what is "educational content"? B. what is "indecency"? C. what is "obscenity"? D. what is "pornographic content"? E. what is "age-inappropriate content"?

B. what is "indecency"?

A private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967; its mission is to provide funding for, facilitate the development of, and ensure universal access to, non-commercial high-quality programming and telecommunications services. It does this in conjunction with non-commercial educational telecommunications licensees across America. A. what is NPR? B. what is CPB? C. what is CNN? D. what is PBS? E. what is C-SPAN?

B. what is CPB?

This author writes about embedded reporters. A. who is Barstow? B. who is Friedman? C. who is Goldberg? D. who is McChesney? E. who is Kalb?

B. who is Friedman?

In the wake of the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, CBS/Viacom was initially fined how much money by the FCC? A. $5,500 B. $55,000 C. $550,000 D. $5,500,000 E. there was no fine imposed by the FCC

C. $550,000

Approximately how many Starbucks "neighborhood gathering places" (i.e., "stores") were there worldwide, as of June, 2015? A. 200 B. 2,000 C. 20,000 D. 200,000 E. it is impossible to know

C. 20,000

Which of the following authors do NOT rely on experimental research to test hypotheses about media effects? A. Iyengar and Kinder B. Druckman C. Gilens and Hertzman D. both "B" and "C" E. none of the above, they all rely on experimental research

C. Gilens and Hertzman

Which of the following news stories is the best example of press independence, according to Bennett, Lawrence and Livingston? A. the build-up to the war in Iraq B. Cindy Sheehan's protest C. Hurricane Katrina D. the 2004 presidential election E. Abu Ghraib

C. Hurricane Katrina

Which of the following candidates, according to Farnsworth and Lichter, received the most favorable coverage on television news in 2008? A. McCain B. Palin C. Obama D. Biden E. all received about the same degree of favorable coverage

C. Obama

Until 2013, which of the following pieces of legislation barred the domestic broadcast of Voice of America (and other forms of "domestic propaganda")? A. Public Broadcasting Authorization Act of 1999 B. Telecommunications Modernization Act of 2003 C. Smith-Mundt Act of 1948 D. Communications Act of 1934 E. Telecommunications Act of 1996

C. Smith-Mundt Act of 1934

Which of the following relationships was described as being simultaneously symbiotic and parasitic? A. sources and reporters B. political decision makers and citizens C. media actors and political actors D. broadcasters and viewers E. editors and reporters

C. media actors and political actors

What phenomenon is being described by the following quote: "By calling attention to some matters while ignoring others, television news influences the standards by which governments, presidents, policies, and candidates for office are judged." A. salience calibration B. anticipatory self-censorship C. priming D. indexing E. agenda setting

C. priming

Nichols and McChesney (2009) argue in favor of which of the following? A. greater corporate ownership of media B. reformulating newspapers as non-profit entities supported by endowments C. tax credits for newspaper subscriptions D. all of the above E. none of the above

C. tax credits for newspaper subscriptions

They "were spokesmen for egalitarian ideals in politics, economic life, and social life through their organization of sales, their solicitation of advertising, their emphasis on news, their catering to large audiences, their decreasing concern with the editorial." A. what are blogs? B. what are partisan papers? C. what are penny papers? D. what are newspapers? E. what are the Federalist Papers?

C. what are penny papers?

According to Bennett, Lawrence, and Livingston, this is an ongoing, implicit calibration process through which the press weights key story elements according to the positioning of power blocs at key decision points. A. what is weighting? B. what is journalism? C. what is indexing? D. what are reverse cascades? E. what is reverse calibration?

C. what is indexing?

By 2011, how many companies owned approximately 90 percent of American media? A. 50 B. 25 C. 10 D. 6 E. 4

D. 6 percent

Voice of America falls under the jurisdiction of which of the following? A. Radio Free Europe B. National Public Radio C. Public Broadcasting Service D. Broadcasting Board of Governors E. Corporation for Public Broadcasting

D. Broadcasting Board of Governors

Which of the following individuals do Bennett, Lawrence, and Livingston cite as an example of the cascade model working in reverse? A. David Carr B. Maureen Dowd C. Judith Miller D. Cindy Sheehan E. Dick Cheney

D. Cindy Sheehan

According to Pew Research Center data presented in class, the top two news sources for "consistent conservatives" are which of the following? A. NPR and MSNBC B. CNN and NPR C. Fox News and the Washington Post D. Fox News and local radio E. Fox News and CNN

D. Fox News and local radio

How does Druckman study the effects of televised presidential debates? A. archival analysis of presidential debate footage B. a content analysis of debate transcripts C. a longitudinal survey of self-identified debate watchers D. a randomized controlled experiment E. none of the above, Druckman is not concerned with effects

D. a randomized controlled experiment

According to Pew Research Center data examined in class, which of the following is true of smartphone ownership? A. it decreases with age and income B. it increases with age but decreases with income C. there is no relationship between smartphone ownership and either age or income D. it decreases with age but increases with income E. it increases with age and income

D. it decreases with age but increases with income

In its decision in Miller v. California (1973) the Supreme Court included the following criterion: "The average person, applying contemporary community standards would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest." This was one component of a three-part test for establishing which of the following: A. pornography B. defamation C. indecency D. obscenity E. newsworthiness

D. obscenity

According to Ladd, what was the earliest event that "changed the relationship between political elites and newspapers"? A. Watergate B. the New Deal C. the founding of the postal service D. the American Revolution E. the Civil War

D. the American Revolution

Which of the following developments, according to Schudson, is responsible for the emergence of the norm of objectivity? A. the migration of print newspapers to the web B. the decline of classified ad revenues C. the rise of the blogosphere D. the emergence of penny papers E. the emergence of 24-hour cable news

D. the emergence of penny papers

According to Kovach and Rosenstiel, journalism's first obligation is to what? A. maintain access to important sources B. provide a profitable return on the investment of corporate stockholders C. democracy D. the truth E. be informative while also entertaining

D. the truth

Illustrating an ABC news story with footage from a Disney movie showing asteroids striking the Earth is an example of this. A. what are sins of omission? B. what is direct evidence of bias? C. what is viewpoint diversity? D. what are sins of commission? E. what are sins of the news?

D. what are sins of commission?

"The press coverage attending any political event or circumstance where a critical mass of journalists leap to cover the same embarrassing or scandalous subject and pursue it intensely, often excessively, and sometimes uncontrollably." A. what is "symbiosis"? B. what is "media obscenity"? C. what is "infotainment"? D. what is a "feeding frenzy"? E. what is "mutual manipulation"?

D. what is a "feeding frenzy"?

"A story line or central organizing idea that calls attention to some aspects of the story, connects events to one another, and thereby helps us understand what they mean. It offers an answer to the question: What is most significant about this story?" A. what is a media cascade? B. what is a media story line? C. what is a media byline? D. what is a media frame? E. what is media bias?

D. what is a media frame?

"The anticipation that superiors might disapprove of this or that story is usually enough to discourage a reporter from writing it, or an editor from assigning it. Many of the limitations placed on reporting come not from direct censorship," but from this. A. what is government censorship? B. what is strategic avoidance of professional disapproval? C. what is subjective self-silencing? D. what is anticipatory self-censorship? E. what is corporate viewpoint consolidation?

D. what is anticipatory self-censorship?

The ability to generalize from an experimental setting to the real world (about which one seeks to make inferences). A. what is measurement validity? B. what is experimental reliability? C. what is internal validity? D. what is external validity? E. what is randomization?

D. what is external validity?

This author exposed conflicts of interests involving retired military personal working as television news "analysts." A. who is McChesney? B. who is Goldberg? C. who is Friedman? D. who is Barstow? E. who is Kalb?

D. who is Barstow?

Which of the following companies was used to illustrate the "Starbucksification" of media? A. the Walt Disney Company B. McClatchey C. General Electric D. Media General E. Clear Channel / iHeartRadio

E. Clear Channel/iHeartRadio

Which of the following presidential debates does Druckman explore? A. Clinton-Bush-Perot 1992 B. Nixon-McGovern, 1972 C. Dukakis-Bush, 1988 D. Obama-Romney 2012 E. Kennedy-Nixon, 1960

E. Kennedy-Nixon, 1960

A spot in the Indian Ocean approximately 4,787 miles away from Melbourne, Australia; 4,787 miles away from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; and 4,787 miles away from Bogor, Indonesia. A. Where does the Broadcasting Board of Governors enjoy its highest ratings? B. What is the location of the newest Trump golf course? C. Where are the primary servers for Twitter located? D. What was the location of the first Clear Channel radio station? E. Where is Prof. Freedman's "happy place"?

E. Where is Prof. Freedman's "happy place"?

Which of the following individuals was the topic of a surprising MSNBC "BREAKING NEWS!" alert presented in class? A. a senator named Mitch B. a television host named Jon C. a president named Barack D. a sponge named Bob Squarepants E. a springer spaniel named James

E. a springer spaniel named James

According to Kalb, which of the following developments helps to explain the rise of the "New News"? A. the rise of cable news and the internet B. the development of the java programming language C. a new view of news operations as profit-generating D. all of the above E. both a and c

E. both a and c

Imagine that, following an intense barrage of news reports about gas prices, public opinion researchers find that attitudes about gas prices are suddenly a much more important component of people's evaluations of the president than they had been before the heightened news coverage. This is best seen as an illustration of what phenomenon? A. strategic framing B. agenda setting C. domestic policy bias D. policy or issue framing E. priming

E. priming

About how much did newspapers cost before the advent of the penny press? A. one Silver Dollar B. three shillings C. one Wooden Nickel D. twenty-five cents E. six cents

E. six cents

This newspaper company begin with in 1857 with the Daily Bee in Sacremento, CA. In 2006 it acquired Knight Ridder, then the nation's second-largest newspaper publisher, and now publishes 30 daily papers. A. what is Disney? B. what is the New York Times Media Group? C. what is Gannett? D. what is Media General? E. what is McClatchey?

E. what is McClatchey?

Citizens, according to this author, "require a journal to bring to them every day, in the midst of their own minor concerns, some intelligence of the state of their public weal." A. who is McChesney? B. who is Schudson? C. who is Parenti? D. who is Lippmann? E. who is Tocqueville?

E. who is Tocqueville?

Complete the following statement: "News is what someone somewhere wants to suppress. Everything else is ______ ."

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