PLS101 (Quiz) CH13: The News Media

Which of the following is true of talk radio? A) It tends to be dominated by conservatives. B) It represents only a minor source of commentary and opinion. C) It provides ideological balance between liberals and conservatives. D) It is regulated by National Public Radio.

A) It tends to be dominated by conservatives.

Which branch of the U.S. government interacts very little with the media? A) Judicial B) legislative C) the Pentagon D) the bureaucracy

A) Judicial

When significant media attention to an issue increases the salience of that issue with average citizens, it is called __________. A) agenda setting B) framing C) media bias D) spin

A) agenda setting

In which of the following ways have Americans' assessments of the media changed over time? A) Fewer Americans now believe that powerful people and organizations influence news coverage. B) More Americans now believe that the press is often inaccurate. C) Fewer Americans now believe that the press favors one side. D) More Americans now hold a more favorable view of the press.

B) More Americans now believe that the press is often inaccurate.

Which suggests that there are corporate interests influencing the media? A) Most reporters are liberal. B) There has been increased media consolidation. C) Media PACs give heavily to Republican candidates. D) News coverage of Republican candidates is more positive than news coverage of Democratic candidates.

B) There has been increased media consolidation.

Which of the following is journalistic bias? A) a focus on policy details B) a focus on a good story with spice and drama C) a reluctance to cover crime D) a tendency to focus on consensus rather than conflict

B) a focus on a good story with spice and drama

A broadcast station that sells a Democratic candidate air time for a political advertisement __________. A) can choose whether or not to sell available air time to a Republican rival B) cannot refuse to sell available air time to a Republican rival C) is prohibited from selling available air time to a Republican rival D) must give an equal amount of air time to a Republican rival

B) cannot refuse to sell available air time to a Republican rival

A defining feature of muckraking journalism was that it __________. A) captured readership from a burgeoning immigrant population B) exposed misconduct by government, business, and individual politicians C) featured pictures and comics D) promoted President Theodore Roosevelt's policies

B) exposed misconduct by government, business, and individual politicians

If the media portrayed a story about immigrants as a threat to jobs, and public tolerance for immigration decreased, it would be an example of __________. A) spin doctoring B) framing C) ideological bias D) agenda setting

B) framing

Media consolidation may result in less coverage of __________. A) issues of concern to men B) issues of concern to the poor C) the stock market D) the overall business climate

B) issues of concern to the poor

As with the coverage of the president, media coverage of Congress is disproportionally ______. A) positive B) negative C) focused on sensationalist scandals D) focused on in-depth analyses of policies

B) negative

A document offering an official comment or position on an issue or news event is called a __________. A) news endorsement B) press release C) leak D) press briefing

B) press release

What is the primary driver of the news media? A) patriotism B) profit C) in-depth policy analysis D) the desire to set the political agenda

B) profit

Which of the following is a way in which a press briefing differs from a press conference? A) A press conference is a more restricted engagement with the press. B) Elected officials appear at a press briefing, whereas aides appear at a press conference. C) Elected officials speak on a broader range of topics at a press conference. D) Elected officials speak at greater length at a press briefing.

C) Elected officials speak on a broader range of topics at a press conference.

Which of the following is a possible consequence of the growing role of social media sites? A) They limit the ability of the public to discuss political issues. B) They have strengthened the traditional media's role as an educator. C) They weaken the incentive for politicians to engage in deliberative democracy. D) They have strengthened the traditional media's role as a watchdog.

C) They weaken the incentive for politicians to engage in deliberative democracy.

Today, most news is written by __________. A) embedded journalists B) political reporters C) citizen journalists D) residential reporters

C) citizen journalists

Which of the following has increased in recent decades? A) diversity of media ownership B) the popularity of newspapers C) infotainment D) broadcasting

C) infotainment

The ways in which news coverage affects public opinion and voting preferences are known as __________. A) public confidence B) media bias C) media effects D) ideologies

C) media effects

Which of the following provides new information about subjects of public interest and plays a vital role in the political process? A) yellow journalism B) muckraking C) the news media D) agenda setting

C) the news media

Which of the following was a primary feature of yellow journalism? A) It exposed the misconduct of government and business. B) It exposed the misdeeds of individual politicians. C) It isolated the burgeoning immigrant population at the time. D) It provided sensationalized news coverage.

D) It provided sensationalized news coverage.