CIAG Chapter 4: The Media

Watergate

Woodward and Bernstein at the Washington Post

aggregator

a website of software application that gathers together information from a variety of internet sources

RSS feed

an application that allows users to receive information from a website without visiting that site

selective exposure

an individual's tendency to seek out information that reinforces their pre-existing views while avoiding contradictory information

According to Craig Silverman's analysis, why was fake news a problem in the final few months before the 2016 presidential election? A. Fake news stories were more widely consumed than real news stories on Facebook. B. Fake news suppressed voter turnout. C. Fake news contributed to rising media costs. D. Fake news stories generated revenue that was illegally funneled to the presidential campaigns.

A. Fake news stories were more widely consumed than real news stories on Facebook.

Which of the following identifies one of the benefits of news aggregators? A. They expand the audience for both old and new media outlets. B. They send people information that challenges their preexisting beliefs. C. They provide financial support for traditional newspapers and magazines. D. They offer additional fact-checking on each of the stories they circulate.

A. They expand the audience for both old and new media outlets.

How might the media "frame" the issue of budget cuts? A. by choosing certain words to refer to the budget cuts B. by accessing reliable sources to comment on budget cuts C. by discussing a separate issue in order to link it to budget cuts D. by highlighting both the benefits and the drawbacks of the budget cuts

A. by choosing certain words to refer to the budget cuts

How have political candidates reacted to the growing popularity of infotainment? A. by making appearances on infotainment programs B. by boycotting shows such as The Tonight Show C. by failing to pass net neutrality laws D. by pushing for stricter FCC regulations

A. by making appearances on infotainment programs

The actions of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein led to which of the following? A. political controversy B. freedom from scrutiny for presidents C. an alliance between the media and the government D. President Nixon's reelection

A. political controversy

What is a primary motivation of American media outlets? A. profits driven by market forces B. sociopolitical significance C. civic responsibility D. educational value

A. profits driven by market forces

What was the first newspaper to be continuously published in the United States? A. the Boston Newsletter B. the Gazette of the United States C. Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick D. the Federalist Papers

A. the Boston Newsletter

According to the text, which of the following affects the persuasiveness of the message? A. the credibility of the source B. the medium of the source C. the popularity of the source D. the entertainment value of the source

A. the credibility of the source

The publication of both the Federalist Papers and anti-Federalist essays in newspapers reflected which of the following developments? A. the growing influence of political parties B. the existence of only two major newspapers in 18th-century America C. increasingly heated debate over print media regulations D. the election of Thomas Jefferson to the presidency

A. the growing influence of political parties

What was the purpose of the Fairness Doctrine? A. to promote balanced coverage of public issues B. to require anonymous sources to be revealed to the public C. to provide public funding for the news D. to limit government censorship

A. to promote balanced coverage of public issues

What happened when newspaper coverage of health care reform declined? A. People clamored for more stories on the issue. B. Fewer people viewed it as the most important issue facing the country. C. More people viewed it as the most important issue facing the country. D. People forgot about the issue completely.

B. Fewer people viewed it as the most important issue facing the country.

Persuasion works best under which of the following circumstances? A. Individuals lack interest in the subject. B. Individuals lack knowledge of the subject. C. The content is heavily pro-liberal, regardless of the issue. D. Individuals have a strong ideological bias.

B. Individuals lack knowledge of the subject.

Which of the following could be considered an advantage of infotainment? A. It reduces opportunities for the media to be sued for libel. B. It attracts audiences who otherwise wouldn't follow politics. C. It highlights the complexity of modern news stories. D. It reflects a commitment to professionalism.

B. It attracts audiences who otherwise wouldn't follow politics.

What role does the media play in setting the political agenda? A. Revenue from politically slanted news programs is used to fund Democratic or Republican campaigns. B. News outlets choose which stories receive public attention. C. Presidents use the media to dictate public policy to state governors. D. Reporters tell members of Congress what legislation to pass.

B. News outlets choose which stories receive public attention.

What ushered in the era of watchdog journalism? A. the Monica Lewinsky scandal B. coverage of the Watergate break-in C. conspiracy theories on the Kennedy assassination D. the creation of the Pulitzer Prize

B. coverage of the Watergate break-in

Individuals with more political knowledge are considered to be which of the following? A. more likely to accept media messages that contradict their ideology B. less likely to accept media messages that contradict their ideology C. less capable of receiving media messages D. more likely to be conservative

B. less likely to accept media messages that contradict their ideology

What is selective exposure? A. news consumers choosing media outlets that challenge their preexisting views B. news consumers choosing media outlets that confirm their preexisting views C. news consumers preferring international media outlets to domestic ones D. news consumers seeking out new media outlets on a regular basis

B. news consumers choosing media outlets that confirm their preexisting views

What is priming? A. muckraking watchdog yellow journalism B. press coverage of an issue influencing the way people think about related issues C. press coverage of a candidate influencing voters to switch parties D. falsified coverage of primary elections

B. press coverage of an issue influencing the way people think about related issues

Calls for journalistic reform in the early 20th century led to which of the following? A. declining newspaper readership B. the establishment of journalism schools C. television news programs D. fewer editors

B. the establishment of journalism schools

What is the difference between early aggregators and next-generation aggregators? A. Early aggregators used algorithms to push news to users, whereas next-generation aggregators are driven by user subscriptions. B. Early aggregators were driven by social media sites, whereas next-generation aggregators are driven by RSS feeds. C. Early aggregators were driven by user subscriptions, whereas next-generation aggregators use algorithms to push news to users. D. Early aggregators were driven by RSS feeds, whereas next-generation aggregators are driven by user subscriptions.

C. Early aggregators were driven by user subscriptions, whereas next-generation aggregators use algorithms to push news to users.

What impact did "muckraking" have on the political climate? A. Restored public faith in political institutions. B. Created the conditions necessary for the Freedom of Information Act. C. Led to widespread discontent with political corruption. D. Led to new laws limiting professional journalism.

C. Led to widespread discontent with political corruption.

Which of the following identifies two key elements of ethical media behaviour? A. Be fair and satisfy audiences. B. Act independently and turn a profit. C. Minimize harm and be accountable. D. Report the truth and respect the government.

C. Minimize harm and be accountable.

According to former president Barack Obama, what is the problem with the media ecosystem? A. Government agencies are censoring information. B. Advertisers are directing content. C. No one agrees on the facts. D. No one can afford quality journalism.

C. No one agrees on the facts.

How do personalised news aggregators work? A. They generate lists based on the popularity of certain news items among high-volume users. B. They generate lists based on information from RSS feeds. C. They generate lists based on social media profiles. D. They generate lists based on the popularity of certain news items among all users.

C. They generate lists based on social media profiles.

The addition of independent editors to the newspaper industry allowed for more stories based on which of the following? A. sensationalism B. audience appeal C. quality D. partisan preferences

C. quality

The Society of Professional Journalists formed in response to which of the following? A. the Great Depression B. public approval of the political climate C. sensationalism in the media D. high standards of ethical behavior

C. sensationalism in the media

What concern does the Associated Press have about news aggregators? A. Aggregators lure the best reporters away from newspapers and magazines by promising higher salaries. B. Aggregators allow the government to censor stories in exchange for ignoring copyright violations. C. Aggregators report the news faster but make more mistakes in doing so. D. Aggregators undercut the revenue that newspapers and magazines depend on

D. Aggregators undercut the revenue that newspapers and magazines depend on

What does confirmation bias tell us about consumers of news? A. They are more likely to believe information that they have received from friends and family members. B. They are more likely to believe information that has been verified by government agencies. C. They like to receive information that challenges their preexisting beliefs. D. They like to receive information that supports their preexisting beliefs.

D. They like to receive information that supports their preexisting beliefs.

The American public tends to judge news outlets according to which of the following criteria? A. digital footprint B. longevity C. financial success D. credibility

D. credibility

Yellow journalism might include which of the following? A. minutes of Supreme Court hearings B. rigorous fact checking C. in-depth election coverage D. fabricated news stories

D. fabricated news stories

If a reporter intended to frame gay marriage in a positive light, how might she do so? A. focus on the continued prevalence of AIDS in the gay community B. emphasize concerns about religious liberty following the Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage C. discuss the biblical definition of marriage D. highlight the joyous reaction of gay couples following the Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage

D. highlight the joyous reaction of gay couples following the Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage

According to the text, on which issue did the media prime the public in the run-up to the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections? A. the economic recession and taxes B. the housing boom and immigration C. health care and taxes D. national security and the economy

D. national security and the economy

When a television viewer changes the channel from Hannity on Fox News, because he does not agree with Sean Hannity's perspective, to The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, because he likes Maddow's criticism of the president, what is he engaging in? A. news aggregation B. deliberate exposure C. agenda setting D. selective exposure

D. selective exposure

Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick

The first American newspaper (only published once)

muckraking

journalism focused on exposing corruption in government or industry. 1890s-1930s

Fariness Doctrine

required broadcast network news to provide a balanced presentation of perspectives on public issues. -the Fairness Doctrine was formally abandoned by the Federal Communications Commission in 2011

yellow journalism

style of reporting in which journalists exaggerate or even fabricate news stories to increase circulation. this was prevalent at the turn of the 19th century

framing

the process by which the media encourages viewers to interpret journalistic stories in a particular way

priming

the process by which the media influences the way people think about an issue or event.

agenda setting

the process of getting issues on the political agenda, or those issues to which the public and decision-makers are paying attention and on which there is an active political debate