Poli Chapter 10
26. Which of the statements about the 2008 elections is true? a. The Obama campaign purchased ten times more advertising time than did the McCain campaign. b. Senator Obama accepted public funds for the general election campaign and chose not to accept private donations. c. Senator McCain accepted $4 million in political action committee (PAC) contributions. d. The Obama campaign pioneered new ways for an individual to make contributions over the Internet. e. The amount of money raised by Senator McCain and Senator Obama for each of their campaigns differed by only $1 million.
d
32. The tendency for individuals to only pay attention to information that reinforces their held beliefs is known as __________. a. framing b. media bias c. racial bias d. selective attention e. political ideology
d
39. A television network decides to run a series of stories during the nightly news highlighting the need for stronger regulations over gun sales and purchases. This example is representative of __________. a. agenda-setting b. blogosphere politics c. managed news d. priming e. yellow journalism
d
50. A journalist that stereotypes individuals that are African American, Hispanic, or white while reporting on a story is engaging in __________. a. bias b. hazing c. priming d. racial profiling e. yellow journalism
d
10. Mass media can be defined as _________. a. media that are intended to be publicly available, or at least targeted at large numbers of people b. the methods or technologies people use for communication, such as phones, radio, newspapers, television, and the Internet c. the people and organizations that provide content about public affairs—news and commentary—that is disseminated across media d. programming that is intended primarily to entertain, but also provides political news e. information that the government provides to the media for distribution to the population at large
A
17. Which statement about the function of news media to make a profit is most accurate? a. Media profits are driven by circulation and listener/viewer ratings. b. The media depends on the government to obtain funding for broadcasting or publication. c. All news media in the United States is a private, for-profit corporate enterprise. d. A vital component to a newspaper and television station making a profit is accurate, fact-based reporting. e. Social networking websites and other Internet media are not revenue-driven and advertise differently than the traditional media.
A
27. Microtargeting was used in the 2012 presidential election to __________. a. run specific types of campaign ads during television programs that had unique viewing audiences b. send personalized donation request letters to registered voters in battleground states c. generate personalized emails to registered voters to remind them of the need to vote in the upcoming election d. blanket neighborhoods with volunteers in "Get Out the Vote" drives e. provide information to interest groups, corporations, and political advocacy groups about voter opinion
A
31. Which of the following best describes citizens who pay a lot of attention to the news? a. They usually have strong political views and are not very persuadable. b. They are open to new information and thus very persuadable. c. They can be persuaded by well-produced news segments. d. They tend to be more ideologically moderate than the general population. e. They are more interested in policy issues than elections.
A
. The media's entertainment function, as related to politics, is best demonstrated through _________. a. airing friction-filled presidential debates in the weeks leading up to the general election b. network dramas that introduce politically controversial topics to stimulate public discussion c. creating reality shows like Survivor or American Idol that covertly address political issues d. politically related talk shows that dominate the prime-time slots on the major television networks e. cable news programs that promote the ideology of the host or channel
B
16. Which statement about media and political campaigns is true? a. Campaigns have focused mostly on Internet advertising and decreased television advertising in recent years. b. Most national political figures plan every public appearance and statement to attract media coverage. c. The primary news source for the majority of Americans is the Internet. d. Media influence on politics is most obvious between the general election and inauguration day. e. The importance of news coverage for a single event has decreased over the past two decades.
B
18. One of the most effective political ads was a thirty-second spot for __________, depicting a little girl picking daisies in a field and then an image of a mushroom cloud emanating from a nuclear explosion. a. John F. Kennedy in his campaign against Richard Nixon b. Lyndon Johnson in his campaign against Barry Goldwater c. Jimmy Carter in his campaign against Ronald Reagan d. George Herbert Walker Bush in his campaign against Michael Dukakis e. Bill Clinton in his campaign against George Herbert Walker Bush
B
20. Spin refers to __________. a. misleading information in the tabloid press b. an interpretation of campaign events that is most favorable to the candidate c. the rotation of political commentators on public access channels d. the calculations made by the media after the closing of polls on the east coast e. a brief memorable comment that can easily fit into news broadcasts
B
6. Media programming that is focused on a particular interest and aimed at a particular audience is called __________. a. broadcasting b. narrowcasting c. media conglomeration d. target-rich programming e. agenda setting
B
Which statement about talk radio is most accurate? a. The number of talk radio stations that program only talk shows has decreased since the 1980s. b. Political talk shows are often criticized because they focus on negative politics rather than policy issues. c. Political talk shows with a liberal perspective outnumber those with a conservative agenda. d. Research reflects that the audience for talk radio is frequently unaware of the ideology of the political programming. e. More than 2,000 radio stations offer programming related to politics today.
B
21. The 1960 presidential debates between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon __________. a. were canceled when the incumbent backed out of a series of scheduled debates b. demonstrated how quickly a candidate can fall in the public opinion polls c. illustrated the importance of the candidates' televised images d. were broadcast live only on radio but filmed to be aired later in movie theaters e. reinforced the fact that people don't care what a candidate looks like, but instead care the most about a candidate's ideas
C
28. Which statement about the media's impact on voters is true? a. Research has shown that the media has a substantial impact of voting behavior. b. A large number of Americans accessing media have a limited knowledge of political issues and candidates. c. Individuals will filter out information that does not fit with their own ideas. d. Information that makes an individual uncomfortable will often prompt further research to determine the accuracy. e. The media can cause a decided voter to change their opinion through the repetition of campaign information.
C
Managed news was a concept that __________. a. dates back to the time of the Revolutionary War when the colonists sought to limit information made available in broadsides to the British soldiers b. originated with the administration of George Washington when he attempted to control the press to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive government information c. was easily achieved during the early years of the nation's history because of the large number of politically sponsored newspapers d. appeared in the nineteenth century due to technological changes that led to the development of mass-readership newspapers e. began with sensationalist newspapers like the New York Tribune following the Civil War to reinforce the division in the country
C
14. The media's role in socializing young Americans is often done through __________. a. newspaper articles b. radio talk shows c. television programming d. the Internet e. books and magazines
D
15. Which statement about the political forum function of the media is most accurate? a. Providing a political forum to candidates and challengers generates revenue for newspapers and television networks because of the costs paid for coverage. b. Political forums allow the media to present alternative policies that the politicians may not have considered. c. Elected officials use news reporting to generate funding for their campaigns. d. Candidates for office use news reporting to sustain interest in their campaigns. e. The opportunities for citizens to participate in the political forum are rather limited.
D
19. Which of the following statements concerning the "Daisy Girl" ad from the 1964 presidential campaign is true? a. The ad ran nightly for a month before being retired by the campaign. b. The ad attempted to portray Lyndon Johnson as a candidate who would lead the United States to nuclear war. c. The ad negatively backfired and caused a brief surge of support for Barry Goldwater. d. The ad is an example of classic negative campaign advertising. e. The ad outraged World War II veterans who thought it played upon emotions related to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
D
24. The attempts by campaign staffs to influence the quantity and type of coverage their candidates will receive from the media __________. a. would not fail as frequently as they do if campaign managers and their assistants became more sophisticated and knowledgeable about how the modern media work b.fail so frequently because campaign managers simply don't recognize the opportunity to manipulate reporters who are in competition with each other for stories c. succeed occasionally despite the fact that campaign managers are hardly ever able to convince reporters that a particular interpretation of an event is correct d. succeed frequently because campaign staff understand the technical aspects of media coverage, such as camera angles and deadlines, and plan events to accommodate the press e. fail inevitably because the individuals in the media are simply smarter and savvier than the campaign staff who are attempting to manipulate them
D
30. The increase in advertising by campaigns during the final weeks or days before an election is related to __________. a. the need to sway voters that have committed to the opposing candidate b. the requirement by the Federal Elections Commission that all campaign funds be expended before election day c. a reduction in advertising costs on television networks and radio stations d. a desire to gain the support of an undecided voter e. the need to counteract any decline in party support related to debates
D
9. Which statement about the role of the media in society is true? a. Media is often limited with the scope of news and information that they cover because of government control. b. Regulations over media have increased during the past two decades as alternative sources of news and information have emerged. c. The influence a citizen can have over their elected official is limited due to the fact that these individuals control the release of information. d. Alternative sources of news and information are essential to inform citizens and maintain democracy. e. The role that media plays in society has been declining because of narrowcasting in the mainstream media.
D
12. The media's role in reporting the news is __________. a. secondary to setting the public agenda through investigative stories b. often misrepresented as being vital to the democratic process c. diminished because of the biased information provided by most of the mass media d. a form of political socialization e. an extension of the freedom of the press found in the First Amendment
E
13. When the media reports on a public issue that the government should address, they are __________. a. identifying public problems b. socializing a new generation c. reporting on the news d. providing a political forum e. entertaining viewers
a
2. Which of the following statements best exemplifies yellow journalism? a. A newspaper editor runs a sensationalized story in order to sell its publication. b. A newspaper owner expounds their political philosophy through its publication. c. A politically sponsored newspaper runs stories that promote its party's point of view. d. Biased journalism that exists in all publications. e. A failure to report the news accurately for fear of retribution.
a
23. Generally, in presidential debates __________. a. challengers have much more to gain from debating than do incumbents b. nonvoters are more inclined to favor the challengers c. the minority party enjoys an advantage d. it is difficult to find sponsors e. the election outcome is rarely affected
a
42. One of the earliest central goals of the FCC was to __________. a. prevent a single company from dominating the airwaves in an area b. maintain journalistic integrity among broadcast media c. prevent media programs from airing vulgar or lewd content d. regulate newspaper content to prevent the publication of information that was a national security threat e. prevent foreign companies from controlling American media
a
45. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 has allowed __________. a. companies to own more media outlets b. the government to seize stations from defiant companies c. the government to strongly enforce the fairness doctrine d. the government to regulate cable television e. the FCC to raise the national audience-reach cap from 35 percent to 45 percent
a
51. Television, newspapers, and the Internet provide information for individuals who want to be knowledgeable about politics, however, __________. a. many people do not take the time to become critical consumers of the news b. few people access the information c. recognizing inaccuracies is often overlooked d. research of the information learned in the news story is often time consuming e. the cost of accessing this information often limits those who utilize the news stories
a
8. Which statement about the role of social networking, blogging, and the Internet is most accurate? a. Politicians at all levels of government office have placed importance on having a presence on the Web. b. The two-major party candidates for president in 2004 were the first to develop political websites for their campaign. c. Because social networks were intended for use among friends, business colleagues, and families, politicians have limited their presence in these applications. d. Political candidates have had limited success using the Internet to raise money to fund campaigns. e. Blogs often encourage readers to obtain further information through other news sources in the mainstream media.
a
A valuable benefit for politicians that continues to be newsworthy is a. they gain free access to the broadcast media b. the need to develop a campaign platform is diminished c. they are rarely challenged when they choose to seek reelection d. they no longer need to devote time and financial resources to building networks on social media e. the need to recruit political consultants to develop a media campaign is eliminated
a
35. The breadth of information available to the public about the activities of the president is largely due to __________. a. the White House press corps which has almost continual access to the chief executive b. the president's press secretary who provides daily or twice-daily briefings c. the president himself who uses the press to promote programs he would like to see created d. the digital age which has prompted individuals to demand in-depth coverage of their elected officials e. other nations that have allowed their press unlimited access and prompted our news media to do the same
a or b
22. A spin doctor is a __________. a. journalist who practices sensationalistic and irresponsible reporting so his or her organization makes more money b. political campaign adviser who tries to convince journalists of the truth of a particular interpretation of events c. government spokesperson who generates information that gives government interests priority over candor d. professional political commentator who appears on cable news programs e. media elite who determines which stories to cover and which to ignore
b
29. As Election Day draws closer, media coverage will usually change to __________. a. become more focused on policy issues b. become more focused on undecided voters c. grow more negative in tone d. begin to feature speculation about the next election e. feature more interviews
b
33. Which statement about the media and government control is most accurate? a. The First Amendment allows the media freedom from government control. b. The media can wield power over the affairs of government and over government officials. c. The media is limited by the government through the Federal Communications Commission. d. Initiatives by the Justice Department have provided the media greater freedom of information related to government activities. e. The president is able to limit the freedom of the media through executive privilege.
b
36. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was one of the first presidents to make effective use of the media by __________. a. maximizing radio broadcasts to obtain campaign contributions that allowed him to fund four campaigns for the White House b. bringing the country together in times of chaos and war by delivering a message that was suited for each situation c. mobilizing the people to demand changes to limit the scope of government in financial institutions d. using his elected position as a bully pulpit to push his policy initiatives through Congress e. limiting media reports that were critical of his administration or policies
b
37. Framing is best defined as the __________. a. influence on public opinion as a result of the way a story is presented or covered, including the details, explanations, and context offered in the report b. influence on public opinion as a result of a story that covers one candidate or policy favorably without providing similar coverage of the other side c. influence on public opinion as a result of journalists' decisions about which news stories to cover d. influence on public opinion as a result of positive or negative coverage of a candidate or issue e. influence of government activities as a result of media coverage of an issue
b
43. A consequence of the proliferation of new media formats such as cable television networks and Internet websites is __________. a. an emphasis on unbiased and balanced news coverage b. development of political wires such as the Associated Press (AP) c. freedom of programmers to appeal to specific tastes and political attitudes d. the rise of mass newspapers that print sensationalized stories e. an increase in viewers of traditional television news programs
b
46. Evidence of the power of large media conglomerates is best demonstrated through __________. a. the decision by Congress to reduce the national audience-reach cap to 39 percent b. the attempt by the FCC to increase the national audience-reach cap to 45 percent c. the fact that only a few independent news operations exist in the United States d. regulations that permit a corporation can still own up to three television stations in its largest market e. the creation of news websites, blogs, and podcasts that are an extension of corporations
b
47. Congress passes a law requiring the broadcast networks to provide free airtime to candidates. This is an example of __________. a. managed news b. media access c. priming d. framing e. public agenda
b
25. The most important aspect of debates for political candidates is taking advantage of an opportunity to __________. a. present their own views on the issues b. attack the views of their opponent on the issues c. use the power of television to project an image d. speak to the part of the electorate that is already committed to voting for the candidate e. show the electorate that the candidate is eloquent and articulate
c
38. In January 2013, the government shut down as part of a sequestration. Some reports focused more on the negative consequences of the sequestration, while others discussed how Tea Party members of Congress pushed for fiscal responsibility. What kinds of effect might these different stories have on readers and viewers? a. agenda setting b. distorting c. framing d. priming e. racial bias
c
4. At the founding of the nation, the role of the media in politics was viewed as __________. a. crucial to spreading political information to the electorate b. an overstepping of a clear boundary since freedom of the press was not established c. limited because of the speed at which news traveled d. vital since a large group of citizens controlled the political discussion e. a nuisance since Thomas Jefferson openly opposed newspapers
c
41. Which statement about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is most accurate? a. The FCC has little control over wireless frequencies because Congress has not authorized this authority. b. The media is limited with the stories that they can cover related to the government because of censorship by the FCC. c. The government established the FCC to distribute and regulate the radio, television, and wireless frequencies. d. The Supreme Court ruled that allowing the FCC to regulate interstate telephone service was a violation of the Commerce Act. e. The FCC has permitted large corporations to secure control of the telephone, cable, satellite television, and Internet services.
c
48. Research shows that bias in news coverage __________. a. does not exist because private views do not influence the reporting of the news b. is misrepresented and exaggerated through websites with conservative or liberal ideologies c. is prevalent with a majority of the media elite leaning to liberal ideologies d. has shifted over the past 30 years to favor conservative policies e. is not recognized in the public with most people reporting a decrease in the amount of bias
c
The mass readership of newspapers began in the nineteenth century because of __________. a. the desire to follow events related to the Civil War b. a backlash to the government's desire to manage news c. the increase in the literate population d. the invention of the high-speed rotary press and the telegraph e. Supreme Court rulings that permitted accurate reporting under the protection of the First Amendment
d
34. The media and the executive branch have a relationship that is best described as __________. a. causal because both groups are interacting because of the role that they play in government operation b. collaborative since the president and White House press corps work together to establish the public agenda c. fiduciary since the media depends on funding from the government to operate d. mutual due to the rights and responsibilities each has subscribed to uphold e. reciprocal because each needs the other to thrive in the political arena
e
40. When Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein broke the story of the Watergate scandal in the early 1970s, what role of the press were they fulfilling? a. engaging in political socialization. b. coordinating public actions. c. interpreting developments in news. d. providing essential information for informed political decisions. e. conducting investigative reporting.
e
44. The rise of mass media conglomeration in recent years has had the effect of __________. a. focusing on profits rather than covering government and public affairs in depth b. presenting a wide range of views on policy issues c. encouraging the media to publicize challenging social and political issues d. decreasing government regulation of the media e. generating clear bias in the media that reflects the ideology of the conglomerates owners
e
49. The FCC is able to regulate broadcast media but not print media because __________. a. print media companies have more money to fight government regulation b. more people watch television than read newspapers c. Congress did not extend this power to the FCC d. the public owns the airwaves, and broadcasters only rent them from the government e. the First Amendment does not cover broadcast media
e
