Chapter 5: The Media and American Democracy
Your favorite presidential candidate is appearing on a television talk show. You learn that your least favorite candidate will be on the same show the next day. The television station is likely honoring the _____.
Equal Time Rule
What social media company, in 2021, owned 80% of social media?
The Governor of Illinois decides he'd like to raise the minimum wage in his state. Before releasing any other information, his press secretary tweets: 'Governor to help millions by supporting wage increase.' This is an example of _____.
Immediate Connection
Which of the following is an example of bias by labeling?
A congressman attends the Muslim wedding of a close friend. A newspaper reports on his attendance, calling the congressman an 'Iraqi sympathizer.'
Which journalist is considered to be a muckraker?
A journalist who uncovers corruption and embezzlement by the mayor
Which of the following is associated with bias by selection of sources?
A news outlet produces a story about a divisive issue, quoting only people who support one side of the issue.
Which of the following is NOT an example of broadcast media?
A politician speaks to a gathering of people during a campaign.
Which of the following answer choices contains the best example of bias by story selection?
A reporter who aligns with the Democratic party chooses to only publish positive stories about his party's candidate and ignores any stories of potential corruption or scandal involving that candidate. The reporter also refuses to print any positive stories about the opposing Republican candidate.
The coverage of the fall of the Berlin Wall was an example of:
A satellite transmission
Which of the following answer choices contains the best example of state media?
In the country of Lynndale, all newspapers and television broadcast channels are controlled by the government.
Which type of programming can only be broadcast during certain hours?
Indecent programming or profane language
Bill reads about a candidate's polling numbers on the online page of the New York Times. Which is the most specific way to describe how he gained this information?
Internet media
Which of the following is NOT true about print media?
It includes online newspapers, social media, and other electronic journalism
Mary decides she'd like to run for mayor. She posts the information on Facebook along with an offer for a free newsletter subscription to anyone who clicks the thumbs up button. Within a few hours, she sees that her approach has been widely successful. Mary is attempting to bring positive attention to her run for office through _____.
Liking
Any means of communication intended to reach a general, public audience is known as _____.
Mass media
Which of the following statements about mass media is true?
Mass media has an indirect influence on commerce, culture and politics.
_____ refers to the act of closely examining and judging the media.
Media criticism
What is propaganda?
Misleading content designed to promote a specific view
Which media source, though declining in popularity, has an audience that tends to be more politically active?
Newspaper
Where did Roosevelt's 'fireside chats' appear?
On the radio
Which of the following answer choices contains the best definition of propaganda?
Propaganda is media that is purposely biased or misleading to promote a particular political point of view.
The host of a popular daytime radio show ignores his guest's use of profanity during their lively on-air conversation. This violates the FCC's _____.
Public Decency Standards
Which of the following is an example of the use of propaganda?
Publishing a misleading newspaper article
Callie is browsing her Facebook feed. She notices that several of her friends are sharing articles from an organization called The Society for the Rehumanization of American Music. She goes to the organization's website and realizes she agrees with what they have to say about bringing imagination and soul back to modern music. Callie starts supporting and promoting their efforts. Callie's political attitude has been shaped through _____.
Sharing
Which of the following terms best describes the defamation of character through unrecorded gestures or oral remarks?
Slander
A presidential candidate called John Smith sends most of his messages through Twitter. He also tries to maintain an active account on Facebook. These are his two main ways of communicating with voters. This means that he primarily relies on which of the following?
Social Media
Why did television viewers of the Kennedy-Nixon debate have different opinions about who won than radio listeners?
Television viewers focused on Kennedy's calm demeanor, while radio listeners focused on the points Nixon made.
Which of the following is the BEST explanation for the largely unrestricted violence and adult content found on the Internet?
The FCC does not regulate the Internet or paid cable programming
_____ were printed and distributed to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution.
The Federalist Papers
If a news organization wants to do a story on the allocation of federal grant money, which of the following would be most helpful?
The Freedom of Information Act
How does the increased use of social media affect political candidates?
Things candidates say are disseminated to the public more quickly than through other media types.
How was the political system impacted when candidates began presenting themselves on television in the 70's?
Voters began placing a higher value on a candidate's personality
Which of the following is an example of the media functioning as a public educator?
Voters go online to find the nearest polling place.
What is it called when a political figure uses the media to send a coded message to their followers?
a dog whistle
Newspapers, television, radio, and the internet are all examples of: media sources. tools people use to gain information about the government. methods that can be used to communicate to a general, public audience.
all of the answer choices are correct.
Many media outlets have reported extensively on the long wait times for veterans seeking medical attention through VA hospitals. Several of those outlets neglected to cover the federal corruption and bureaucratic difficulties that led to the poor care of veterans. This is an example of _____.
bias by omission
Conservatives and liberals have very different views on healthcare reform. A news station places a story featuring the conservative point of view at the top of its newscast, while placing a short story on the liberal point of view at the end. This is an example of _____.
bias by placement
Calling the media, social and mainstream, ''fake news'' is a form of _____.
demagoguery
The government is allowed to intervene when speech _____.
incites violence
Marge is running for public office. Her opponent suggests (falsely) on the evening news that Marge used state money to fund her personal vacation. Her opponent's accusation is an example of _____.
libel
Exposing the corruption of a politician is an example of _____.
muckraking
Journalist Karen just wrote a newspaper article exposing the corrupt actions of the state governor. This is an example of:
muckraking
The American Red Cross used Twitter to raise money for the Haiti earthquake victims. This is an example of an organization utilizing:
new media
When the media provides a forum for candidates to debate and present their ideas to the public, it is functioning as a:
platform
Any choice that deals with government affairs, structure or politics is known as a _____.
political decision
The Federal Communications Commissions, which manages the airwaves, was established by _____.
the Federal Communications Act of 1934.
The mainstream media is sometimes called _____.
the Fourth Estate
When the media functions to protect the public from corruption by exposing illegal practices, it is taking the role of a:
watchdog
Widespread support for the Spanish-American War is attributed to _____.
yellow journalism
Where do most Americans get their news and information from today?
Broadcast media
Why did President Franklin Roosevelt use radio to deliver the 'fireside chats' to the general public?
Because he could communicate directly and personally with his audience
Several reporters approach the governor as he exits a meeting. They shout questions, asking about his plan to deal with prison overcrowding. He replies, 'I don't have time for this.' One reporter prints that the governor isn't concerned about prison overcrowding and won't make the time to correct the issue. Why is this an example of bias by spin?
Because the reporter interpreted an objective fact in a subjective manner
If a news outlet prominently places news stories that coincide with a specific agenda and hides stories that promote a different viewpoint, which type of media bias is it showing?
Bias by placement
You are watching the news on TV and you realize that the reporter is adding personal comments, using an ironic tone, and giving a personal interpretation of the facts. This is a clear case of:
Bias by spin
Which of the following is an example of 'bias by omission'?
When the media leaves out one side of the story
