GOVT 2306 Texas Government Chapter 8 - Public Opinion and the Media
Which of the following is a problematic aspect of citizen journalism? YouTube now severely restricts unattributed "shares." It may lack context. It limits the ways in which news can be shared. It is being overtaken by traditional media sources.
It may lack context.
The 1996 Telecommunications Act did what? It regulated all forms of cyberstalking and cyberbullying. It revised both the equal time rule and the right of rebuttal to include electronic media. It brought the regulation of print, broadcast, and electronic media under the control of the Federal Communications Commission. It relaxed the limit on how many radio and TV stations one company could own.
It relaxed the limit on how many radio and TV stations one company could own.
Why is Texas a state in which digital media can be especially cost-saving for statewide campaigns? It's very large and costly to travel to all areas in person. Texas doesn't restrict what campaigns can post. Texas, more than any other state, relies almost exclusively on the Internet for news.
It's very large and costly to travel to all areas in person.
What U.S. Supreme Court decision established the definition of obscenity? United States v. Windsor Miller v. California District of Columbia v. Heller Loving v. Virginia
Miller v. California
The most popular podcasts reflect content hosted by __________. National Public Radio talk radio hosts extremist groups national news networks
National Public Radio
___________ is the principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites. Fair use Net neutrality The right of rebuttal Equal time
Net neutrality
When there is conflict between competing positions, why is it important for the government to be aware of public opinion? Public opinion can be used to shape policy. Public opinion is the most informed. Public opinion is formed without bias. Public opinion is essential in reelection efforts.
Public opinion can be used to shape policy.
Select all that apply Push polls are considered outright illegitimate for which of the following reasons? Scientific sampling is not used. They attack opposing candidates and ideas. They use only by-mail survey methods.
Scientific sampling is not used. They attack opposing candidates and ideas.
___________ factors include things like income, education, race, and ethnicity; they can affect voter turnout. Genetic Societal Partisan Socioeconomic
Socioeconomic
In its 2018 polling, the UT/Tribune survey determined what about Texans' support for ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, as outlined by the Trump administration? Texas Democrats firmly support ending DACA. There is little support among either party for ending DACA. There is major support from both parties for ending DACA. There is more support among Texas Democrats to keep DACA than Republican consensus to end it.
There is more support among Texas Democrats to keep DACA than Republican consensus to end it.
Select all that apply In which of the following ways have social media proven to be disruptive to the traditional forms of media? They allow citizens to shape the news agenda. They expose many to news outside of mainstream sources. They have resulted in the CNN effect. They have made people part of the news as it happens.
They allow citizens to shape the news agenda. They expose many to news outside of mainstream sources. They have made people part of the news as it happens.
What is one problem associated with focus groups? They do not allow for unanticipated responses from participants. They are not effective as supplements to survey research. They are less flexible than surveys. They are less quantitatively measured.
They are less quantitatively measured.
Select all that apply In which of the following ways have social media proven to be disruptive to the traditional forms of media? They expose many to news outside of mainstream sources. They have resulted in the CNN effect. They have made people part of the news as it happens. They allow citizens to shape the news agenda.
They expose many to news outside of mainstream sources. They have made people part of the news as it happens. They allow citizens to shape the news agenda.
True or false: Connecting with the public directly is the most important advantage that the Internet offers political campaigns. True False
True
What role did Twitter play in the 2016 Dallas Black Lives Matter protest march shootings? The Dallas Metro Police used Twitter to communicate with each other. The shooter used tweets to identify victims. Tweets helped Dallas Metro Police capture the shooter. Tweets helped prove that a suspected shooter was actually innocent.
Tweets helped prove that a suspected shooter was actually innocent.
Select all that apply According to Harold Lasswell's model, what questions should we ask in order to better understand "the media"? What is the message? Who is providing the financial resources? What is the method? Who is the audience? What is the motivation? Who is the sender?
What is the message? What is the method? Who is the audience? Who is the sender?
Select all that apply Paul Baran, one of the Internet's earliest pioneers, presciently predicted that the rise of channel choice would lead to which of the following? an increase in civics knowledge and education an invigoration of American democracy a decrease in political news gathering among more educated members of the community a decline in dialogue between community members with different viewpoints
a decline in dialogue between community members with different viewpoints
Select all that apply What are the three broad functions the media serve within their communities? acting as a link educating audiences building community shaping perception providing information
acting as a link shaping perception providing information
In the example of the news coverage of Texas's Child Protective Services and its severe problems, the issue finally received attention only after it was covered in the media. This is an example of _______________. gatekeeping soft news agenda setting critical journalism
agenda setting
What category of public opinion is "the simple sum of many individual opinions"? fiction interest group conflict aggregation media/elite opinion majoritarian
aggregation
As of 2018, approximately what percentage of Americans rely upon television broadcasts for their news? approximately 40 percent less than 10 percent less than 30 percent more than 75 percent
approximately 40 percent
In the 1990 GOPAC push to get Republican candidates elected, Newt Gingrich helped develop ________ into a fine art. the use of optimistic language gerrymandering attack ads positive issue ads
attack ads
Select all that apply What are some problems with survey polling? biased sampling low response rates leading questions inability to quantitatively analyze
biased sampling low response rates leading questions
Select all that apply Which of the following would be classified as spending on traditional media for a political campaign? billboards tweets direct mail television ads Facebook posts
billboards direct mail television ads
David's Law, passed in Texas in 2017, attempts to mitigate what issue? sex trafficking child pornography the uptick in the spread of AIDS bullying on social media
bullying on social media
The collection, dissemination, and analysis of news and information by the general public, especially by means of the Internet, is called _______ journalism. first-person eyewitness "man-on-the-street" citizen
citizen
Select all that apply Which of the following are among the influences that affect individual Texans' opinions? conservatively biased media coverage a collectivistic culture a traditionalistic culture a predominantly Democratic government
conservatively biased media coverage a traditionalistic culture
The 2016 simulcast of presidential debates in Spanish is an example of how ________. consumers drive media content members of minority groups have come to control U.S. media politics is outside the norm of media coverage of other issues
consumers drive media content
The purpose of mass media gatekeeping is ____________. promoting a specific agenda determining newsworthiness increasing ratings, readership, and "likes"
determining newsworthiness
For state and local agencies in Texas, social media use is governed by ______. the state's social media privacy law each agency's internal rules FCC regulations an executive order by the governor
each agency's internal rules
When users self-select information on social media, the result is a(n) ___________. greater exposure to hackers greater exposure to citizen journalism deluge of "fake news" echo chamber
echo chamber
Soft news's purpose is to ___________. inform enlighten entertain educate
entertain
Facebook, especially after it changed its algorithms to limit the ability of news organizations to asset themselves into news feeds, has _________ the echo chamber effect. not addressed diminished exacerbated
exacerbated
The media cannot effectively act as an adversary to government if it _______. does not take a side on the varying issues fails to consolidate its various outlets fails to provide accurate, substantive news doesn't provide a certain level of entertainment
fails to provide accurate, substantive news
Select all that apply Which of the following are agents of socialization in the United States? (Choose every correct answer.) family scientific research the media education
family the media education
The category of public opinion that is defined as "rhetorical construction used so freely in our newspapers and on television as to be meaningless" is called ________ majoritarian aggregation media/elite opinion interest group conflict fiction
fiction
George Lakoff has pointed out that while deciding what is news has a huge impact on public perception of an issue, how it is ______ significantly influences public reaction to it. framed sold monetized researched
framed
Research has shown that newspapers from counties near the U.S.-Mexico border tend to have an overall negative slant toward immigrants. This "slant" is an example of ____________. resonance priming framing agenda setting
framing
In his 1992 presidential campaign, Ross Perot spent $34.8 million of his own money on a series of __________. infomercials roadside billboards attack ads podcasts
infomercials
Deeply researched stories that uncover serious crime, corruption, or corporate wrongdoing are called _____________ journalism, something in which notable news magazines engage. true-crime investigative tabloid sensationalist
investigative
Which of the following best characterizes a "public"? its crowd-based nature its mass nature its combative nature its communicative nature
its communicative nature
Select all that apply In Texas, concentration in media has resulted in which of the following? less local news a selection bias that has a national slant greater participation of citizen journalists a diminished gatekeeping role for large media conglomerates
less local news a selection bias that has a national slant
In a landmark 1986 survey of journalists, researchers found that journalists overwhelmingly perceived themselves to be _____ the owners of the media and the public in general. more liberal than more conservative than uniquely representative, politically, of
more liberal than
What type of survey reinterviews people to determine changes in opinion over time? sample survey census survey probability sample survey panel survey
panel survey
The process through which we learn political attitudes and opinions is called ______ political normalization political socialization socioeconomics majoritarianism
political socialization
A television ad with a candidate on horseback, looking rugged with his loyal dog beside him and describing how he wants to protect Second Amendment rights, would be an example of what type of ad? Hollywood ad positive issue ad state-specific ad sensationalist ad
positive issue ad
The act of writing or presenting news stories that reflect a significantly distorted view of reality, favoring one party over another in the case of political parties, is called ________ bias. interpretive media presentation selection
presentation
Select all that apply In terms of medium, which of the following are categorizations we use? print private electronic public
print electronic
The right of rebuttal does not apply to ___________. television print media radio
print media
Political scientist Thomas Patterson argues that the ________ that citizens can access affects their interest in the news. currency of information quantity of information quality of information ratio of hard news to soft news
quality of information
The media cultivate and influence the public's social reality and mirror society's culture back to the viewer through _________. priming resonance gatekeeping framing
resonance
Match the type of polling error with the appropriate description. sampling error = the possibility for underrepresentative responses total versus actual sample size = the possibility for respondents to answer some not all questions response rate = the possibility for a large percentage of nonresponses
sampling error = the possibility for underrepresentative responses total versus actual sample size = the possibility for respondents to answer some not all questions response rate = the possibility for a large percentage of nonresponses
The earliest form of public opinion polling (as we know it today) consisted of newspapers setting up outside polling places and interviewing voters after they cast their ballots. These polls are called ____________. telephone polls straw polls push polls
straw polls
Pandora, Spotify, and Netflix are examples of ___________. echo chambers podcasts citizen journalism streaming services
streaming services
In 2015, the FCC reclassified broadband Internet transmission as a __________, which allowed to regulate ISPs, but the protections offered by that decision ended in December 2017. common good network telecommunications service public utility public good
telecommunications service
What entity is responsible for issuing regulations concerning broadcast media? the Department of the Interior the Federal Communications Commission the Interstate Commerce Commission the Federal Trade Commission
the Federal Communications Commission
Because it contains elements of print, television, and radio, government regulation of ______ is the most complicated. broadcast television the Internet newsprint radio
the Internet
According to anthropologist Thomas de Zengotita, what 1963 event, which was widely covered in the media, changed people's perception of the news? the arrest of Martin Luther King, Jr., in Birmingham, Alabama the U.S. ban on travel to and commerce with Cuba the assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas Alabama governor George Wallace's inauguration speech
the assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas
During what era of American history did almost 95 percent of U.S. households own radios? the beginning of the Vietnam War the end of World War II the early 1960s the early 1903s
the end of World War II
What requires that a broadcaster permitting one political candidate access to the airwaves must afford equal opportunities to all other such candidates seeking the same office? the equal time rule the right of rebuttal the fair use doctrine net neutrality
the equal time rule
A crucial element to the success of streaming services is ________. the use of smartphones the rise of social media the accompanying growth in traditional media popularity the fact that they are all free to users
the use of smartphones
Citizens consider information they receive directly from the media in light of ______________, exacerbating media bias. their own research their own ideological biases how the issue is framed
their own ideological biases
Today, we use "press" and "media" somewhat interchangeably. At the founding of the nation, ____________ there was no "media" these two words had more nuanced meanings members of the "media" were not differentiated from any other citizen these two words were also interchangeable
these two words had more nuanced meanings
Select all that apply Which factors contribute to media selection bias? public perceptions time personnel budgetary constraints
time personnel budgetary constraints
How many notable news magazines are published in Texas? twenty-three three two twelve
two
Approximately what portion of American adults use at least one form of social media to share information? two-thirds one-half one-third 90 percent
two-thirds
The media are typically categorized by ______________. real or fake public sphere and political sphere state and federal type of message and type of media
type of message and type of media
The effect of public opinion on the increasing number of dismissals for small amounts of marijuana possession demonstrates that ____________. when conflict arises, public opinion is mobilized and affects the political elite the political elite can manipulate public opinion to support its goals the media play no real role in public opinion
when conflict arises, public opinion is mobilized and affects the political elite
In its 2020 polling, the UT/Tribune survey determined what about Texans' approval of the U.S. Supreme Court? As compared to Republicans, Democrats have a much higher rate of approval. As compared to Democrats, Republicans have a much higher rate of approval. Neither party shows strong approval. Both parties show strong approval.
As compared to Republicans, Democrats have a much higher rate of approval.
What 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruled that corporations and unions have a First Amendment right to spend unlimited funds on campaign advertisements, as long as the ads were not formally "coordinated" with any candidate? Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission Bush v. Gore New York Times v. Sullivan Obergefell v. Hodges
Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission
Citizens' use of social media to obtain information is both detrimental and beneficial to democracy. True False
True
Texas gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis received a big boost in popularity after her senatorial filibuster speech went viral on ________. Facebook Twitter YouTube Periscope
Baum and Potter argue that the mass media, as an institution in our democracy, traditionally act as a conduit for information up and down between the political elite and their constituents. This describes ________. the media as neutral adversaries gatekeeping a linkage mechanism an inverse relationship
a linkage mechanism
Interviews with citizens just after they have voted in an election are referred to as ____________ polls.
exit
The Telegraph and Texas Register is remembered as the originator of what rallying cry? "Texas independence now!" "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too!" "Don't mess with Texas!" "Remember the Alamo!"
"Remember the Alamo!"
Select all that apply Which of the following would be found in a positive issue ad? "Senator Houseman is nothing but a socialist in Democratic clothing." "Representative Nadal has been a breath of fresh air in the state house." "Ms. Roberts has long been an advocate for improving our schools." "Malia is dedicated to finding ways to improve our community healthcare system."
"Representative Nadal has been a breath of fresh air in the state house." "Ms. Roberts has long been an advocate for improving our schools." "Malia is dedicated to finding ways to improve our community healthcare system."
At the time of the founding of the nation, journalists were called ___________. scribes the "print media" "newsmongers" "the media"
"newsmongers"
Place the process of conducting a focus group into the appropriate order.
1. Identify the population 2. Sample the population in small, random doses 3. Develop an instrument 4. Talk with a moderator 5. Determine the type of analysis
As of 2019, about __________ percent of the adult population in the United States subscribed to satellite radio. 51 13 84 3
13
According to a 2019 Texas Politics Project poll, what percent of Texans supported legalizing the use of marijuana for medical use only? 16 percent 53 percent 26 percent 35 percent
26 percent
___________ provides a specific context and background through which audiences engage with a particular topic or story and repeats it over time. Framing Gatekeeping Priming Agenda setting
Priming
A fundamental function of the media is to decide what is news. This is called _________. framing resonance priming agenda setting
agenda setting
After the ________ determines newsworthiness, it uses agenda setting, priming, and framing to transform the remaining information into news stories. gatekeeper critical journalist ombudsman arbiter
gatekeeper
The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) sought to protect children from __________. spam harmful materials online unsolicited ads
harmful materials online
A digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or portable media player, typically available as a series, is a ________ smart file streaming service broadcast podcast
podcast
Which of the following refers to engagement in the public sphere that encompasses all media and messages between and among citizens, the media, and the governing elite? political socialization political communication public opinion soft news
political communication
According to Jan E. Leighley's research, when the mass media are pushers of a particular individual/politician, product, or idea, they are following the ___________ model. propagandist public advocates neutral adversaries profit seekers
propagandist
The reinforcement and magnification of existing beliefs about the reality and commonality of events due to the presentation of reality by the media is called ______________ resonance framing priming gatekeeping
resonance
What does the term "concentration" mean when discussing media in the United States? A few conglomerates have emerged as the major providers of information. There are more local media outlets and fewer national media outlets. Gatekeeping has become more decentralized as the number of media outlets has expanded. News media have completely dominated both traditional and digital media.
A few conglomerates have emerged as the major providers of information.
The impact that round-the-clock news coverage has had on the media is called the ___________ effect. concentration conglomeration CNN non-24
CNN
True or false: Only the federal government, not the states, may pass laws to regulate the Internet. True False
False
In what language was Texas's first newspaper published? English French Spanish
Spanish
____________ is the ability of the media to help shape public opinion respecting an event or a person in the public sphere.
priming
What does the term "concentration" mean when discussing media in the United States? Gatekeeping has become more decentralized as the number of media outlets has expanded. A few conglomerates have emerged as the major providers of information. There are more local media outlets and fewer national media outlets. News media have completely dominated both traditional and digital media
A few conglomerates have emerged as the major providers of information.
What is a potential pitfall for candidates who use digital campaigning? Digital campaigning can become very expensive very quickly. Any problematic statement or action, if digitally recorded, can come back to haunt them. They cannot connect directly to their target audience.
Any problematic statement or action, if digitally recorded, can come back to haunt them.
True or false: The use of attack ads is decreasing because they often backfire and harm the sponsoring candidate rather than the intended target. True False
False
In 1948, Texas's first television station began operating and broadcast a speech by whom? U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Fred Vinson President Harry Truman General Douglas MacArthur Texas governor Beauford Jester
President Harry Truman
True or false: Consumers drive media content as much as owners and producers do. True False
True
One big advantage of the use of digital media for political campaigns is that it ___________. means the role of campaign consultant is not as crucial saves money can completely replace traditional media
saves money
Focus groups usually include fewer than ___________ individuals at a time. ten twenty five fifty
ten
