COM101 Test 1

Media producers seek "stars" for their productions because stars ______. A. always make profitable productions B. reduce the perception of risk C. always produce high-quality products D. are often close friends with producers

B. reduce the perception of risk

The process by which we learn the basic ground rules of a particular social role is known as ______. A. role-playing B. socialization C. observation D. professionalization

B. socialization

Online advertisement has now overtaken ______ as the world's largest advertising medium. A. billboards B. television C. radio D. magazine

B. television

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) regulates U.S. interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.

False

The United States generally has more media regulations than Europe.

False

The internet gives each user less freedom in what media they consume and when they consume it.

False

Individuals working within the media have agency to alter the social structure in which they work.

True

Media content and technology are affected by each other through the influence of people.

True

Most of the media companies we are familiar with are owned by a few much larger companies. Example: Verizon owning Yahoo!

True

On average, the U.S. adults spend 12 hr and 21 min per day using a variety of media.

True

Platforms like Facebook and Google provide advertisers with viewers, which prompts viewers to become consumers of said products.

True

Soap operas were named after the soap manufacturers that sponsored them.

True

Structure and agency have push-pull interactions that are essential to understanding social life.

True

The 1996 Telecommunications Act facilitated concentration of media companies.

True

The first messages sent over radio were transmitted in 1895.

True

With the invention of the telegraph, people had more access to content that was irrelevant to them.

True

The chief media and communication regulatory body in the United States is the ______. A. FCC (Federal Communications Commission) B. MRB (Media Regulations Board) C. FTC (Fair Trade Commission) D. Department of Justice

A. FCC (Federal Communications Commission)

Which of the following is considered the major ideology present in the original rap music of the 1980s? A. a revolt against an unjust social system B. a praise of radical socialism C. a praise of contemporary capitalism D. a criticism against homosexuality

A. a revolt against an unjust social system

Seth chose not to walk at his high school graduation ceremony. His decision is an example of ______. A. agency B. free speech C. structure D. rebellion

A. agency

What is the easiest strategy for media organizations to avoid conflict with regulators, thereby enabling them to shape the actions of media organizations? A. compliance B. preemption C. interpretation D. ignore

A. compliance

In striving for popularity, television producers have often adopted the strategy of least objectionable programming, whereby programs are intended to avoid ______. A. controversy and remain politically bland B. ideological claims C. culture wars and controversial topics D. real-life scenarios

A. controversy and remain politically bland

Media sociologists often say that the journalistic norm of "objectivity" is a set of socially constructed "routine practices." What does "objectivity" mean? Explain.

Objectivity

The following describes a core concept often used in ideological criticism of media contents: The elite's control of consensus and promotion of dominant ideologies in society. Exercise of power through cultural leadership. This concept is called ______. A. hegemony B. socialism C. normalization D. cultural imperialism

A. hegemony

We can often be unaware of the ideological position of contemporary media because ______. A. it reflects our own taken-for-granted views of the world. B. personal problems can be solved by buying the right product. C. they can often present a distorted version of the world. D. they assumed that sharply defined, divergent, and unequal gender roles were appropriate and desirable, usually with men as breadwinners and women as stay-at-home moms.

A. it reflects our own taken-for-granted views of the world.

What does it mean that advertising created a modern consumer culture? Which values does advertising promote? Explain.

Answer Location: Advertising and Consumer Culture

Explain the concept of "hegemony." What is it and why is it important in the ideological analysis of media?

Answer Location: Hegemony

Flip the channels during the evening news and you will find the networks covering many of the same stories, often in a very similar way. Pick up a couple of daily newspapers, and you will probably notice many of the same stories prominently featured. Why is news from different outlets so much alike? Explain.

Answer Location: News Routines and Their Consequences

According to the text, why was there such a proliferation of Vietnam movies in the 1970s in the United States? A. The U.S. government subsidized production of Vietnam movies. B. It was American society's ideological attempt to overcome the Vietnam syndrome. C. The Vietnamese government pressured the U.S. film industry to produce more Vietnam movies. D. The United Nations recommended Vietnam movies to reconcile the conflict.

B. It was American society's ideological attempt to overcome the Vietnam syndrome.

Major advertisements address audiences as ______. A. citizens B. consumers C. workers D. neighbors

B. consumers

The FCC historically has been reluctant to be a firm enforcer, in large part because of the complexities of its relationship to the U.S. Congress and to the media industries it is supposed to regulate. This has enabled many forms of media industries to do what political constraint response? A. compliance B. ignore C. preemption D. interpretation

B. ignore

The 1990 Children's Television Act required stations to include educational television in their Saturday morning lineups but lacked a definition of what "educational" programming is by law. As a result, broadcasters were willing to define almost anything as educational, including old cartoons such as The Flintstones and The Jetsons. What type of political constraint response is this? A. preemption B. interpretation C. challenge D. compliance

B. interpretation

______ is a system of meaning that helps define and explain the world and that makes value judgments about that world. A. Democracy B. Semiotics C. Ideology D. Communism

C. Ideology

Which of the following is consistent with an ideological analysis of media? A. Media representations reproduce reality. B. Media representations reflect reality. C. Media representations help define reality. D. Media representations have nothing to do with reality.

C. Media representations help define reality.

One common ideological criticism of contemporary advertising is that ads ______. A. promote a minimalist culture B. normalize different ways of living C. normalize a middle- or upper-middle-class lifestyle D. promote a worldview that stresses the community and the public life

C. normalize a middle- or upper-middle-class lifestyle

A common portrayal of family life in contemporary television is a ______ lifestyle. A. poor B. rural C. upper-middle-class D. lower-middle-class

C. upper-middle-class

Which of the following best describes the definition of ideology? A. Ideology is official dogmas of communism and fascism. B. Ideology is an elaborate philosophy of language, symbols, and culture based on the analytic distinction between signifier and signified. C. Ideology is a subliminal set of messages secretly embedded in otherwise neutral media messages like entertainment films and advertisements. D. Ideology is the realm of taken-for-granted thoughts and ideas in circulation that reflect the power dynamics at work in a society.

D. Ideology is the realm of taken-for-granted thoughts and ideas in circulation that reflect the power dynamics at work in a society.

An example of the incorporation of oppositional cultural forms is ______. A. television programs about students B. news articles that quote prisoners C. advertisements on the Internet D. a Janis Joplin song selling Mercedes-Benz cars

D. a Janis Joplin song selling Mercedes-Benz cars

Which is a common ideology in Hollywood action-adventure movies? A. a group of men bond over an emotional life event B. a female lead falls in love with a sensitive male hunk C. a family works through hardship to achieve the American dream D. a male hero performs remarkable feats in a struggle with a villain

D. a male hero performs remarkable feats in a struggle with a villain

Advertisements in the United States portray that the road to the American Dream can be achieved through ______. A. working long hours B. planning for the future C. earning the best education D. purchasing the right products

D. purchasing the right products

Popular media, particularly television and mass advertising, have a tendency to display a remarkably narrow range of behaviors and lifestyles and deeming this narrow range to be "normal" behavior. This results in ______. A. media representing absolute reality B. a highlight of the conflict between traditionalist and conservative values in the United States C. immediate protest D. the marginalization and neglection of people who are different from the mediated norm.

D. the marginalization and neglection of people who are different from the mediated norm.

The most common strategy mainstream commercial media companies use to increase the odds of success is ______. A. to put a lot of money into the efforts of making the media product B. use someone who is famous C. there is no one formula for success in the media industry D. to imitate products that have already been successful

D. to imitate products that have already been successful

"Beats" are places where TV starts frequent.

False

"Conventions" in media organizations are arbitrary.

False

"Structure" in media sociology refers to media professionals and their will.

False

Embedded journalism refers to citizens' participatory reporting of government affairs.

False

In an ideological criticism of media, it is assumed that media have nothing to do with the real world.

False

Mass advertising emerged in the 1960s to promote the civil rights movement.

False

Television in the 1970s often depicted happy, middle-class families.

False

Sociologists often link discussions of social relations to the concepts of "Structure" and "Agency." What are they, and how do they relate to each other? Do they have equal relationships? Are they at odds? In your discussion, include at least one specific example.

Structure refers to any recurring pattern of social behavior. Agency is intentional and undetermined social action. They do not necessarily have an equal relationship. Structural constraints limit agency. The family is a structure that limits how we think, but the degree of autonomy we have to express ourselves within our family is our level of agency. Advertising and editorial policies are structures that limit what journalists can say and write. The ability of journalists to write and pursue stories as they wish within these structures defines their agency.

According to social constructionism, how are technology and social forces related?

They are interdependent. Social forces--such as cultural norms, economic pressures, and legal regulations--fundamentally shape the ways in which technologies are designed and developed.

As of 2019, 81% of adults in the United States have a smartphone.

True

Early rap music began as a critique of the underlying ideology of mainstream American society.

True

Economic news generally favors the perspectives of businesses and investors.

True

Journalistic objectivity is socially constructed.

True

One of the myths about government regulation of the media is that ______. A. the media industry generally opposes all forms of government intervention B. all national governments have some form of media regulation C. democratic societies have generally supported freedom of the press D. the United States generally has fewer regulations on media compared to Europe

A. the media industry generally opposes all forms of government intervention

Which is true about the Fairness Doctrine? A. It was introduced during the early years of the Clinton presidency. B. It is still in effect. C. It applies to radio, television, and cable companies. D. It was repealed during the Reagan presidency.

D. It was repealed during the Reagan presidency.

In contrast to McLuhan's views on technology, ______ argued that television was the reason that there was a decline in the seriousness of public life by encouraging particular ways of thinking and speaking--undermining democracy. A. Seth Whiteland B. Benjamin Siegel C. Tony Hunt D. Neil Postman

D. Neil Postman

Mainstream news among major news outlets is similar to each other because news outlets ______. A. often share reporters B. are owned by the same companies C. focus heavily on unique human interest stories D. depend heavily on official government sources

D. depend heavily on official government sources

The internet is an example of ______ as well as ______. A. interpersonal communication; mass media B. mass media; public communication C. broadcasted media; interpersonal communication D. mass media; broadcasted media

A. interpersonal communication; mass media

Communication was a face-to-face ritual until people started creating one of a kind communication like cave wall art and stone carvings. In China, ______ happened, which allowed communication to become easily reproducible. A. invention of paper B. discovery of ink C. wood carvings D. stone etching

A. invention of paper

In media sociology, these are known as the bundles of expectations that are associated with different social positions ______. A. routines B. norms C. cultures D. roles

D. roles

What is the difference between technological determinism and social constructionism?

Technological determinism suggests that technology itself causes change, and often in unintended ways. Social constructionism emphasizes that technology is made up of inanimate objects, and ultimately people decide how to use (or not use) technology.

What is a major concern about media that is owned by a few companies in regards to diversity?

The fear is that media owned by a few will lead to products that lack diversity and media that is increasingly uniform.

Being considered "share-worthy" is now a goal for most all media producers, including journalism.

True

Marshall McLuhan strongly believed that the content of the messages that we are transmitting is less influencing than the ______. A. medium itself and the experience from using it B. face-to-face conversations that we have C. joy of the experience of learning D. impact of social forces

A. medium itself and the experience from using it

There was conflict when radio broadcasting became more popular because ______. A. there was limited space on the airwaves B. the government didn't want people to have access to free media C. too many people felt that what they had to share was more important D. the navy needed complete access to radio transmissions

A. there was limited space on the airwaves

When an individual scrolls through Hulu to find the film that they want to watch, they are using ______. A. a product B. a platform C. the industry D. the brand

B. a platform

In sociological studies, the concept of social structure refers to ______. A. the influences of the society we are a part of B. any pattern of social behavior C. the mechanics of individual interactions D. the steps taken to be a part of a society

B. any pattern of social behavior

European nations adopted an approach that involved government operation of the media in order to ______. A. avoid being politicized B. avoid signal interference C. create chaos D. create a free market

B. avoid signal interference

Which of the following government regulations clearly benefits the media industry? A. limitations on ownership of media outlets B. broadcast license requirements C. the (now-defunct) fairness doctrine D. the Concentration Act

B. broadcast license requirements

The media industry is a producer of ______. A. society B. content C. products D. technology

B. content

Traditional national news organizations ______. A. have not changed how they reach consumers B. have begun publishing news in a way that caters to the expectations of social media users C. use clickbait D. changed how they approach news specifically, so a younger generation will be up to date and educated

B. have begun publishing news in a way that caters to the expectations of social media users

According to social constructivists, humans create technology but it has a life of its own and we have no power to alter how it is used.

False

Major telecommunication companies such as Comcast and Time Warner generally favor Net Neutrality.

False

McLuhan's outlook on the effect of new technologies in media on our senses was a negative one.

False

Media users retain all information they come across while consuming and share it without any of their own views being considered.

False

Television killed Radio.

False

Network television began being broadcasted in the United States at the beginning of the 1900s.

False

What constitutes the "national interest?" Do you believe this varies cross-culturally (within continents, countries, states, counties, etc.)? Does political affiliation have a role?

The "National Interests": Military Censorship

The internet change mass media by ______. A. allowing users to be much more active B. making content more difficult to produce C. increasing the cost to produce content D. making users passive absorbers of content

A. allowing users to be much more active

Government has regulated broadcast media differently than print media primarily because ______. A. broadcast signals use the public airwaves to reach an audience B. broadcast signals are seen in the privacy of the home C. media companies are completely dependent on advertising for revenue D. media companies lobbied government

A. broadcast signals use the public airwaves to reach an audience

Content such as sensational headlines and top-10 lists are considered ______, which result from media producers creating content that attracts the attention of social media users. A. click bait B. quick content C. easy reading D. scam articles

A. click bait

One of the arguments about the media that "free market" advocates usually make is that ______. A. consumers have the ultimate power to tune in or buy media products B. those with the most money should have the biggest impact on the media C. government should be a counterweight to the power of private media conglomerates D. media companies need to protect consumers from sexually explicit materials

A. consumers have the ultimate power to tune in or buy media products

Practices or techniques that are widely used by media professionals are referred to as ______. A. conventions B. skills C. a creative vision D. work rules

A. conventions

The following clause comes from the U.S. Constitution: "To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive rights to their respective writings and discoveries." To what does this clause refer? A. copyright B. freedom of speech C. mergers and acquisitions D. defamation

A. copyright

Networks have been leaning toward producing less expensive programs that do not have huge budgets or expensive actors because of ______ and ______. A. declining audiences; decline in advertising revenue B. more demand for low-budget programs; easier access to studios C. the cult following that low-budget programs tend to draw; they can produce more shows D. declining advertisement revenue; less stockholders

A. declining audiences; decline in advertising revenue

Disney owning Lucas Films, 20th Century Fox, Marvel, Pixar, and ESPN is an example of ______. A. horizontal integration B. a monopoly C. vertical integration D. cross-media integration

A. horizontal integration

The tension between structure and agency for those who are a part of the media industry primarily is derived from ______. A. how much autonomy media personnel has in the field B. media personnel being expected to appeal to all audiences C. the amount of research done by each individual D. media personnel having complete freedom to do as they choose

A. how much autonomy media personnel has in the field

The sociological perspective encourages us to see and understand the relationship between ______ and the ______. A. individuals; broader social context in which they live B. individuals; communication styles they develop C. users; messages that they send D. receivers; how they perceive messages received

A. individuals; broader social context in which they live

Rationalizing the news-gathering process means that news outlets ______. A. need to anticipate where news will happen B. cover only stories about the economy C. pay all their journalists the same salary D. eliminate all editorials and opinion pieces

A. need to anticipate where news will happen

Silvio Berlusconi, elected prime minister of Italy three times, achieved his position by ______. A. owning television and radio outlets and utilizing his position to change the media in his favor B. allowing the media to portray him however they chose C. demanding the citizens elect him D. being an outstanding individual

A. owning television and radio outlets and utilizing his position to change the media in his favor

The Fairness Doctrine required that broadcasters address public issues of concern to the community and ______. A. provided opportunity for the presentation of contrasting points of view B. limited the amount of commercial time on children's television C. limited the number of radio or television stations that could be owned by one company D. banned harmful advertising such as tobacco

A. provided opportunity for the presentation of contrasting points of view

When we say that objectivity is a "method," we mean that it is a ______. A. set of practices to which journalists adhere B. commitment to facts C. state of mind D. search for the truth

A. set of practices to which journalists adhere

Sociologists refer to the process consuming media content and actively interpreting and constructing meaning from that content as ______. A. social construction of reality B. active interpretation C. constructive reality D. consumption analysis

A. social construction of reality

A civil rights activist during the 1950s, handing out leaflets to spread awareness of his cause is an example of ______ and ______ working together on the model of media and the social world. A. social world; technology B. users; content C. technology; industry D. social world; industry

A. social world; technology

One approach to technology's role in society is referred to as social constructivism. This idea suggests that ______. A. technology is made up of objects and people choose how they use it B. society is based entirely upon technology at this point in time C. people's social lives would be nonexistent without the different technologies available to us D. humans have no choice how they use technology in today's society

A. technology is made up of objects and people choose how they use it

One approach to technology's role in society is referred to as technological determinism. This idea suggests that technology ______. A. evolves as humans advance B. causes change itself C. has no effect on society D. is chosen to be used by people

B. causes change itself

In recent years, the U.S. military has considered information to be "sensitive," and thus subject to censorship, if it ______. A. is critical of the military's performance B. could endanger U.S. troops or negatively affect troop morale C. discusses still-active conflicts D. mentions casualty figures

B. could endanger U.S. troops or negatively affect troop morale

Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are not considered traditional media companies because ______. A. are too ahead of other media companies they B. do not hire media producers, therefore they do not produce media content C. often provide misleading information to consumers D. are not concentrated

B. do not hire media producers, therefore they do not produce media content

Compared to most other industrialized nations, the United States has generally had ______ regulation of the media industry. A. more B. less C. about the same amount of D. almost no

B. less

A radio station broadcasting a program is an example of ______. A. interpersonal communication B. mass communication C. media-centric communication D. broad communication

B. mass communication

In the United States, ______ is outlawed. A. spam material B. obscene material C. pornography D. erotica

B. obscene material

Technology industrialization increased very dramatically during ______, bringing forth the telegraph, camera, telephone, phonograph, and many other communication technologies. A. World War 1 B. the 19th century C. the technological revolution D. the 20th century

B. the 19th century

The relationship between media and users is a two-way relationship because ______. A. media producers decide what users see B. users choose what media they consume C. media and users both produce content D. users create ideas for media producers

B. users choose what media they consume

Which of the following is the first step in creating social reality? A. People internalizing the norms of their culture being influenced by their own creation. B. Creations come to seem objectively real and separate from human activity. C. People creating society through ongoing processes of physical and mental activity. D. Creations begin to overtake the lives of the people who created them.

C. People creating society through ongoing processes of physical and mental activity.

When networks have hit television series, they often will ______. A. change the concepts to not bore audiences B. sell the series to a bigger company for a huge price C. create copies and spin-offs D. move the show to daytime

C. create copies and spin-offs

Investment into ______ in the 1990s pushed the stock market to incredibly high levels, but lack of interest into invested companies led to a stock market crash in the 2000s. A. radio B. television C. dot-com companies D. cellular phone companies

C. dot-com companies

For the past 2 years, a majority of the scripts Kayley has written have been considered to be commercially undesirable, leading to poor advertisement sales. Their future as a television writer may be in jeopardy. What type of constraint is this? A. emotional constraint B. political constraint C. economic constraint D. governmental constraint

C. economic constraint

Network news programs, still expected to make a profit in despite having most of their advertisers move to the internet and the fierce competition from cable news channels, have started ______ to attract consumers. A. broadcasting more B. advertising their own news programs in the internet C. incorporating entertainment, human interest, and celebrities D. more airy stories

C. incorporating entertainment, human interest, and celebrities

Motion picture ratings, television content ratings, and "explicit lyric" CD warning labels are examples of ______. A. government regulation of the media B. consumer influence over the media C. industry self-regulation D. media convergence

C. industry self-regulation

Steve owns a book publishing company and he has recently purchased a paper mill. This is an example of his company ______. A. integrating horizontally B. conglomerating C. integrating vertically D. expanding

C. integrating vertically

The media companies that we are familiar with are ______. A. most often individually controlled companies B. all part of one very large company C. mostly owned by a few very large companies D. owned and controlled by the users

C. mostly owned by a few very large companies

Sound recording primarily was used to document and listen to ______. A. interviews B. news stories C. music D. personal messages

C. music

A telephone line providing DSL internet access is an example of a ______ from a modern media company. A. product B. service C. pipe D. connection

C. pipe

The films that we watch on Netflix are ______ from media companies. A. platforms B. provisions C. products D. components

C. products

In the early years of broadcasting, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was an example of a(n) ______. A. early commercial media conglomerate B. profitable media company C. state monopoly broadcast system D. foreign-owned broadcast system

C. state monopoly broadcast system

Which of the following often is overlooked as a form of mass media? A. radio B. television C. telephones D. print

C. telephones

From the few amount of shows that make it onto a television network, only a handful of them get renewed and get to continue. The reason for this is ______. A. they are too elaborate for the network to justify production B. the story lines set up in the first season of the series isn't complex enough to justify a renewal C. that not many of the shows that get scheduled gather enough audience for the company to make enough money through advertisement to generate a profit D. the network made the money they needed to during the first season of the series

C. that not many of the shows that get scheduled gather enough audience for the company to make enough money through advertisement to generate a profit

Modern media companies do not provide ______. A. the media that we watch, read, and listen to B. the services that display and help us find content C. the products that we consume media through D. the conduits by which we access media content

C. the products that we consume media through

The major ongoing debate about media regulation is ______. A. whether or not the government has the right to regulate the media B. whether or not the government should regulate the media C. what kind of government regulation should exist D. how to enforce the regulations

C. what kind of government regulation should exist

Objectivity emerged as a norm in American journalism in the ______. A. early 1800s B. years following the U.S. Civil War C. years following World War I D. 1960s

C. years following World War I

Scholars either extremely believe in the technological determinism approach or the social constructivism approach and very rarely fall somewhere in the middle of the two ideas.

False

How has the need to constantly update websites affected the news cycle? A. It has increased the amount of time reporters have to write print articles. B. It has allowed journalists to greatly relax their fact checking standards. C. It has significantly reduced the amount of news that needs to be reported each day. D. It has greatly compressed the time frame for making decisions about what to report.

D. It has greatly compressed the time frame for making decisions about what to report.

Advertisement over radio broadcasting ______. A. was against the law B. is a recent development C. took two decades to evolve D. became popular immediately

D. became popular immediately

Which is an example of a person using the internet as mass media? A. sending a direct message to someone on Facebook B. having a Zoom video call with a friend C. sending an "email" to a family member D. posting a video to YouTube

D. posting a video to YouTube

The early research that led to the creation of the internet ______. A. began in the 1980s B. was a result of J. Edgar Hoover's demand for new technologies C. happened over a span of 20 years D. started during the Cold War

D. started during the Cold War

Why do media firms produce sequels? A. to incorporate new talent B. to try to create new stories C. to reward actors and producers D. to attempt to copy past successes

D. to attempt to copy past successes

The sociology of news work explains that the definition of "news" is shaped by the ______. A. important events of the day B. interests of the owners of news outlets C. pronouncements of politicians D. ways that reporters organize their work

D. ways that reporters organize their work

What are some differences between face-to-face and mass-mediated communication for readers? How does this distinction affect politics?

In face-to-face communication, audiences can see more clues such as body language, gesture, and other aspects of nonverbal communication; they can also ask questions and challenge speakers directly. Mass-mediated communication often addresses audiences anonymously; there is less direct feedback. It is also harder to determine the sender's intention or aims.

How has communication media changed over time?

Media technology has changed. Print was the only mass medium that existed when the First Amendment was written. Every time a new medium emerged--such as radio, broadcast television, cable, or internet--regulators had to create the new rules within which this medium would operate. Ownership patterns have changed. The amount of investment capital necessary to produce and promote major state-of-the-art media products is now enormous.

How has conglomeration impacted the news media?

Traditionally, news media was sheltered from the full pressure of profit making. That changed with the takeover of news operations by major corporate conglomerates during the 1980s. News media is now expected to be profitable.

Advertisers view product placement and brand integration as smart investments as they are hard for audiences to avoid.

True