Mass Media

In 1983, 90% of American media were owned by 50 companies. By 2012, how many companies controlled the majority of American media?

6

What is a potential downside of narrowcasting?

It allows people to ignore news contradicting their points of view.

Which of the following most accurately describes media coverage of elections?

Network news coverage is usually dominated by reporters who offer relatively short sound bites from the candidates

Which of the following is most frequently reported in the media during a presidential election?

Results from public opinion polls that indicate which candidates are most likely to win

Which of the following describes the potential impact on the electorate when daily media coverage of elections focuses primarily on the newest poll results?

The electorate will be less able to accurately compare the policy platforms of candidates running in the election

The most dominant feature of traditional media coverage of campaign is

coverage of the "horse race"

The media's effect on public opinion can best be described as

influencing which issues the public sees as important

One widespread effect of the mass media on presidential campaigns is that the mass media have

replaced political parties as the primary source of information about candidates

The brief, clever quotes that candidates hope will be replayed after media events are known as

sound bites

All of the following are examples of a linkage institution influencing the policy process EXCEPT

the president delivering the State of the Union speech

Which of the following provides the most accurate explanation of how consumer-driven media increases partisan polarization?

Consumer-driven media reinforces existing political biases in individuals

Which of the following is a true statement about the role of the media in providing citizens with information?

Demand for instantaneous news reporting has led to the growth of 24-hour news operations and a shift to online media consumption

The agenda-setting function of the media refers to the power to

decide which issues are important enough to bring to public attention

The media play a major role in establishing the public agenda by

deciding how prominently to cover issue-related news stories

In New York Times Co. v. US. (1971) the Supreme Court involved the principle of

prior restraint