Question 1

Distinguish between hard and soft news. Discuss the concerns arising from the softening of the news.

Accepted Answer

Hard news refers to the reporting of cur

Question 2

Which of the following best describes the status of radio as a news source in America?

Accepted Answer

A)  Twenty-five percentof American homes have at least one radio, but radio is the best source of political news. 
B)  Seventy-five percent of American homes have at least one radio, but radio has a limited value as a source of political news 
C)  Fifty percent of American homes have at least one radio, but radio is perhaps the best source of political news. 
D)  Ninety-nine percent of American homes have at least one radio, but radio has limited value as a source of political news. 
A)  Twenty-five percentof American homes have at least one radio, but radio is the best source of political news. 
B)  Seventy-five percent of American homes have at least one radio, but radio has a limited value as a source of political news 
C)  Fifty percent of American homes have at least one radio, but radio is perhaps the best source of political news. 
D)  Ninety-nine percent of American homes have at least one radio, but radio has limited value as a source of political news.

Question 3

Which of the following is true of public radio stations like KERA and KUHT?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are entirely funded by tax money. 
B)  They provide substantial coverage of local, state, and national news. 
C)  They are purely for entertainment purposes and include no news. 
D)  They only include brief news headlines for about five minutes every hour. 
A)  They are entirely funded by tax money. 
B)  They provide substantial coverage of local, state, and national news. 
C)  They are purely for entertainment purposes and include no news. 
D)  They only include brief news headlines for about five minutes every hour.

Question 4

Which of the following is not a common concern about concentration of media ownership?

Accepted Answer

A)  The likelihood of homogenization of the news stories increases. 
B)  There is a decrease in the amount of state and local news. 
C)  There is an increase in hard news and a decrease in soft news. 
D)  There is more commercial bias and favorable news about the owner's company. 
A)  The likelihood of homogenization of the news stories increases. 
B)  There is a decrease in the amount of state and local news. 
C)  There is an increase in hard news and a decrease in soft news. 
D)  There is more commercial bias and favorable news about the owner's company.

Question 5

Which of the following is true of media outlets today?

Accepted Answer

A)  Reporters tend to be conservative and Republican, while owners and publishers tend to be liberal and Democratic. 
B)  Reporters tend to be liberal and Democratic, while owners and publishers tend to be conservative and Republican. 
C)  Reporters, owners, and publishers tend to be liberal and Democratic. 
D)  Reporters, owners, and publishers tend to be conservative and Republican. 
A)  Reporters tend to be conservative and Republican, while owners and publishers tend to be liberal and Democratic. 
B)  Reporters tend to be liberal and Democratic, while owners and publishers tend to be conservative and Republican. 
C)  Reporters, owners, and publishers tend to be liberal and Democratic. 
D)  Reporters, owners, and publishers tend to be conservative and Republican.

Question 6

The trend in media ownership in Texas has been that

Accepted Answer

A)  ownership of Texas media outlets by Texas companies has declined. 
B)  ownership of Texas media outlets by Texas companies has increased. 
C)  ownership of Texas media outlets by Texas companies has stayed the same. 
D)  no Texas media outlets are owned by Texas companies. 
A)  ownership of Texas media outlets by Texas companies has declined. 
B)  ownership of Texas media outlets by Texas companies has increased. 
C)  ownership of Texas media outlets by Texas companies has stayed the same. 
D)  no Texas media outlets are owned by Texas companies.

Question 7

Which demographic groups are more likely to use social media? How might this have an impact on political participation rates among these groups?

Accepted Answer

Demographic groups that are more likely

Question 8

Commercial television began in Texas

Accepted Answer

A)  after World War II. 
B)  in 1928. 
C)  in 1975. 
D)  before the Civil War. 
A)  after World War II. 
B)  in 1928. 
C)  in 1975. 
D)  before the Civil War.

Question 9

On the editorial pages of newspapers and magazines

Accepted Answer

A)  fiction writers are given a chance to tell their stories. 
B)  reporters are expected to write with objectivity and neutrality. 
C)  advertisers are given space to sell their products or services. 
D)  advocacy is practiced and editors and columnists give their opinions. 
A)  fiction writers are given a chance to tell their stories. 
B)  reporters are expected to write with objectivity and neutrality. 
C)  advertisers are given space to sell their products or services. 
D)  advocacy is practiced and editors and columnists give their opinions.

Question 10

When it comes to shaping our perceptions of events and issues, the media

Accepted Answer

A)  provide information, but their ability to shape opinion is reduced by personal knowledge, connections, and pre-existing opinions. 
B)  have almost total control over what people think about and believe about political issues and personalities. 
C)  have no impact at all on shaping opinions, as opinions are formed by personal knowledge and connections. 
D)  only shape the opinions of uneducated and socially isolated citizens. 
A)  provide information, but their ability to shape opinion is reduced by personal knowledge, connections, and pre-existing opinions. 
B)  have almost total control over what people think about and believe about political issues and personalities. 
C)  have no impact at all on shaping opinions, as opinions are formed by personal knowledge and connections. 
D)  only shape the opinions of uneducated and socially isolated citizens.

Question 11

American courts are very hesitant to allow prior restraint, which means

Accepted Answer

A)  it is very easy for the government to censor, or to suppress material before it is published. 
B)  it is difficult for the government to censor, or to suppress material before it is published. 
C)  it is easy for the government to detain reporters who are critical of their policies. 
D)  there are no ways for the government to limit what the press can find or print. 
A)  it is very easy for the government to censor, or to suppress material before it is published. 
B)  it is difficult for the government to censor, or to suppress material before it is published. 
C)  it is easy for the government to detain reporters who are critical of their policies. 
D)  there are no ways for the government to limit what the press can find or print.

Question 12

The standards of professionalism are sometimes compromised when professional reporters over-report the views of

Accepted Answer

A)  government officials and others with power whom they see as reliable, legitimate and knowledgeable. 
B)  critics of the government and those in power who question official explanations of events. 
C)  celebrities and sports figures who are opinionated about politics. 
D)  the average person on the street. 
A)  government officials and others with power whom they see as reliable, legitimate and knowledgeable. 
B)  critics of the government and those in power who question official explanations of events. 
C)  celebrities and sports figures who are opinionated about politics. 
D)  the average person on the street.

Question 13

Which of the following is true regarding freedom of the press in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas has a shield law that protects journalists from having to reveal certain confidential sources. 
B)  Texas has a right-to-know law that requires journalists to reveal all of their sources upon request. 
C)  Texas has a prior restraint law that allows the government to block newspapers from using certain sources. 
D)  Texas has no laws regarding freedom of the press. 
A)  Texas has a shield law that protects journalists from having to reveal certain confidential sources. 
B)  Texas has a right-to-know law that requires journalists to reveal all of their sources upon request. 
C)  Texas has a prior restraint law that allows the government to block newspapers from using certain sources. 
D)  Texas has no laws regarding freedom of the press.

Question 14

One of the key strategies that helped Barack Obama win both of his elections for President was

Accepted Answer

A)  investing heavily in direct mail to reach older voters in their homes. 
B)  identifying and micro-targeting potential younger voters through their e-mail and social media accounts. 
C)  traveling to less populated parts of the country to target marginalized rural voters. 
D)  putting lots of resources into television advertisements in conservative states to win them over. 
A)  investing heavily in direct mail to reach older voters in their homes. 
B)  identifying and micro-targeting potential younger voters through their e-mail and social media accounts. 
C)  traveling to less populated parts of the country to target marginalized rural voters. 
D)  putting lots of resources into television advertisements in conservative states to win them over.

Question 15

When a news medium focuses on a narrow audience defined by special interest, they are engaging in

Accepted Answer

A)  niche journalism. 
B)  broadcasting. 
C)  monopolizing. 
D)  concentration of ownership. 
A)  niche journalism. 
B)  broadcasting. 
C)  monopolizing. 
D)  concentration of ownership.

Distinguish between hard and soft news. Discuss the concerns arising from the softening of the news.

Which of the following best describes the status of radio as a news source in America?

Which of the following is true of public radio stations like KERA and KUHT?

Which of the following is not a common concern about concentration of media ownership?

Which of the following is true of media outlets today?

The trend in media ownership in Texas has been that

Which demographic groups are more likely to use social media? How might this have an impact on political participation rates among these groups?

Commercial television began in Texas

On the editorial pages of newspapers and magazines

When it comes to shaping our perceptions of events and issues, the media

American courts are very hesitant to allow prior restraint, which means

The standards of professionalism are sometimes compromised when professional reporters over-report the views of

Which of the following is true regarding freedom of the press in Texas?

One of the key strategies that helped Barack Obama win both of his elections for President was

When a news medium focuses on a narrow audience defined by special interest, they are engaging in

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Local Governments

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Politics of Interest Groups

The Legislative Branch

The Executive Branch

Public Policy and Administration

The Judicial Branch

The Criminal Justice System

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Filters

Exam 6: The Media and Politics in Texas

Distinguish between hard and soft news. Discuss the concerns arising from the softening of the news.

Which of the following best describes the status of radio as a news source in America?

Which of the following is true of public radio stations like KERA and KUHT?

Which of the following is not a common concern about concentration of media ownership?

Which of the following is true of media outlets today?

The trend in media ownership in Texas has been that

Which demographic groups are more likely to use social media? How might this have an impact on political participation rates among these groups?

Commercial television began in Texas

On the editorial pages of newspapers and magazines

When it comes to shaping our perceptions of events and issues, the media

American courts are very hesitant to allow prior restraint, which means

The standards of professionalism are sometimes compromised when professional reporters over-report the views of

Which of the following is true regarding freedom of the press in Texas?

One of the key strategies that helped Barack Obama win both of his elections for President was

When a news medium focuses on a narrow audience defined by special interest, they are engaging in

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Local Governments

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Politics of Interest Groups

The Legislative Branch

The Executive Branch

Public Policy and Administration

The Judicial Branch

The Criminal Justice System

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Filters