Question 1

The proliferation of news sources in recent years has

Accepted Answer

A)  discouraged polarization because people can now access a wider array of viewpoints than before. 
B)  encouraged polarization because many media outlets seek to position themselves within a discrete ideological or partisan niche rather than maintain a middle-of-the-road stance. 
C)  discouraged polarization because it has eliminated selection bias by journalists. 
D)  encouraged polarization because it has led to the death of adversarial journalism. 
E)  had no effect whatsoever on polarization because most Americans are not influenced by media coverage. 
A)  discouraged polarization because people can now access a wider array of viewpoints than before. 
B)  encouraged polarization because many media outlets seek to position themselves within a discrete ideological or partisan niche rather than maintain a middle-of-the-road stance. 
C)  discouraged polarization because it has eliminated selection bias by journalists. 
D)  encouraged polarization because it has led to the death of adversarial journalism. 
E)  had no effect whatsoever on polarization because most Americans are not influenced by media coverage.

Question 2

Which of the following statements best describes the media's role in the Watergate affair?

Accepted Answer

A)  Relentless investigations by journalists revealed various abuses of power by President Nixon and led to his resignation. 
B)  Journalists did not investigate the Watergate affair until after President Nixon resigned. 
C)  Journalists investigated the Watergate affair but uncovered no wrongdoing on the part of President Nixon. 
D)  The journalistic reporting of the Watergate affair was filled with errors and led to government attempts to regulate the print media's coverage. 
E)  Journalists never reported on the Watergate affair. 
A)  Relentless investigations by journalists revealed various abuses of power by President Nixon and led to his resignation. 
B)  Journalists did not investigate the Watergate affair until after President Nixon resigned. 
C)  Journalists investigated the Watergate affair but uncovered no wrongdoing on the part of President Nixon. 
D)  The journalistic reporting of the Watergate affair was filled with errors and led to government attempts to regulate the print media's coverage. 
E)  Journalists never reported on the Watergate affair.

Question 3

If a television station sold commercial time to a Republican candidate for governor but refused to sell time to the Democratic candidate for governor, this station would be violating the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Telecommunications Act of 1996 
B)  Fairness Doctrine 
C)  equal time rule 
D)  right of rebuttal 
E)  Communications Decency Act 
A)  Telecommunications Act of 1996 
B)  Fairness Doctrine 
C)  equal time rule 
D)  right of rebuttal 
E)  Communications Decency Act

Question 4

Which of the following statements about leaks is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Leaks sometimes come from lower-level officials who hope to publicize what they view as their bosses' improper activities. 
B)  Most leaks originate with senior government officials, prominent politicians, and political activists. 
C)  Thousands of leaks each year are incorporated into news stories. 
D)  A federal statute makes it illegal to disclose the identities of covert intelligence operatives. 
E)  Leaks never occurred before the George W. Bush administration. 
A)  Leaks sometimes come from lower-level officials who hope to publicize what they view as their bosses' improper activities. 
B)  Most leaks originate with senior government officials, prominent politicians, and political activists. 
C)  Thousands of leaks each year are incorporated into news stories. 
D)  A federal statute makes it illegal to disclose the identities of covert intelligence operatives. 
E)  Leaks never occurred before the George W. Bush administration.

Question 5

The media can set the political agenda in the United States by

Accepted Answer

A)  identifying an issue as a problem that must be solved. 
B)  endorsing a particular political candidate. 
C)  accepting advertising only from businesses that are identified as being ideologically "correct." 
D)  maintaining a strictly nonpartisan approach to news reporting. 
E)  refusing to follow government regulations regarding the content of news broadcasts. 
A)  identifying an issue as a problem that must be solved. 
B)  endorsing a particular political candidate. 
C)  accepting advertising only from businesses that are identified as being ideologically "correct." 
D)  maintaining a strictly nonpartisan approach to news reporting. 
E)  refusing to follow government regulations regarding the content of news broadcasts.

Question 6

The penny press

Accepted Answer

A)  was created in the nineteenth century. 
B)  facilitated widespread literacy. 
C)  both a and b 
D)  was created in the twentieth century. 
E)  led to the demise of newspapers. 
A)  was created in the nineteenth century. 
B)  facilitated widespread literacy. 
C)  both a and b 
D)  was created in the twentieth century. 
E)  led to the demise of newspapers.

Question 7

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the government and the media in the United States today?

Accepted Answer

A)  The government controls most media content through regulations and tightly controlled press briefings. 
B)  The government owns, but does not control, the major sources of media. 
C)  The government does not own but regulates the content and ownership of broadcast media. 
D)  Broadcast media are not regulated in the United States. 
E)  The government heavily regulates print media but imposes no regulations on radio and television broadcasts. 
A)  The government controls most media content through regulations and tightly controlled press briefings. 
B)  The government owns, but does not control, the major sources of media. 
C)  The government does not own but regulates the content and ownership of broadcast media. 
D)  Broadcast media are not regulated in the United States. 
E)  The government heavily regulates print media but imposes no regulations on radio and television broadcasts.

Question 8

The Communications Decency Act was struck down by the Supreme Court because it violated the

Accepted Answer

A)  First Amendment's right to freedom of speech. 
B)  FCC's equal time rule. 
C)  FCC's right of rebuttal. 
D)  FCC's Fairness Doctrine. 
E)  Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause. 
A)  First Amendment's right to freedom of speech. 
B)  FCC's equal time rule. 
C)  FCC's right of rebuttal. 
D)  FCC's Fairness Doctrine. 
E)  Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause.

Question 9

In 1985, the federal government stopped enforcing the ________, arguing that it was no longer necessary due to the increasing number of television and radio stations.

Accepted Answer

A)  Fairness Doctrine 
B)  right of rebuttal 
C)  equal time rule 
D)  Children's Programming Act of 1966 
E)  Communications Decency Act 
A)  Fairness Doctrine 
B)  right of rebuttal 
C)  equal time rule 
D)  Children's Programming Act of 1966 
E)  Communications Decency Act

Question 10

The ________ provides candidates for the same political office equal opportunities to communicate their messages.

Accepted Answer

A)  right of rebuttal 
B)  equal time rule 
C)  Fairness Doctrine 
D)  diversity in media doctrine 
E)  agenda-setting provision 
A)  right of rebuttal 
B)  equal time rule 
C)  Fairness Doctrine 
D)  diversity in media doctrine 
E)  agenda-setting provision

Question 11

If a radio station aired a personal attack against a candidate but refused to allow the same candidate the opportunity to respond to that attack on its station, the station would be violating the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Telecommunications Act of 1996 
B)  Fairness Doctrine 
C)  equal time rule 
D)  right of rebuttal 
E)  Communications Decency Act 
A)  Telecommunications Act of 1996 
B)  Fairness Doctrine 
C)  equal time rule 
D)  right of rebuttal 
E)  Communications Decency Act

Question 12

What has helped accelerate the trend toward less variety in national news in the past decade?

Accepted Answer

A)  the rise of the Internet as a major source of news reporting 
B)  the growing level of government censorship and restrictions on the media 
C)  the corporate consolidation of news media into a small number of conglomerates 
D)  the increasing popularity of AM radio talk shows 
E)  the growing popularity of newspapers as a source of news 
A)  the rise of the Internet as a major source of news reporting 
B)  the growing level of government censorship and restrictions on the media 
C)  the corporate consolidation of news media into a small number of conglomerates 
D)  the increasing popularity of AM radio talk shows 
E)  the growing popularity of newspapers as a source of news

Question 13

"Marriage equality" is an illustration of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  horse race journalism 
B)  agenda setting 
C)  priming 
D)  framing 
E)  filtering 
A)  horse race journalism 
B)  agenda setting 
C)  priming 
D)  framing 
E)  filtering

Question 14

Which of the following statements about adversarial journalism is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has been accused of leading to increased political cynicism among American citizens. 
B)  It became an established practice during the Vietnam War. 
C)  It has permitted the media to gain more autonomy from the political figures they publicize. 
D)  It has enhanced the media's reputation as the "watchdog" of American politics. 
E)  Adversarial journalism disappeared in the 1970s and 1980s. 
A)  It has been accused of leading to increased political cynicism among American citizens. 
B)  It became an established practice during the Vietnam War. 
C)  It has permitted the media to gain more autonomy from the political figures they publicize. 
D)  It has enhanced the media's reputation as the "watchdog" of American politics. 
E)  Adversarial journalism disappeared in the 1970s and 1980s.

Question 15

________ has released thousands of secret government documents.

Accepted Answer

A)  The New York Times 
B)  The Washington Post 
C)  WikiLeaks 
D)  Common Cause 
E)  Lewis "Scooter" Libby 
A)  The New York Times 
B)  The Washington Post 
C)  WikiLeaks 
D)  Common Cause 
E)  Lewis "Scooter" Libby

Question 16

Besides their ideological biases, journalists also exhibit selection biases in favor of news stories they view as

Accepted Answer

A)  favorable to leaders and issues they support. 
B)  having a great deal of dramatic or entertainment value. 
C)  important for the purpose of public awareness. 
D)  sympathetic to the government as a whole. 
E)  critical of leaders and issues they oppose. 
A)  favorable to leaders and issues they support. 
B)  having a great deal of dramatic or entertainment value. 
C)  important for the purpose of public awareness. 
D)  sympathetic to the government as a whole. 
E)  critical of leaders and issues they oppose.

Question 17

Large media conglomerates own approximately ________ percent of daily newspapers.

Accepted Answer

A)  10 
B)  25 
C)  40 
D)  55 
E)  75 
A)  10 
B)  25 
C)  40 
D)  55 
E)  75

Question 18

"Filter bubbles" appear when

Accepted Answer

A)  news aggregation sites include content from a wide variety of sources and give no preference to American media organizations. 
B)  search engines automatically screen out information that might challenge or broaden our worldview. 
C)  journalists choose to cover only those stories that are acceptable to advertisers. 
D)  reporters intentionally ignore protest movements that challenge the capitalist economic system. 
E)  people intentionally expose themselves to perspectives that challenge what they already believe to be true about the political world. 
A)  news aggregation sites include content from a wide variety of sources and give no preference to American media organizations. 
B)  search engines automatically screen out information that might challenge or broaden our worldview. 
C)  journalists choose to cover only those stories that are acceptable to advertisers. 
D)  reporters intentionally ignore protest movements that challenge the capitalist economic system. 
E)  people intentionally expose themselves to perspectives that challenge what they already believe to be true about the political world.

Question 19

Despite a plethora of freedoms, journalists must still adhere to some federal laws. How do government officials regulate the media? Describe some of the different regulations that are placed upon the media. What are the goals of different regulatory techniques? To what extent are they effective? Which forms of news are the least regulated? How have government officials attempted to regulate the Internet?

Accepted Answer

Government officials regulate the media

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a reason why a free media is necessary to democratic government?

Accepted Answer

A)  A free media is needed to investigate wrongdoing on the part of government officials. 
B)  A free media is needed to publicize and explain governmental actions. 
C)  A free media is needed to evaluate the performance of politicians. 
D)  A free media is needed to shed light on matters that may otherwise be known only to a small number of government insiders with technical knowledge. 
E)  A free media is needed to ensure economic equality. 
A)  A free media is needed to investigate wrongdoing on the part of government officials. 
B)  A free media is needed to publicize and explain governmental actions. 
C)  A free media is needed to evaluate the performance of politicians. 
D)  A free media is needed to shed light on matters that may otherwise be known only to a small number of government insiders with technical knowledge. 
E)  A free media is needed to ensure economic equality.

The proliferation of news sources in recent years has

Which of the following statements best describes the media's role in the Watergate affair?

If a television station sold commercial time to a Republican candidate for governor but refused to sell time to the Democratic candidate for governor, this station would be violating the ________.

Which of the following statements about leaks is FALSE?

The media can set the political agenda in the United States by

The penny press

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the government and the media in the United States today?

The Communications Decency Act was struck down by the Supreme Court because it violated the

In 1985, the federal government stopped enforcing the ________, arguing that it was no longer necessary due to the increasing number of television and radio stations.

The ________ provides candidates for the same political office equal opportunities to communicate their messages.

If a radio station aired a personal attack against a candidate but refused to allow the same candidate the opportunity to respond to that attack on its station, the station would be violating the ________.

What has helped accelerate the trend toward less variety in national news in the past decade?

"Marriage equality" is an illustration of ________.

Which of the following statements about adversarial journalism is FALSE?

________ has released thousands of secret government documents.

Besides their ideological biases, journalists also exhibit selection biases in favor of news stories they view as

Large media conglomerates own approximately ________ percent of daily newspapers.

"Filter bubbles" appear when

Which of the following is NOT a reason why a free media is necessary to democratic government?

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters

Exam 7: The Media

The proliferation of news sources in recent years has

Which of the following statements best describes the media's role in the Watergate affair?

If a television station sold commercial time to a Republican candidate for governor but refused to sell time to the Democratic candidate for governor, this station would be violating the ________.

Which of the following statements about leaks is FALSE?

The media can set the political agenda in the United States by

The penny press

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the government and the media in the United States today?

The Communications Decency Act was struck down by the Supreme Court because it violated the

In 1985, the federal government stopped enforcing the ________, arguing that it was no longer necessary due to the increasing number of television and radio stations.

The ________ provides candidates for the same political office equal opportunities to communicate their messages.

If a radio station aired a personal attack against a candidate but refused to allow the same candidate the opportunity to respond to that attack on its station, the station would be violating the ________.

What has helped accelerate the trend toward less variety in national news in the past decade?

"Marriage equality" is an illustration of ________.

Which of the following statements about adversarial journalism is FALSE?

________ has released thousands of secret government documents.

Besides their ideological biases, journalists also exhibit selection biases in favor of news stories they view as

Large media conglomerates own approximately ________ percent of daily newspapers.

"Filter bubbles" appear when

Which of the following is NOT a reason why a free media is necessary to democratic government?

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters