Chapter 10 - The Media - Test Bank

1. The national media often play the role of gatekeeper. This means that they cana. influence public opinion on most issues*b. influence what issues become national political issuesc. prevent certain politicians from winning office by not covering their campaignsd. provide greater depth on stories than the local presse. channel public opinion in a manner that causes politicians to respond

2. Newsweek runs a feature article on education in the U.S. that calls for sweeping changes in government policy on education. In this role Newsweek is acting as

*a. gatekeeperb. scorekeeper

c. watchdogd. investigator

e. C and D

3. The television weekly 60 Minutes runs a segment on the role of local politicians in the drug trade. The issue soon becomes the subject of national debate. In this role 60 Minutes is acting as

*a. gatekeeperb. scorekeeper

c. watchdogd. investigator

e. B and C

4. The national media often play the role of scorekeeper. This means that they cana. influence public opinion on most issuesb. influence what issues become national political issuesc. investigate election processes more aggressively than public officialsd. provide greater depth on stories than the local press*e. prevent certain politicians from winning office by not covering their campaigns

5. ABC News declares one presidential candidate the winner in a television debate. In this role, ABC News is acting as

a. gatekeeperb. scorekeeper

c. watchdogd. investigator

e. C and D

6. The media typically report presidential elections as horse races because of the media's role asa. gatekeeper

b. scorekeeperc. watchdog

d. investigatore. C and D

7. The media typically report presidential elections as horse races. This means that theya. have an instinctive desire to expose scandals

b. play the role of gatekeeper, scorekeeper, and watchdog in a presidential campaign.c. seek the opportunity to write background or interpretive stories about the issues

of a campaign.*d. focus more on the contest itself than on the issues of the campaigne. have an instinctive desire to investigate personalities

8. The New York Times publishes an article accusing a Texas senator of using his power to extract contributions from oil industry executives. In this role the Times is acting as

a. gatekeeperb. scorekeeper

*c. watchdogd. sounding board

e. adjudicator

9. Compared to newspaper reporters, television news broadcasters havea. lower incomes but more professional freedom*b. higher incomes but less professional freedomc. higher incomes and more professional freedomd. lower incomes and less professional freedome. lower incomes but exceptional professional freedom

10. Unlike big-city newspapers, radio and television stations musta. identify their audience and cultivate a lasting relationshipb. rely on paid advertising from multiple sourcesc. get their national news from wire servicesd. operate profitably while still providing balanced news coveragee. have a government license to operate

11. Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution prevents the government from censoring the media?

*a. Firstb. Fifthc. Sixth

d. Twenty-firste. None of these

12. Which of the following statements about negative ads is INCORRECT?a. Adversarial media coverage makes them more socially acceptableb. Candidates use them because they work.c. They may change the preference of some voters.d. They are associated with reduced voter turnout.*e. They are associated with increased voter turnout.

13. Under the Federal Communications Commission's equal access rules, broadcasters musta. give free airtime to all candidates for public office.b. assure that both sides on a controversial subject like abortion get equal time.

c. air debates for candidates running for office in their market*d. provide the same opportunity for all political candidates to present their views.e. take the diversity of their market into account in deciding news coverage.

14. In a wide-ranging examination of American policy, the Secretary of Defense stated, "American troops are well-trained and prepared to meet our nation's commitments." The reporter who wrote these lines may have gotten the information from

I. the Secretary of Defense's press conference at the PentagonII. a deep background interview with the Assistant Secretary of DefenseIII. an Off-the-record interview with the Secretary of DefenseIV. a press briefing book prepared by the Pentagon's public affairs staff

a. I only b. I and III only c. IV onlyd. I and IV only e. I, II, and IV only

15. Cross-ownership refers to a. a company owning radio and television stations in different parts of the countryb. companies like Gannett that own numerous newspapers*c. a company owning a newspaper and television station in the same marketd. entertaining giants like the Walt Disney Company that own TV networkse. cable companies that are sole providers in a community

16. All of the following work against a liberal bias in the media EXCEPTa. Most news about government and politics comes from official sources.b. Journalists are trained to be objective, and present both sides of a story.c. Editors and publishers are more conservative than reporters.*d. Broadcast and print journalists as a group tend to support the Democratic Party.e. Major media outlets are owned by larger corporations whose primary business is not

news.

17. News coverage of Congress a. is devoted to scandals like the impeachment of President Clintonb. is primarily the responsibility of C-SPAN*c. focuses on the leadership in the House and Senated. is influenced by the White House press secretarye. is more thorough on network television than in the press

18. The media plays a key role in politics bya. determining who gets elected to state and federal offices*b. helping to set the issues that political leaders need to addressc. presenting elected officials in the best possible light to the publicd. reinforcing values such as patriotism and familye. paying candidates for exclusive stories

19. Prior restraint refers toa. the force used in search and seizure situations*b. government actions that prevent the publication of material in print mediac. injunctions issued against strikersd. slander

e. reading of one's rights to a suspect before questioning

20. "Shaping the agenda" is a phrase used to describe the role ofa. the president in the State of the Union address*b. the news media in determining which issues and personalities get attentionc. the president's chief of staffd. the Supreme Court in choosing cases to heare. the Joint Conference Committee

21. The most powerful influence on public opinion in the nation isa. the president

b. Congressc. political parties

*d. the news mediae. public interest groups

2010 additions

22. Which of the following contemporary news outlets is similar to the yellow journalism of the late 19th century?

A. network news programsB. radio talk showsC. newspapers like USA TodayD. all news cable stations*E. tabloid press

23. The fact that election campaigns are often reduced to sound bites suggests that*A. television provides superficial coverage of politicsB. politicians are not very dynamic speakersC. voters turn to newspapers and magazines to understand the issuesD. network news shows are too longE. editors need to take more responsibility for programming

25. The purpose of the Communications Decency Act, which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, was to

A. require the FCC to limit indecent material on TV*B. restrict minors’ access to indecent material over the internetC. make indecent phone calls a federal crimeD. ban the use of certain language on the radioE. establish a rating system for network and cable television

27. The Supreme Court made it more difficult for public officials falsely attacked in the media to sue for libel in

*A. New York Times v. SullivanB. New York Times v. U.S.

C. Red Lion Broadcasting v. FCCD. Engel v. VitaleE. Bucley v. Valeo

29. Which of the following headlines suggests investigative reporting?*A. “Abuse of Patients in Nursing Homes in the State Uncovered”B. “Fire Guts Office Structure; Arson Suspected”C. “ President to Hold Summit With Chinese Leaders”D. “Stock Prices Drop as Corporate Bankruptcies Rise”E. “Attorney General to Rule on Special Prosecutor”

31. In covering which of the following would a news reporter rely primarily on news releases and press briefings?

A. 2002 congressional electionsB. Senate hearings on the bankruptcy of a major corporation*C. American troops in combat in AfghanistanD. death penalty case before the Supreme CourtE. major earthquake in California

32. Which of the following is NOT a difference between local and network news coverage?A. Network news is often limited to a half hour programB. Local news programs rely on multiple anchorsC. The networks devote ore time to “hard news” – politics, world events, the economy*D. The networks have reporters based around the country and the worldE. Unless of national importance, the networks do not generally cover sports

ESSAY: The media has become a integral part of U.S. culture and society Analyze the effects of the media on modern political campaigns. Consider how the media may shape the agenda of elections and influence their outcomes.

RUBRIC:Identify media as TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, internet

- people get most information from media not directly from candidates- as info superhighway grows, direct influence of politicians decreases- media determines what is important- media shapes what people think- candidates positions can be distorted through what is focus- biased and unbiased reporting are issues- internet gives more access, not always accurate- sensationalism in magazines and internet blogs- FCC rules of equal time, access- visual impact: photogenic requirements for candidates- sound bites favored over in-depth coverage of issues on TV

- live coverage slips lead to more staged events