Test bank for we the people full 12th edition benjamin ginsberg theodore j lowi caroline j tolbert m

Test Bank for We the People, Full 12th Edition, Benjamin Ginsberg, Theodore J. Lowi Caroline

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CHAPTER 7

The Media Main Heads

The Media in American Democracy The Media Today Media Influence News Coverage Regulation of the Media

Learning Objectives Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information Analyze the ways the media can influence public opinion and politics Explain how politicians and others try to shape the news Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. In the United States, freedom of the press is protected by a. Article I of the Constitution. b. the Declaration of Independence. c. the First Amendment of the Constitution. d. the Freedom of the Press Act of 1790.

ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Remembering 2. All of the following are important roles for the media in American democracy EXCEPT a. helping inform the public about current political issues and events. b. providing a forum through which candidates, politicians, and even the public can debate policies and issues. c. enabling privately owned companies to advertise their products to the public. d. serving as a watchdog on the actions of politicians and other political actors.

ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Remembering 3. If a number of newspapers published stories exposing an elected official’s acceptance of monetary bribes from a corporation in exchange for passing a particular law, it would be an example of the media serving their role as a a. first branch. c. watchdog. b. first estate. d. judge and jury.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Applying 4. The traditional news media aim to provide objective reporting on current events by a. excluding the personal views of reporters or editors from their coverage. b. including the personal views of reporters and editors in their coverage. c. quoting only official government sources in their coverage. d. quoting only nongovernment sources in their coverage.

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Remembering 5. Which of the following statements best characterizes the traditional news media’s relationship to objectivity? a. Given that completely objective reporting is unattainable because people inevitably have biases that shape their understanding of events, journalists do not attempt to be objective and report only one side of a story. b. Although completely objective reporting is unattainable because people inevitably have biases that shape their understanding of events, journalists attempt to be objective by reporting both sides of a story. c. Journalists are trained to be objective in their reporting, so their personal biases rarely matter and their coverage of events almost always succeeds in objectively presenting both sides of a story. d. The Federal Communications Commission requires that all journalists sign a “pledge of objectivity” before being employed at a media company.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Understanding 6. The media are sometimes referred to as the “fourth branch of government” because a. they receive a number of subsidies paid for through tax revenue. b. they could not do their job without cooperation from the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. c. they are explicitly discussed in Article IV of the Constitution. d. they provide a check on the power of government and political leaders.

ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Understanding 7. Public broadcasting refers to any television, radio, and digital media that a. receives funding from the public through license fees, subsidies, or tax dollars. b. reports extensively on government officials and political issues. c. sells subscriptions to members of the public. d. makes its content available to the public at no cost.

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Remembering 8. Which of the following is an example of a public broadcasting organization? a. the New York Times b. the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) c. the National Broadcasting Network (NBC) d. the National Public Radio (NPR) ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Applying 9. Public broadcasting in the United States a. accounts for a much larger share of the media market than in other Western democracies, such as France, Germany, and Denmark. b. accounts for a much smaller share of the media market than in other Western democracies, such as France, Germany, and Denmark. c. accounts for roughly the same share of the media market as in other Western democracies, such as France, Germany, and Denmark. d. is illegal under the First Amendment to the Constitution.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Remembering 10. Privately owned media companies in the United States earn most of their revenue from a. advertising. c. government grants. b. subscriptions. d. charitable donations.

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Remembering 11. Which of the following stories would an American news outlet that relies primarily on advertising revenue be LEAST likely to cover? a. a celebrity wedding b. a sex scandal involving a high-ranking government official c. an economics professor providing testimony to a congressional committee on the effect of tariffs d. an attack advertisement from a presidential candidate that accuses her opponent of racially insensitive remarks ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Remembering 12. During the 2016 campaign, Hillary Clinton received ________amount of media coverage as Donald Trump. a. double the c. one-tenth the b. half the d. roughly the same ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life

MSC: Remembering 13. Much of the national news published in local newspapers is provided by a. United Press International (UPI). c. USA Today. b. the Associated Press. d. National Public Radio.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Remembering 14. Which of the following statements best characterizes media ownership in the United States? a. Most of the country’s television networks, movie studios, record companies, cable channels, book publishers, magazines, newspapers, and digital media sites are owned and operated by the federal government. b. Most of the country’s television networks, movie studios, record companies, cable channels, book publishers, magazines, newspapers, and digital media sites are owned and operated by state governments. c. A small number of giant, privately owned corporations control most of the country’s television networks, movie studios, record companies, cable channels, book publishers, magazines, newspapers, and digital media sites. d. A large number of small, privately owned corporations control most of the country’s television networks, movie studios, record companies, cable channels, book publishers, magazines, newspapers, and digital media sites.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Understanding 15. Which of the following is a good example of a media monopoly? a. the New York Times c. NPR b. ESPN d. Disney ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Applying 16. Large media conglomerates, such as the Hearst, McClatchy, and Gannett corporations, own approximately ________ percent of daily newspapers. a. 25 c. 55 b. 40 d. 75 ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Remembering 17. The fact that a smaller and smaller number of companies owns a larger and larger share of the American media is concerning primarily because it a. limits the ability of all news organizations to remain profitable. b. violates the First Amendment to the Constitution. c. increases the risk that politicians and citizens who express less popular or minority viewpoints will have difficulty finding a public forum. d. increases the risk of government censorship.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Understanding 18. The trend in concentration of traditional media ownership occurred in large part due to a. the relaxation of government regulations in the 1980s and 1990s. b. government regulations enacted in the 1970s that required small media companies to sell their holdings to larger corporations. c. the Supreme Court’s decision in Red Lion Broadcasting Company v. FCC. d. the federal government’s decision to end the Fairness Doctrine in 1968.

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Understanding 19. During the last decade, the number of newspaper journalists working in the United States has a. grown by more than 40 percent. c. decreased by 100 percent. b. decreased by 40 percent. d. remained constant.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Remembering 20. Advertising revenue at print newspapers is currently ________ what it was in 2005. a. roughly equal to c. half b. one-tenth d. more than double ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Remembering 21. News produced by individuals and organizations who are not employed as professional journalists is called a. advocacy journalism. c. citizen journalism. b. adversarial journalism. d. “fake news.”

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Remembering 22. The practice of training reporters to produce a standardized, seemingly neutral news product was the result of a. strikes and boycotts by journalists and newspaper readers during the early 1900s. b. the newspaper industry’s realization that the best way to make a profit was to not alienate potential readers who held liberal or conservative political views. c. federal government regulations that made blatant instances of media bias illegal. d. state government regulations that made blatant instances of media bias illegal.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Understanding 23. Digital subscription models in which people pay to access news content have proven to be a a. profitable approach for many smaller or midsized local newspapers but not for elite, national newspapers. b. profitable approach for many elite, national newspapers but not for smaller or midsized local newspapers. c. profitable approach for all newspapers, regardless of their size and focus. d. failure for all newspapers, regardless of their size and focus.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Remembering 24. Which of the following news sources reaches the MOST Americans? a. radio c. the internet b. television d. newspapers ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Remembering 25. Despite its widespread availability, ________ typically report(s) on the narrowest range of topics and provide(s) the least depth of news coverage. a. radio c. the internet

b.

television

d.

newspapers

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Remembering 26. It is estimated that more than ________ percent of Americans have a television. a. 50 c. 75 b. 66 d. 95 ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Remembering 27. The number of radio stations in the United States has grown from ________ in 1990 to more than ________ today. a. 100; 250 c. 300; 1,000 b. 200; 300 d. 400; 2,000 ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Remembering 28. Individuals with home high-speed internet access and the technology and literacy skills to use it are called a. pro-sumers. c. news aggregators. b. digital citizens. d. online natives.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Remembering 29. Which group is LEAST likely to have high-speed internet access at home? a. whites c. non-English-speaking Hispanics b. Asians d. African Americans ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Remembering 30. Facebook has more than ________ users worldwide. a. 100 million c. b. 500 million d.

2.2 billion 3.5 billion

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Remembering 31. “Filter bubbles” appear when 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 a person’s worldview. c. journalists choose to cover only those stories that are acceptable to advertisers. d. people intentionally expose themselves to perspectives that challenge what they already believe to be true about the political world.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Remembering 32. Which of the following is NOT a reason that many Americans appear to prefer online news? a. the accuracy and objectivity compared to traditional media outlets b. the depth of the information available online

c. d.

the up-to-the-moment currency of the information available online the convenience of getting news online

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Understanding 33. The greatest challenge for journalism organizations today is a. obtaining access to high-level political leaders. b. protecting themselves from libel and slander lawsuits. c. generating enough revenue to finance traditional investigative journalism. d. fact-checking the stories written by their journalists and columnists.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Understanding 34. The fact that only 63 percent of high school graduates have broadband internet access at home, while almost 90 percent of college graduates do, is an example of a. the filter bubble. c. the digital divide. b. collegiate privilege. d. the education dividend.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Applying 35. Google News, Reddit, and Real Clear Politics are good examples of a. nonprofit journalism. c. news aggregators. b. the penny press. d. niche journalism.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Applying 36. Which of the following statements best describes where younger and older Americans get their news? a. Social media tend to be a secondary news source after television for most Americans but a primary news source for the young. b. Social media tend to be a primary news source after television for most Americans but a secondary news source for the young. c. Social media has become the primary news source for Americans of all ages. d. Despite an increase in the number of people who get their news through social media, newspapers remain the primary news source for Americans of all ages.

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Understanding 37. Political scientists sometimes describe social media as “the new dinner table” because a. social media platforms are always free to use. b. discussions of politics and current events on social media occur within a network of friends and family. c. there are strong norms on social media platforms that discourage discussions of politics and current events. d. social media platforms are often used for many different purposes, including completing homework assignments, paying bills, and researching job opportunities.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Understanding 38. Social media usage tends to a. have very little impact on politics because most people already have strong political opinions that cannot be shaped by news events. b. influence the opinions of older Americans only because younger Americans are more skeptical of

c. d.

the information found on social media. exaggerate partisan polarization among the mass public because people pick their own friend networks and can avoid disagreeable ideas. minimize partisan polarization among members of the mass public because people are exposed to new ideas and sources of information.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Understanding 39. Political information is increasingly emanating from universities, think tanks, nonprofit organizations, and private foundations because a. politicians are far less likely to talk to journalists now than in the past. b. the federal government has recently revoked laws that prevented these organizations from disseminating political information. c. libel suits have led traditional news organizations to stop covering the vast majority of political issues and events. d. traditional news organizations have cut their budgets and investigative journalism efforts in recent years.

ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Understanding 40. The term fake news is MOST accurately characterized as a. news stories that criticize only one political party or candidate. b. false news stories circulated to generate ad revenue or to benefit one political candidate or party over another. c. news stories that reference anonymous sources. d. news stories that are published on blogs or social media platforms.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Remembering 41. A widely circulated story that the pope endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2016 was a good example of a. “fake news.” c. yellow journalism. b. adversarial journalism. d. nonprofit journalism.

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Applying 42. The dramatic rise in political information and the increasing diversity of the media have a. led to massive increases in the average levels of political knowledge in the American public. b. led to massive decreases in the average levels of political knowledge in the American public. c. had very little impact on the average levels of political knowledge in the American public. d. made political knowledge tests obsolete.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Understanding 43. The ability to find and effectively evaluate information online is referred to as a. search sophistication. c. e-ability. b. information literacy. d. i-capacity.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Remembering 44. According to political scientist Jonathan Ladd, trust in the mainstream media has declined over the last 50 years as a result of

a. b. c. d.

the federal government’s increasing regulation of news content. the rising levels of education in the United States. increased competition in party politics and journalism. immigration and the end of the Cold War.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media Today OBJ: Discuss how digital media has transformed how Americans get political information MSC: Understanding 45. The media’s reporting of the Watergate affair led to a. a fundamental change in the nation’s libel laws. b. President Richard Nixon’s defeat in the 1972 election. c. President Richard Nixon’s resignation. d. President Richard Nixon’s reelection.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—News Coverage OBJ: Analyze the ways the media can influence public opinion and politics MSC: Remembering 46. Which of the following statements best describes the media’s role in 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.

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—News Coverage OBJ: Analyze the ways the media can influence public opinion and politics MSC: Applying 47. ________ is the power the media has to shape what issues Americans think about, and ________ is the power the media has to influence how Americans think about those issues. a. Agenda-setting; framing c. Framing; priming b. Framing; agenda-setting d. Priming; framing ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Media Influence OBJ: Analyze the ways the media can influence public opinion and politics MSC: Remembering 48. The power of the media to draw public attention to particular issues and problems is called a. framing. c. agenda-setting. b. canvassing. d. the bandwagon effect.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Media Influence OBJ: Analyze the ways the media can influence public opinion and politics MSC: Remembering 49. If public concern and interest in data security issues increased after a number of television and newspaper stories about “hacking,” it would be an example of the media’s ________ power. a. agenda-setting c. priming b. framing d. indexing ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Media Influence OBJ: Analyze the ways the media can influence public opinion and politics MSC: Applying 50. Priming refers to the a. bias that news organizations show toward covering dramatic and entertaining stories. b. process of preparing the public to bring specific criteria to mind when evaluating a politician or issue. c. tendency that people have to seek out news sources that confirm their prior beliefs about politics. d. fact that many important news stories go uncovered by the mainstream media.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Media Influence OBJ: Analyze the ways the media can influence public opinion and politics MSC: Remembering 51. According to political scientist Amber Boydstun, the media has a(n) ________ for breaking stories and a(n) ________ for covering them in greater depth. a. “alarm mode”; “patrol mode” c. “horse race mode”; “watchdog mode” b. “patrol mode”; “alarm mode” d. “watchdog mode”; “horse race mode” ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Media Influence OBJ: Analyze the ways the media can influence public opinion and politics MSC: Understanding 52. The MOST important selection bias in news is the a. ideology of the journalists. b. audience appeal of a story. c. economic interests of the media’s owners. d. approval of government regulators.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Media Influence OBJ: Analyze the ways the media can influence public opinion and politics MSC: Understanding 53. Besides their ideological biases, journalists also exhibit selection biases in favor of news stories they view as a. favorable to leaders and issues they support. b. having a great deal of dramatic or entertainment value. c. sympathetic to the government as a whole. d. critical of leaders and issues they oppose.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Media Influence OBJ: Analyze the ways the media can influence public opinion and politics MSC: Understanding 54. The fact that Democrats referred to the Obama administration’s health care initiative as “reform” instead of as “rationing” is an example of a. agenda-setting. c. sound bites. b. framing. d. adversarial journalism.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Media Influence OBJ: Analyze the ways the media can influence public opinion and politics MSC: Applying 55. Low-level officials who hope to publicize what they view as their bosses’ or the government’s improper activities are usually called a. bell ringers. c. adversarial journalists. b. whistle-blowers. d. watchdogs.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—News Coverage OBJ: Explain how politicians and others try to shape the news MSC: Remembering 56. The Pentagon Papers were released as a result of a. President Nixon’s repudiation of the Johnson administration’s strategy in Vietnam. b. investigations led by Washington Post reporters in 1972. c. a leak by a minor Defense Department staffer. d. a Freedom of Information Act request by the American Civil Liberties Union.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—News Coverage OBJ: Explain how politicians and others try to shape the news MSC: Remembering 57. In the Pentagon Papers case, the Supreme Court ruled that a. President Nixon did not commit an impeachable offense. b. President Nixon would be impeached. c. the government could not block the release of the papers. d. the government could block the release of any documents that were illegally leaked

to the press.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—News Coverage OBJ: Explain how politicians and others try to shape the news MSC: Remembering 58. In recent years, ________ has released thousands of secret government documents, exposing government corruption, torture, and war crimes. a. the New York Times c. WikiLeaks b. the Washington Post d. Twitter ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—News Coverage OBJ: Explain how politicians and others try to shape the news MSC: Remembering 59. Edward Snowden is MOST known for a. creating and maintaining the WikiLeaks site. b. leaking the Pentagon Papers to the press. c. leaking the material that revealed widespread global surveillance programs by the U.S. government and major telecommunication companies. d. leaking information about the Iraq War to the press while serving as Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—News Coverage OBJ: Explain how politicians and others try to shape the news MSC: Remembering 60. Reporting in which the media adopt a skeptical or even hostile posture toward the government and public officials is referred to as a. adversarial journalism. c. niche journalism. b. yellow journalism. d. “fake news.”

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—News Coverage OBJ: Explain how politicians and others try to shape the news MSC: Remembering 61. The Vietnam War initiated the growth of ________ journalism. a. yellow c. corporate-driven b. adversarial d. government-regulated ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—News Coverage OBJ: Explain how politicians and others try to shape the news MSC: Remembering 62. The frequent reporting on the federal investigation by Robert Mueller regarding whether anyone close to Trump participated in Russia’s 2016 election interference is an example of the media’s commitment to a. adversarial journalism. c. niche journalism. b. yellow journalism. d. “fake news.”

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—News Coverage OBJ: Explain how politicians and others try to shape the news MSC: Applying 63. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is owned by a. the government, but it is allowed to report whatever it wants. b. a private corporation, but it is not allowed to report anything without first receiving government approval. c. the government and is not allowed to report anything without first receiving government approval. d. a private corporation and is allowed to report whatever it wants.

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Remembering 64. Which agency regulates broadcast media? a. Federal Bureau of Investigation b. Federal Communications Commission

c. d.

Public Broadcast System Department of Commerce

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Remembering

65. Which media source is regulated by the federal government? a. newspapers c. magazines b. television d. the internet ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Remembering 66. The Communications Decency Act a. made it illegal to make “indecent” sexual material on the internet accessible to those under age 18. b. made it illegal to broadcast explicit sexual and excretory references between 6 A.M. and 10 P.M. on the radio and on television. c. imposed a tax on all websites containing obscene material. d. required that individuals be given the opportunity to respond to personal attacks broadcast on radio and television.

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Remembering 67. The ________ provides candidates for the same political office equal opportunities to communicate their messages. a. equal time rule c. diversity in media doctrine b. fairness doctrine d. Communications Decency Act ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Remembering 68. In Red Lion Broadcasting Company v. FCC (1969), the Supreme Court upheld the a. fairness doctrine. c. equal time rule. b. right of rebuttal. d. framing doctrine.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Remembering 69. The fairness doctrine required that a. all network news reports be balanced and fair-minded or they would be labeled editorials. b. broadcasters who aired controversial issues provide time for opposing viewpoints. c. all regulated newspapers establish a section of the editorial page for letters from readers. d. all broadcasters provide candidates for the same political office with equal opportunities to communicate their messages to the public.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Remembering 70. 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. a. fairness doctrine c. equal time rule b. right of rebuttal d. Communications Decency Act ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Remembering 71. In the United States today, the government a. controls most media content through regulations and tightly controlled press briefings. b. owns, but does not control, the major sources of media. c. does not own but regulates the content and ownership of broadcast media. d. heavily regulates print media but imposes no regulations on radio and television broadcasts.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Understanding 72. The Communications Decency Act was struck down by the Supreme Court because it violated the a. First Amendment’s right to freedom of speech.

b. c. d.

Federal Communications Commission’s equal time rule.

Federal Communications Commission’s right of rebuttal.

Fourteenth Amendment’s due process clause.

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Understanding 73. Which of the following requires a Federal Communications Commission license in order to legally broadcast in the United States? a. satellite radio channels c. internet websites b. cable television stations d. over-the-air television stations ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Applying 74. 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 in violation of the a. Telecommunications Act of 1996. c. equal time rule. b. fairness doctrine. d. Communications Decency Act. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Applying 75. 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 in violation of the a. Telecommunications Act of 1996. c. right of rebuttal. b. fairness doctrine. d. Communications Decency Act. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Applying 76. The Federal Communications Commission a. was established in 1949 by President Harry Truman. b. licenses radio but not television stations. c. bans explicit sexual and excretory references on airwaves during certain hours of the day. d. regulates newspapers.

ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Remembering 77. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was important because it a. ended the federal government’s licensing of radio and television stations. b. established the fairness doctrine. c. allowed for less concentration of media ownership than had been possible since regulation of the industry began in 1934. d. allowed for greater concentration of media ownership than had been possible since regulation of the industry began in 1934.

ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media OBJ: Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media MSC: Remembering ESSAY 1. The First Amendment assigns a special place for the media by protecting freedom of speech and freedom of the press. What are the three primary roles that the media should serve in a democratic society? What are some of the challenges the American media faces in fulfilling these roles? In your answer, be sure to address the impact of the profit motive in American media coverage and the country’s unique system of media ownership.

ANS: There are three components to this question:

a.

b.

c.

Media roles: The media serve three important roles in American democracy: they help inform the public about current political issues and events; they provide a forum through which candidates, politicians, and even the public can debate policies and issues; and they serve as a watchdog on the actions of politicians and other political actors. Without a free and active media, democratic government would be virtually impossible. Citizens would have few means through which to know or assess the government’s actions—other than the claims or pronouncements of the government itself. Moreover, without active media, citizens would be hard-pressed to make informed choices among competing candidates at the polls.

The profit motive: In most other democratic countries, public broadcasting plays a major role in informing the public about politics and current events. In the United States, however, news media organizations are private businesses that generate revenue to fund reporting through paid advertisements and subscriptions. This means news outlets are motivated by what audiences want rather than what they might need to be adequately informed about politics. As a result, the American media tends to focus more on “soft news” and dramatic, highly conflictual political events and issues than on the stories of everyday governing and details of public policy. This selection bias may explain why U.S. citizens have lower levels of political knowledge than those in European democracies who consume more public broadcasting.

Media ownership: One noteworthy feature of the media in the United States is the concentration of their ownership. A small number of giant corporations control much of the media offline and online. As major newspapers, television stations, and radio networks fall into fewer hands, the risk increases that politicians and citizens who express less popular or minority viewpoints will have difficulty finding a public forum.

DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Understanding 2. Newspapers, television, and radio are the three most important nondigital sources of information for Americans attempting to learn about politics. Write an essay that evaluates these three news sources in contemporary American politics. What are some of the distinct characteristics of each medium? How do the sources differ from each other in terms of the ways in which they disseminate news as well as the audiences they reach?

ANS: There are three components to this question: a. Print media: Newspapers are the oldest medium for the dissemination of the news. Beginning in the early twentieth century, newspapers developed standardized reporting and writing practices that emphasized “objectivity” in political news coverage.

Though no longer the primary news source for most Americans, print newspapers remain important because they are influential among the political elite. The print media may have a smaller audience than their newer cousins in broadcasting and digital media, but they have an especially influential audience because they help set the political agenda for the nation.

Most print newspapers now have a significant online presence (although the revenue from this digital content has not been enough to replace old revenue streams). b. Television: Television news reaches more Americans than any other single news source. More than 95 percent of Americans have a television, and tens of millions of people watch national and local news programs every day. Television news generally covers relatively few topics and provides little depth of coverage. It serves the important function of alerting viewers to issues and events via brief quotes and short characterizations of the day’s events. Furthermore, broadcast media do very little of their own reporting, instead relying on leading newspapers or digital media to set their news agenda. Although television remains the main source of news for most Americans, young people ages 18–33 increasingly learn about politics and the news online and are significantly less likely than older Americans to turn to local TV. c. Radio: In recent years, radio news listening has experienced significant growth; in 1990, there were 400 radio stations, a number that has grown to more than 2,000 today. Conservative radio hosts such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity have huge audiences and have helped to mobilize support for conservative political causes and candidates. In the political center or left center, National Public Radio (NPR) is a coveted source for in-depth political reporting.

DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Evaluating 3. Digital media have revolutionized the way Americans get their news. Discuss the requirements of digital citizenship and how these requirements produce the so-called digital divide. In addition, weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the internet as a tool for Americans to learn about politics.

ANS: There are four components to this question: a. Digital citizenship: A digital citizen is a daily internet user with broadband (high-speed) home internet access and the technology and literacy skills to go online for employment, news, politics, entertainment, commerce, and other activities.

b.

c.

d.

Digital divide: There are significant inequalities in access to digital media based on the ability to afford and effectively use internet access. The digital divide refers to the fact that there are important differences in internet access rates across education, income, and race and ethnicity. For example, while only half of the working poor (those earning less than $20,000 a year) had home broadband, 85 percent of those earning more than $100,000 a year did.

Advantages: There are five general advantages to the internet as a tool for learning about politics: (1) the convenience of getting news online, (2) the up-to-the-minute currency of the information available online, (3) the depth of the information available online, (4) the diversity of viewpoints, and (5) the low cost.

Disadvantages: The shift toward online media has also given rise to several major concerns. These potential disadvantages include the following: (1) a decline in investigative journalism, (2) uneven quality in news content, and (3) negative effects on knowledge and tolerance.

DIF: Moderate REF: CH07—The Media in American Democracy OBJ: Describe the key roles the media plays in American political life MSC: Understanding 4. The content and character of news programming can have far-reaching political consequences. Discuss three kinds of media effects and give a detailed example of each. Is there any bias in the kind of issues media choose to report? Explain.

ANS: There are four components to this question: a. Agenda-setting: Agenda-setting involves identifying the issues to which politicians and the public will pay attention: some things are deemed important while others are not. For example, by providing a great deal of coverage about terrorism, the media can make the public think that this issue is more important. b. Framing: Framing is the power of the media to influence how events and issues are interpreted. For example, the Obama administration labeled the 2010 health care bill the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” thus framing the proposal as a matter of compassionate responsibility and good economics. Sensing that Americans approved of this, Republicans chose different language. The law’s provisions for limiting excessive medical testing were labeled as “health care rationing” and proposals to create committees to advise patients about end-of-life care were called “death panels.” c. Priming: Priming involves “calling attention to some matters while ignoring others” when evaluating political officials. As a result, the public will be primed to use certain criteria when evaluating a politician or an issue and ignore other criteria. For example, the media’s intensive focus on terrorism and security in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks primed the public to evaluate President Bush’s performance in office based on his ability to defend the nation from terrorism and not on, say, his ability to manage the economy at the time. d. Selection bias: Because the media are businesses, and because the media seek to attract the largest possible audiences, they tend to cover stories with dramatic or entertainment value, giving less attention to important stories that they deem less compelling. Partisanship and ideology notwithstanding, the journalistic instinct for sensational stories often trumps both the media’s responsibility to inform the public about what really matters and the public’s responsibility to demand that from the media.

DIF: Difficult REF: CH07—Media Influence OBJ: Analyze the ways the media can influence public opinion and politics MSC: Analyzing 5. Although the First Amendment protects freedom of the press, the federal government has passed many laws regarding media communications. Discuss the differences in how the federal government regulates different kinds of media. In your answer, be sure to discuss the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the Communications Decency Act, and at least three regulations that grew out of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) licensing power.

ANS: There are four components to this question: a. Differences between broadcast and nonbroadcast media regulation: In the United States, the print and online media are essentially free from government interference. The broadcast media, however, are subject to federal regulation by the FCC. b. The 1996 Telecommunications Act: The Telecommunications Act was a broad effort to end most regulations. The legislation loosened restrictions on media ownership and allowed telephone companies, cable television providers, and broadcasters to compete with one another to provide telecommunication services. Following the passage of this act, mergers between telephone and cable companies and different entertainment media produced a greater concentration of media ownership than had been previously possible. c. The Communications Decency Act: This law made it illegal to make “indecent” sexual material on the internet accessible to those under age 18. In 1997, the Supreme Court ruled that the Communications Decency Act was an unconstitutional infringement of the right to freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment.

Test Bank for We the People, Full 12th Edition, Benjamin Ginsberg, Theodore J. Lowi Caroline d.

DIF: OBJ:

Regulations: The FCC has used its licensing power to impose several regulations that can affect the political content of radio and TV broadcasts. The first of these is the equal time rule, under which broadcasters must provide to candidates for the same political office equal opportunities to communicate their messages to the public. The second regulation is the right of rebuttal, which requires that individuals be given the opportunity to respond to personal attacks. For many years, a third important federal regulation was the fairness doctrine. Under this rule, broadcasters who aired programs on controversial issues were required to provide time for opposing views. In 1985, however, the FCC stopped enforcing the fairness doctrine.

Difficult REF: CH07—Regulation of the Media Trace the evolution of rules that govern broadcast media

MSC: Analyzing

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