Question 1

Young people report gathering most of their political information from

Accepted Answer

According to research, young people are increasingly turning to the Internet as their primary source of political information. Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook have become important sources for news and political discussion among young adults. Additionally, online news sources and political blogs are popular among younger generations.

Question 2

What inspired the more aggressive form of journalism known as muckraking in the early 1900s?

Accepted Answer

Muckraking was inspired by a desire to expose social injustices and corruption, showing sympathy for the plight of ordinary citizens.

Question 3

A Gallup poll revealed that as of 2017, the highest proportion of Americans (just 27 percent) expressed high confidence in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

In 2017, a Gallup poll showed that the highest proportion of Americans expressed high confidence in newspapers compared to other media and institutions listed.

Question 4

Newspapers in the 1830s witnessed all of the following transformations EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Newspapers in the 1830s did not witness a decreased dependence on paid advertisements, as such advertisements were a major source of revenue for newspapers at the time.

Question 5

In 2016, people were most likely to get campaign news from

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 2016, people were most likely to...

Question 6

The first American newspaper, published in Massachusetts in 1690, shut down after just one issue because

Accepted Answer

The colonial government passed a law requiring printers to obtain a license prior to publishing a newspaper, which likely made it difficult for the newspaper to continue publishing after just one issue.

Question 7

Which of the following terms best describes yellow journalism?

Accepted Answer

Yellow journalism is characterized by its sensational, exaggerated, and often misleading reporting style. It prioritizes attracting readers and selling newspapers over objective reporting.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a trend in newspaper readership today?

Accepted Answer

The amount of coverage devoted to community reporting in newspapers has not decreased, as this type of reporting is still important to local readers and often distinguishes newspapers from other media sources. However, choices A, B, C, and D are all trends in newspaper readership today.

Question 9

Visible trends in the mass media today include all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The other choices are all visible trends in the mass media today.

Question 10

Narrowcasting

Accepted Answer

Narrowcasting refers to media outlets targeting specific, niche audiences with specialized content. This means that most Americans do not receive the same news, as different outlets cater to different audiences.

Question 11

The first time radio aired the results of a presidential campaign, it was to report the election of

Accepted Answer

The first time radio aired the results of a presidential campaign was to report the election of Warren Harding in 1920. This marked a significant moment in the history of media and politics, as it was the first time that the results of a U.S. presidential election were broadcast to the public via radio, making the information more immediately accessible to a wider audience.

Question 12

Organizations such as the Associated Press and United Press International are associated with the rise of

Accepted Answer

The Associated Press and United Press International are associated with the rise of objective journalism, which prioritizes unbiased reporting and adheres to established journalistic standards.

Question 13

Which of the following statements most accurately describes John Adams and Thomas Jefferson's handling of the press?

Accepted Answer

Adams and Jefferson, like many of their contemporaries, used the press as a tool to support their political agendas. They awarded government printing contracts to newspapers and printers who were sympathetic to their policies, using these contracts as a means to ensure favorable coverage and support. This practice was a common way to maintain political influence over public opinion through the press.

Question 14

The term muckraking refers to journalism that

Accepted Answer

Muckraking journalism is characterized by investigative reporting that exposes corruption, scandal, and wrongdoing by those in positions of power and influence. Journalists who engage in muckraking often take on powerful individuals or institutions and work to bring about social or political reform.

Question 15

Which event convinced television networks that there was a large audience for televised news and led to the adoption of thirty-minute news programs?

Accepted Answer

The Nixon-Kennedy presidential debate of 1960 was the first ever televised presidential debate and drew in a record-breaking number of viewers. This event convinced television networks that there was a large audience for televised news, leading to the adoption of thirty-minute news programs.

Question 16

Which of the following statements about young Americans is LEAST accurate?

Accepted Answer

Young Americans are actually more skeptical of media sources and less likely to accept media claims than older Americans. This is likely due to their exposure to more diverse and subjective news sources.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about ownership of the media is LEAST accurate?

Accepted Answer

In the United States, the government does not own or control any major news outlet.

Question 18

Based on current understandings of the First Amendment, which of the following statements regarding government regulation of the media is LEAST accurate?

Accepted Answer

While public officials may have more leeway than private citizens in bringing libel suits against the media, courts have made it more difficult for public officials to succeed in such suits in order to protect the First Amendment's guarantee of a free press. Therefore, B is the least accurate statement as it overstates the level of government regulation of the media in the context of libel law.

Question 19

Americans, on average, are most likely to get their national and international news from

Accepted Answer

According to a 2019 Pew Research Center survey, 49% of Americans said they get their news about national and international issues from television, making it the most popular option. The Internet follows closely behind, with 33% of Americans getting their news from online sources. Newspapers and radio are used by 16% and 14% of Americans, respectively. Magazines are the least popular source, with only 2% of Americans getting their news from this medium. Therefore, the best choice is A) television.

Question 20

The United States is currently the only advanced industrial nation in the world in which

Accepted Answer

The United States is the only advanced industrial nation in the world in which virtually all the major media outlets are privately owned. While some countries have government-owned media outlets or regulations on private ownership, the United States has a free market system where media companies are privately owned and operate independently.

Quiz 10: Media: Tuning in or Tuning Out