Question 1

When journalists choose what to report on from the large number of events that occur in the world, this is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Gatekeeping is the process by which journalists and editors decide which stories and events are important enough to report, effectively acting as "gates" through which information must pass to reach the public.

Question 2

Kate tells her sister about a story she just watched on the news about the role of large corporations in global warming.
This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The two-step flow model of communication suggests that ideas flow from mass media to opinion leaders, and from them to a wider population. In this scenario, Kate acts as an opinion leader by receiving information from the news (mass media) and then sharing it with her sister, fitting the description of the two-step flow model.

Question 3

are characteristics of events that influence journalists' selections for what events are covered in the news.

Accepted Answer

A

Question 4

Which of the following is a common factor for news selection?

Accepted Answer

All of the choices listed are common factors in news selection. Geographic proximity refers to the preference for news that is closer to the audience's location. Negativity often captures attention because negative events are perceived as more unusual or newsworthy. Conflict, whether it is political, social, or economic, also attracts attention because it involves disagreement and is inherently dramatic.

Question 5

While waiting for a flight connection at the airport, Cameron casually watches a TV news channel that's shown on the screen in the airport waiting area.
What level of news use describes Cameron's news consumption best?

Accepted Answer

Cameron's news consumption is best described as incidental information exposure because he is not actively seeking out the news but is exposed to it casually while waiting at the airport.

Question 6

According to the informational utility model, which of the following would impact the perceived usefulness of information in the news?

Accepted Answer

The informational utility model suggests that efficacy, likelihood, and magnitude all contribute to the perceived usefulness of information, as they help individuals assess the relevance and potential impact of the news on their lives.

Question 7

Which of the following does NOT influence the role of attitudes in promoting attention?

Accepted Answer

Self-efficacy is more related to one's belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations, rather than directly influencing how attitudes promote attention.

Question 8

Hard vs. soft news is differentiated based on which of the following dimensions?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Hard vs. soft news is differentiated based...

Question 9

Bennet (1988) identified four news flaws commonly found in news coverage. Which of the following is NOT one of those flaws

Accepted Answer

Deindividuation is not one of the news flaws identified by Bennet (1988). The four flaws are fragmentation, dramatization, personalization, and normalization.

Question 10

Which of the following concepts of 'flaws' of the news (per Bennett, 2012, as discussed in class) is exemplified with the news headline:
"Heated Debate Between Patient Representative Group and Federal Drug Agency"

Accepted Answer

The headline "Heated Debate Between Patient Representative Group and Federal Drug Agency" exemplifies the concept of dramatization. This is because it focuses on the conflict or dramatic aspects of the story, which is a common flaw in news reporting where the emphasis is on sensationalizing the event to attract more attention or viewership.

Question 11

Which of the following headlines indicates 'soft news'?

Accepted Answer

Soft news often focuses on human interest stories, entertainment, or arts, rather than hard-hitting current events or politics. The death of a celebrity, such as Jerry Orbach, is considered soft news because it deals with entertainment and celebrity news rather than urgent public affairs.

Question 12

Which of the following is considered a shortfall of mass media, compared to ideal functions of news media in a democracy?

Accepted Answer

Mass media often focus on events and conflicts rather than issues and solutions (A) and are typically profit-driven, focusing on content that 'sells' (B), both of which are considered shortfalls compared to the ideal functions of news media in a democracy.

Question 13

As discussed in class, regarding goals of mass media in a democracy, how should the mass media ideally consider the audience?

Accepted Answer

In a democracy, mass media should ideally consider the audience as active participants and concerned citizens, as this perspective encourages informed public discourse and engagement in democratic processes.

Question 14

Gatewatching is defined as:

Accepted Answer

Gatewatching refers to the process where media users observe and highlight information from news outlets, rather than the traditional gatekeeping where editors decide what news gets published.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a classic news factor?

Accepted Answer

Intentionality is not considered a classic news factor. Classic news factors include elements like conflict, personalization, and negativity, which help determine the newsworthiness of a story. Intentionality, referring to actions done with intent, does not fit within the traditional framework of factors that influence news selection and emphasis.

Question 16

"Voluntary exposure to news while not seeking for specific information" is the definition of which term?

Accepted Answer

Information scanning refers to the voluntary exposure to news without actively seeking specific information.

Question 17

What influences the perceived importance of attitudes (for an individual) ?

Accepted Answer

The perceived importance of attitudes for an individual is influenced by a combination of factors including self-interest, values related to the issue or object, and affiliation with others affected by the issue. These elements collectively shape how an individual prioritizes and values their attitudes towards various subjects.

Question 18

Reinemann et al. (2012) identified three factors that help differentiating hard and soft news. Which of the following is NOT one of those three factors?

Accepted Answer

Reinemann et al. (2012) identified topic dimension, focus dimension, and style dimension as factors differentiating hard and soft news, not moral dimension.

Question 19

The knowledge gap hypothesis…

Accepted Answer

The knowledge gap hypothesis, which suggests that information in a social system is not evenly acquired by every member, leading to a gap between those with higher and lower socioeconomic status, has not consistently found support in empirical studies. The evidence is mixed, with some studies supporting the hypothesis and others challenging it, indicating that the relationship between media exposure and knowledge acquisition is complex and influenced by various factors.

Question 20

You may find the following news title "useful" per the informational utility model:
"New Flu Virus This Semester: Dozens of [YOUR UNIVERSITY] Students Hospitalized".
According to the Informational Utility Model (Atkin, 1973) , which dimension of utility does NOT contribute to your perception of utility in this example?

Accepted Answer

Efficacy refers to the ability to take action or the effectiveness of a response, which is not directly addressed in the news title. The title provides information about the magnitude, likelihood, and immediacy of the event but does not suggest any action or response efficacy.

Quiz 6: Following and Contributing to News