Question 1

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.

Accepted Answer

A small number of giant, privately owned corporations such as Disney, Comcast, and AT&T control most of the country's media outlets. This concentration of ownership has raised concerns about potential bias and lack of diversity in news and entertainment content.

Question 2

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 instead report only one side of a story.
B)While 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.

Accepted Answer

The traditional news media's relationship to objectivity is to attempt to be objective by reporting both sides of a story, given that completely objective reporting is unattainable because people inevitably have biases that shape their understanding of events. Journalists strive to present all relevant information to their audience so that they can make informed decisions about the events being reported.

Question 3

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.Federal Communications Commission.
D)the federal government's decision to end the fairness doctrine in 1968.

Accepted Answer

The relaxation of government regulations in the 1980s and 1990s, such as the Telecommunications Act of 1996, allowed for the consolidation of media ownership and led to a trend of larger media companies acquiring smaller ones.

Question 4

Which of the following is a good example of a media monopoly?
A)the New York Times
B)ESPN
C)Fox News
D)Disney

Accepted Answer

Disney owns a vast array of media companies, including Walt Disney Pictures, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, ABC, ESPN, and more. Their ownership of multiple forms of media creates a monopoly in the entertainment industry.

Question 5

Large media conglomerates,such as the Hearst,McClatchy,and Gannett corporations,
Own approximately ________ percent of daily newspapers.
A)25
B)40
C)55
D)75

Accepted Answer

Large media conglomerates like Hearst, McClatchy, and Gannett corporations own approximately 75 percent of daily newspapers, reflecting the high level of media consolidation in the newspaper industry.

Question 6

The traditional news media aims 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.

Accepted Answer

Traditional news media aims to provide objective reporting on current events by excluding the personal views of reporters or editors from their coverage. This helps to maintain impartiality and avoid bias in their reporting.

Question 7

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 a 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.

Accepted Answer

Public broadcasting in the United States accounts for a much smaller share of the media market compared to other Western democracies, such as France, Germany, and Denmark. In the US, public broadcasting represents around 3% of the total media market, while in other countries, it can be as high as 20-30% of the market.

Question 8

Privately owned media companies in the United States earn most of their revenue from
A)advertising.
B)subscriptions.
C)government grants.
D)charitable donations.

Accepted Answer

Privately owned media companies in the United States earn the majority of their revenue from advertising. This includes revenue from digital ads, TV commercials, radio ads, print ads, and sponsored content. Subscriptions do generate some revenue for media companies, but it is not their primary source of income. Government grants and charitable donations are not typically sources of revenue for privately owned media companies.

Question 9

Digital subscription models in which people pay to access news content have
A)proven to be a profitable approach for many smaller or mid-sized local newspapers but not for elite,national newspapers.
B)proven to be a profitable approach for many elite,national newspapers but not for smaller or mid-sized local newspapers.
C)proven to be a profitable approach for all newspapers,regardless of their size and focus.
D)proven to be a failure for all newspapers,regardless of their size and focus.

Accepted Answer

Many elite, national newspapers such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal have successfully implemented digital subscription models and seen significant revenue growth as a result. While smaller and mid-sized local newspapers may also use this model, they may face challenges in competing with free online content and may have a smaller audience to draw from.

Question 10

During the last decade,the number of newspaper journalists working in the United States has
A)grown by more than 40 percent.
B)decreased by 40 percent.
C)decreased by 100 percent.
D)remained constant.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of newspaper journalists working in the United States has decreased by approximately 40 percent since 2008. This can be attributed to the decline in print media and the shift towards digital media.

Question 11

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.

Accepted Answer

The media provide a check on the power of government and political leaders by holding them accountable and exposing any wrongdoing. This is similar to the role of the other branches of government in providing checks and balances. While the media may receive subsidies and require cooperation from the other branches, these factors do not make them a branch of government in their own right. Article IV of the Constitution deals with the relationship between states, not the media.

Question 12

All 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 in 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.

Accepted Answer

Enabling privately owned companies to advertise their products to the public may be a function of the media, but it is not a crucial role in American democracy. The other options listed are essential functions of the media in facilitating an informed and engaged citizenry.

Question 13

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.

Accepted Answer

The First Amendment of the Constitution protects freedom of the press along with other rights such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and petition.

Question 14

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.

Accepted Answer

The newspaper industry realized that in order to make the most profit, they needed to appeal to a wide audience, without alienating readers with differing political views. This led to the standardization of news reporting practices and the appearance of neutrality in news reporting.

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of a media outlet that receives funding from the government?
A)the New York Times
B)the American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
C)the National Broadcasting Network (NBC)
D)National Public Radio (NPR)

Accepted Answer

National Public Radio (NPR) receives funding from the government through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The other options listed are privately owned media outlets that do not receive direct government funding.

Question 16

During the 2016 campaign,Hillary Clinton received
A)double the amount of media coverage as Donald Trump.
B)half the amount of media coverage as Donald Trump.
C)1/10th the amount of media coverage as Donald Trump.
D)roughly the same amount of media coverage as Donald Trump.

Accepted Answer

According to a Harvard study, during the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump received about $5 billion worth of free media coverage compared to Hillary Clinton, who received about $2.8 billion worth of coverage. This means that Trump received roughly twice as much media coverage as Clinton. Therefore, the best choice is B, half the amount of media coverage as Donald Trump.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

An economics professor providing testimony to a congressional committee on the effect of tariffs would be the least likely story for an American news outlet that relies primarily on advertising revenue to cover as it is not as sensational or attention-grabbing as the other options. It also does not involve any celebrities or high-ranking government officials, which tend to generate more interest and engagement from readers/viewers.

Question 18

The fact that a decreasing number of companies owns an increasingly large share of the
American media is a concern primarily because
A)it limits the ability of all news organizations to remain profitable.
B)it violates the First Amendment to the Constitution.
C)it increases the risk that politicians and citizens who express less popular or minority viewpoints will have difficulty finding a public forum.
D)it increases the risk of government censorship.

Accepted Answer

As fewer companies own a larger share of the American media, there is a greater risk that alternative viewpoints and minority opinions will not have a voice in the media landscape. This can limit the diversity of ideas and perspectives that are available to the public in the media.

Question 19

"Public broadcasting" refers to any television,radio,and digital media that
A)receive funding from the public through license fees,subsidies,or tax dollars.
B)report extensively on government officials and political issues.
C)sell subscriptions to members of the public.
D)make their content available to the public at no cost.

Accepted Answer

Public broadcasting refers to any media that receives funding from the public through various means such as license fees, subsidies, or tax dollars. This funding model allows for free access to programming for the public.

Question 20

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 in their role as
A)a first branch.
B)a first estate.
C)a watchdog.
D)a judge and jury.

Accepted Answer

The media serving as a watchdog refers to the role of the media where they monitor and scrutinize the actions of individuals and organizations in power, such as elected officials. In this scenario, the media's publication of stories exposing an elected official's acceptance of monetary bribes from a corporation is an example of them serving in their watchdog role by exposing corrupt behavior and informing the public.

Quiz 6: The Media

Which of the following statements best characterizes media ownership in the United States?

Which of the following statements best characterizes the traditional news media's relationship to objectivity?

The trend in concentration of traditional media ownership occurred in large part due to

Which of the following is a good example of a media monopoly?

Large media conglomerates,such as the Hearst,McClatchy,and Gannett corporations, Own approximately ________ percent of daily newspapers.

The traditional news media aims to provide objective reporting on current events by

Public broadcasting in the United States

Privately owned media companies in the United States earn most of their revenue from

Digital subscription models in which people pay to access news content have

During the last decade,the number of newspaper journalists working in the United States has

The media are sometimes referred to as the "fourth branch of government" because

All the following are important roles for the media in American democracy EXCEPT

In the United States,freedom of the press is protected by

The practice of training reporters to produce a standardized,seemingly neutral news product Was the result of

Which of the following is an example of a media outlet that receives funding from the government?

During the 2016 campaign,Hillary Clinton received

Which of the following stories would an American news outlet that relies primarily on advertising revenue be LEAST likely to cover?

The fact that a decreasing number of companies owns an increasingly large share of the American media is a concern primarily because

"Public broadcasting" refers to any television,radio,and digital media that

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 in their role as