Question 1

Reporters at a magazine are covering a presidential election.Stories posted to the magazine's Web site about the Democratic candidate include comments about how the candidate's policies are more just,and how the candidate is in touch with the nation at large.Stories on the Republican include comments that the candidate has unfair economic policies and is disconnected from the working class.What phenomenon is this?

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes statement bias, where the media presents information in a way that favors one candidate over another through the use of subjective comments.

Question 2

The text states,"The question of media bias depends entirely on the particular medium's own definition of objectivity-its stated commitment to avoid partisan or political bias." Which of the following would then be considered bias?

Accepted Answer

An impartial or objective television host endorsing a particular candidate would be considered bias because it contradicts their stated commitment to avoid partisan or political bias.

Question 3

The Center for Media and Public Affairs found that in the 2008 election,Barack Obama received the most favorable coverage of any general-election candidate for the presidency since 1980.With this in mind,what does the evidence for media bias indicate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Center for Media and Public Affairs...

Question 4

Imagine a reporter runs two stories.One is concerned with aspects of drone attacks in a foreign country,and the other pertains to election fraud in the New York governor's race.Which story has the potential for legal action under prior restraint,and why?

Accepted Answer

The story about drone attacks in a foreign country has the potential for legal action under prior restraint because it pertains to national security. The government may argue that publication of certain details about drone attacks could harm national security and try to prevent the story from being published through prior restraint. The story about election fraud in the New York governor's race may also face legal action, but it would be less likely to come under prior restraint because it is not directly related to national security.

Question 5

Political polls show that certain policies resonate with younger voters.Say that a political candidate hopes to garner more votes from 18- to 25-year-olds by using social media sites to showcase aspects of the political platform this group favors.This is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

Microtargeting is the use of specific data to identify and target a particular group of voters with a tailored message or campaign strategy. In this case, the candidate is using social media to showcase policies that appeal to young voters, which is an example of microtargeting. Paid media refers to advertisements or content that is paid for, earned media refers to media coverage gained through publicity efforts, a horse race refers to media coverage of a close electoral contest, and strategy framing refers to the way in which candidates present their policies to appeal to voters.

Question 6

Consumption of comedy shows such as The Daily Show and The Colbert Report as a news source has risen in recent years.This could possibly be seen as a result of what media phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Consumption of comedy shows such as The...

Question 7

Imagine that over the months leading up to an election,news and media outlets have emphasized topics X,Y,and Z.Although the incumbent was successful on a number of political issues,he loses his reelection bid.Exit polls show that voters felt he was a failure as a politician because he did not address the topics the media had been addressing.What media effect is this?

Accepted Answer

Priming is the media effect where the media's emphasis on certain topics influences the criteria by which the public evaluates political figures or issues. In this case, the media's focus on topics X, Y, and Z led voters to judge the incumbent based on his handling of those topics.

Question 8

When Judith Miller of the New York Times was called to testify before a Federal Grand Jury,she refused to reveal her source.As a consequence,she was jailed for 85 days.To protect themselves from such compelled testimony,reporters have advocated for __________.

Accepted Answer

Shield laws are laws that protect journalists from having to reveal their sources in court. This would have protected Judith Miller from being jailed for refusing to reveal her source.

Question 9

Which of these is an example of a media horse race?

Accepted Answer

A media horse race refers to the coverage of the competition between candidates, often focusing on the strategy, tactics, and behind-the-scenes actions rather than substantive policy issues.

Question 10

In recent years,mainstream media has been accused of bias and self-censorship.Which answer best describes this shift?

Accepted Answer

The emergence of independent journalists and blogs has challenged the dominance of mainstream media and exposed their biases and self-censorship practices. This has led to a shift in media consumption patterns as people seek alternative sources of news and information.

Question 11

A liberal media consumer seeks out only those media broadcasts that align with his or her politics.The consumer is engaging in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Selective exposure refers to the tendency of individuals to seek out and prefer information that aligns with their preexisting beliefs and values, while avoiding information that contradicts them. Therefore, a liberal media consumer who seeks out only those media broadcasts that align with his or her politics is engaging in selective exposure.

Question 12

What strategy does today's media use to maximize its advertising reach during an election cycle?

Accepted Answer

Microtargeting allows media outlets to tailor their advertising to specific demographics, increasing the reach and effectiveness of their campaigns during election cycles.

Question 13

Courts have ruled that print media cannot be forced to print news coverage it would not otherwise report.Broadcast media must abide by different rules,such as providing equal access to political figures.Why does this difference exist?

Accepted Answer

Broadcast media (such as television and radio) use public airwaves and therefore are subject to regulation by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which requires equal access for political candidates. Print media, on the other hand, are not subject to the same regulations because they do not use public airwaves.

Question 14

In the twenty-first century,media consumers have often replaced traditional reporters.This has included their functions as gatekeepers and content creators.What two factors have most contributed to this shift?

Accepted Answer

The two factors that have most contributed to the shift from traditional reporters to media consumers are social media and the Internet. Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have given individuals the ability to share news, opinions, and information on a global scale. The Internet has made it easy for anyone to access news and information, and has also made it easier for individuals to create and publish their own content. Together, these two factors have empowered media consumers to become gatekeepers and content creators, disrupting the traditional role of reporters.

Question 15

Imagine that a news outlet or reporter favors a particular candidate or political party.In the process of reporting political coverage,the news gives more than 75 percent of its coverage to Party A,while Party B receives less than 25 percent.At the same time,news stories that cover Party A lean toward the positive,while negative stories are ignored.What types of bias are being committed on behalf of Party A,respectively?

Accepted Answer

The bias types are coverage bias, as Party A receives more coverage than Party B, and gatekeeping bias, as negative stories about Party A are ignored.

Question 16

An individual who is highly ideological in his or her political views,but who understands little of the actual political messaging through the media,is said to have which of these?

Accepted Answer

An individual who is highly ideological but understands little of the actual political messaging through the media is said to have a low political attentiveness and high political predisposition. They may have strong beliefs and values, but may not be well-informed about the specifics of political issues or how they are being communicated through the media.

Question 17

During the 2012 presidential election,media coverage leaned heavily toward economic and social issues,with coverage on the conflicts in Afghanistan and Syria mostly ignored.This media effect is known as what?

Accepted Answer

Agenda setting refers to the media's ability to influence which issues are considered important by the public, based on the amount and nature of coverage given to those issues. In this case, the heavy coverage of economic and social issues during the 2012 presidential election may have led to a decreased emphasis on conflicts in Afghanistan and Syria, as those issues were not given as much attention by the media.

Question 18

Individuals involved in certain aspects of the media may attend political rallies or public meetings in order to hold elected officials accountable for promises made during political campaigns.But individuals may also hold those in the mainstream media accountable.Both elected officials and those in the media may not want to report certain happenings.What role are the above two groups of individuals fulfilling with respect to politics and the media?

Accepted Answer

The two groups of individuals (those attending political rallies/meetings and those holding the media accountable) are fulfilling the role of watchdogs, who monitor and hold accountable those in power, whether they are elected officials or members of the media.

Question 19

In the week prior to the 2012 presidential election,President Obama traveled to the Northeast to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.Those who supported the president believed he truly cared about the people involved,stating how presidential he was.His detractors believed he was involved in political opportunism.Both sides engaged in what behavior?

Accepted Answer

Selective perception is when individuals interpret information in a way that aligns with their existing beliefs or opinions, which is what both supporters and detractors of President Obama were doing in this scenario.

Question 20

Because more and more individuals get their news from Web-based sources,the ability to track individuals' news preferences leads to more tailored advertising and political messaging.This is called __________.

Accepted Answer

Microtargeting is the practice of tailoring advertising or political messaging to individuals based on their preferences, interests, and demographics. With the rise of web-based news sources, it has become easier to track individuals' news preferences and use this information for microtargeting.

Quiz 10: Media and Politics