7 - Mass Media

Question 1

high-tech politics

Answer 1

A politics in which the behavior of citizens and policymakers and the political agenda itself are increasingly shaped by technology.

Question 2

mass media

Answer 2

Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and other means of popular communication.

Question 3

media events

Answer 3

Events that are purposely staged for the media and that are significant just because the media are there.

Question 4

press conferences

Answer 4

Meetings of public officials with reporters.

Question 5

investigative journalism

Answer 5

The use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams, and schemes, at times putting reporters in adversarial relationships with political leaders.

Question 6

print media

Answer 6

Newspapers and magazines, as compared with electronic media.

Question 7

electronic media

Answer 7

Television, radio, and the Internet, as compared with print media.

Question 8

narrowcasting

Answer 8

Media programming on cable TV (e.g., on MTV, ESPN, or C-SPAN) or the Internet that is focused on a particular interest and aimed at a particular audience, in contrast to broadcasting.

Question 9

selective exposure

Answer 9

The process through which people consciously choose to get the news from information sources that have viewpoints compatible with their own.

Question 10

chains

Answer 10

Groups of newspapers published by media conglomerates and today accounting for over four-fifths of the nation’s daily newspaper circulation.

Question 11

beats

Answer 11

Specific locations from which news frequently emanates, such as Congress or the White House. Most top reporters work a particular beat, thereby becoming specialists in what goes on at that location.

Question 12

trial balloons

Answer 12

Intentional news leaks for the purpose of assessing the political reaction.

Question 13

sound bites

Answer 13

Short video clips of approximately 10 seconds. Typically, they are all that is shown from a politician’s speech on the nightly television news.

Question 14

talking head

Answer 14

A shot of a person’s face talking directly to the camera. Because such shots are visually unstimulating, the major networks rarely show politicians talking for very long.

Question 15

policy agenda

Answer 15

The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actively involved in politics at the time.

Question 16

The emergence of media events has contributed to each of the following trends EXCEPT

Answer 16

increasing negativity in American political campaigns.

Question 17

In recent years, most presidential election campaign television advertisements have been negative.
True/False?

Answer 17

True

Question 18

How important are the news media today for presidents who hope to govern successfully? In answering this question, discuss efforts by recent presidents to choreograph their messages through media.

Answer 18

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Question 19

The trend toward more negative and cynical news coverage began during

Answer 19

the Vietnam War

Question 20

Those who watch the news on television tend to be
more engaged in politics than those who read the news.
True/False?

Answer 20

False

Question 21

The Internet appears to be increasing public interest in political news.
True/False?

Answer 21

False

Question 22

Evaluate the shift from broadcasting toward narrowcasting. What impact has this shift had on the quality of political journalism? What impact do you think the trend toward narrowcasting will have on political participation and awareness?

Answer 22

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Question 23

Compare and contrast private and public media. How might the business model of privately owned media both contribute to and detract from the free flow of information to American citizens? In your opinion, does public ownership of the media provide a better model? Why or why not?

Answer 23

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Question 24

Which of the following factors best account(s) for what is considered newsworthy?

Answer 24

a story’s high entertainment value

Question 25

News coverage of political campaigns pays relatively
little attention to policy issues.
True/False?

Answer 25

True

Question 26

Evaluate the symbiotic relationship between
the press and government. How might this relationship promote positive coverage of the government? How might it encourage critical news coverage instead? Provide specific examples in your answer.

Answer 26

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Question 27

It is commonly thought that media favor one political point of view in their coverage of politics. Does social science research support this belief? Why or why not? If bias does exist in news coverage, how does it influence news coverage?

Answer 27

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Question 28

Each of the following characterizes how media affect public opinion EXCEPT

Answer 28

All of the following effect public opinion

media affect public opinion to a significant extent.

media affect which issues the public finds to be
important.

media affect the public’s evaluation of elected officials.

media affect knowledgeable citizens’ policy agendas.

Question 29

How do the media affect public evaluation of different political events? Provide specific examples to support your answer.

Answer 29

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Question 30

The nation’s policy agenda is best defined as the problems that

Answer 30

government officials are paying some serious attention to

Question 31

Who are policy entrepreneurs and how do they seek to affect the policy agenda through the media? Give some examples. What appears to most contribute to their success?

Answer 31

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Question 32

Television’s emphasis on the individual has the effect of encouraging greater news coverage of

Answer 32

the presidency

Question 33

How does the media’s role as watchdog affect the scope of government? Why do you think the public supports this role of the news media?

Answer 33

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Question 34

Explain the phrase “information is the fuel of democracy” and evaluate its accuracy in the context of today’s high-tech media society. If the media fall short in “fueling” democracy, is this a problem and what do you think can be done? Are the media justified in giving people what they want? Defend your answer.

Answer 34

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