Chapter 10 Multiple Choice Quiz

Almost all American radio and television stations are privately owned

The US government has little power to regulate broadcasters.

The US has very strict libel laws, & untruths about public officials usually result in fines.

Most other countries have a Freedom of Information Act that permits the media to request information about the government.

Because of federal grants & special funding, the media in the US don't have to worry much about profit.

A broadcast allows public officials to speak directly to audiences without their remarks being flitered through editors.

Politicians can reach voters on a national scale without the support of political parties.

People could easily ignore a speech by changing the channel

Citizens get more detailed & specific informations about programs & policies than they could get from the print media.

Public officials must do something bold or sufficiently colorful to gain free access to the broadcast media.

A gatekeeper who influences what subjects become national political issues & for how long

A scorekeeper who keeps track of & helps make political reputations

A reporter who covers important facts in an unbiased manner

A referee who carefully balances coverage of all the candidates

A watchdog who closely scrutinizes candidates' backgrounds & activities.

I and II

I, II, and III

II, and III

III and IV

I, II, III, and IV

"spinning" a story by attacking a politicians critics

Closing the "leaks" given to particular reporters.

Revoking the licenses of stations that give unfavorable coverage

Using the press corps to release favorable stories

Refusing to give important background information

A candidate for office runs ads in one state on a single ussue to see how the public will react

An anonymous White House source makes a statement that's then reported on the news.

A newspaper covers the flooding in a neighboring state & chooses to delete stories of interest.

A TV special report covers drug dealers in a community but doesn't cover efforts to end drug abuse.

The president holds a news conference to annoince a new program to stop the spread of AIDS.

Because the president is one person and is viewed by the public as the center of the government

Because the president has the ability to call news conferences, whereas members of Congress must act through their leaders

Because the courrts issues opinions that are difficult to understand, and it's difficult for the press to explain court decisions clearly.

Because congressional committee hearins are ususally closed to the press and public

The statement is inaccurate; Congress actually gets as muich press coverage as the president does.

It's become friendlier because presidents are now more willing to answer questions.

It's become more adversarial, partly as a result of the Vietnam War and Watergate

It's become more adversarial because embarrassing stores sell more newspapers

It has not changed, because we have always had a free press

It has become less critical of the president because surveys show that people do not like the cynicism of the media.

A discussion of the detailed party platforms of each oresidential candidate

A story about a missing woman and her romantic relationship with a member of Congress

A report about the safety recommendations made for all new SUV's

A duscussion of the leading economic indicators

A study comparing birth defects in the US with those in Canada