BSJ Bachelor of Journalism: Media Impact on Society 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which concept describes the media's ability to tell audiences what topics to think about, even if not what to think?
- Framing
- Agenda-setting (Correct answer)
- Priming
- Gatekeeping
Correct answer: Agenda-setting
Agenda-setting theory, developed by McCombs and Shaw, holds that media influence public priorities by emphasizing certain topics over others.
Question 2: What term refers to the phenomenon where heavy TV viewers perceive the world as more dangerous than it actually is?
- Spiral of silence
- Cultivation theory
- Uses and gratifications
- Mean world syndrome (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Mean world syndrome
Mean world syndrome, a product of cultivation theory developed by George Gerbner, describes how heavy TV exposure leads viewers to overestimate real-world violence.
Question 3: A news outlet consistently refers to undocumented immigrants as 'illegal aliens.' This is an example of which media concept?
- Libel
- Framing (Correct answer)
- Sourcing bias
- Agenda-setting
Correct answer: Framing
Framing refers to how media present information using particular words, images, or contexts that shape audience interpretation.
Question 4: Which media effect theory suggests that audiences actively choose media to satisfy specific personal needs?
- Cultivation theory
- Two-step flow
- Uses and gratifications (Correct answer)
- Hypodermic needle model
Correct answer: Uses and gratifications
Uses and gratifications theory positions audiences as active participants who select media based on needs like information, entertainment, or social interaction.
Question 5: The 'spiral of silence' theory predicts that people will suppress their opinions when they believe their views are in what position?
- Majority
- Minority (Correct answer)
- Academic consensus
- Neutral
Correct answer: Minority
Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann's spiral of silence theory holds that individuals fear social isolation and stay quiet when they perceive their opinion to be in the minority.
Question 6: Which historical event is most cited as evidence of media's power to shape public opinion and end a war?
- World War II radio broadcasts
- Vietnam War TV coverage (Correct answer)
- Gulf War CNN coverage
- Iraq War social media protests
Correct answer: Vietnam War TV coverage
Television coverage of the Vietnam War, including graphic battlefield footage, is widely credited with eroding public support and contributing to U.S. withdrawal.
Question 7: What does 'media convergence' primarily refer to in the context of media impact studies?
- The merger of print and broadcast companies
- The blending of technology, content, and communication platforms (Correct answer)
- The agreement among journalists on editorial standards
- The decline of local news outlets
Correct answer: The blending of technology, content, and communication platforms
Media convergence describes the integration of previously separate media technologies, industries, and content into a unified digital ecosystem.
BSJ Bachelor of Journalism: Media Impact on Society 2
Which concept describes the media's ability to tell audiences what topics to think about, even if not what to think?