CPCT CPCT Media and Political Communication 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'political framing' in media and communication?
- Legally charging a politician with a crime
- The way an issue is presented to influence how audiences perceive it (Correct answer)
- A method of campaign advertising using visual imagery
- The process of fact-checking political statements
Correct answer: The way an issue is presented to influence how audiences perceive it
Political framing refers to how language, imagery, and context are used to shape public understanding and interpretation of political issues.
Question 2: What does the term 'media bias' refer to?
- Financial support given by the government to media outlets
- The tendency of news organizations to present information favoring a particular political perspective (Correct answer)
- The practice of excluding minority voices from media coverage
- Equal time laws requiring balanced coverage of political candidates
Correct answer: The tendency of news organizations to present information favoring a particular political perspective
Media bias refers to the perceived or actual tendency of journalists and news outlets to favor one political viewpoint over another in their reporting.
Question 3: The 'Fairness Doctrine,' which required broadcast media to present balanced political views, was repealed in which year?
- 1975
- 1987 (Correct answer)
- 1996
- 2003
Correct answer: 1987
The FCC repealed the Fairness Doctrine in 1987, which led to the rise of partisan talk radio and later cable news commentary.
Question 4: What is a 'political echo chamber' in the context of media consumption?
- A chamber in Congress where debates are formally recorded
- An environment where people only encounter information that reinforces their existing beliefs (Correct answer)
- A type of political advertisement using repetition
- A neutral space for bipartisan political debate
Correct answer: An environment where people only encounter information that reinforces their existing beliefs
An echo chamber is a media environment in which individuals are exposed primarily to opinions and information that confirm their preexisting beliefs, reinforcing polarization.
Question 5: What is 'astroturfing' in political communication?
- Grassroots organizing by local community groups
- A political movement focused on environmental turf policies
- Creating a false impression of widespread public support orchestrated by a hidden group (Correct answer)
- A fundraising technique using small donations from many donors
Correct answer: Creating a false impression of widespread public support orchestrated by a hidden group
Astroturfing involves creating the appearance of a spontaneous grassroots movement when it is actually orchestrated by a political organization, corporation, or other hidden interest.
Question 6: What does 'agenda-setting theory' in political communication suggest?
- Media outlets control how politicians vote on legislation
- The media may not tell people what to think, but tells them what to think about (Correct answer)
- Voters set the agenda for what media should cover
- Political parties control what issues the media reports on
Correct answer: The media may not tell people what to think, but tells them what to think about
Agenda-setting theory, developed by McCombs and Shaw, posits that the issues the media emphasizes shape what the public considers important, even if they don't dictate opinions.
CPCT CPCT Media and Political Communication 1
What is 'political framing' in media and communication?