Media Literacy Flashcards
7 cards from real ELA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Media Literacy flashcards as text
A news article uses anonymous sources to support its main claim. What should a media-literate reader do first?
Answer: Consider why sources are anonymous and seek corroboration elsewhere
Anonymous sources are legitimate but require readers to seek corroborating evidence before accepting claims.
Which term describes the practice of media outlets prioritizing dramatic or sensational stories to attract audiences?
Answer: Sensationalism
Sensationalism is the deliberate use of shocking, dramatic content to generate audience interest at the expense of balanced reporting.
A documentary film only interviews people who support one side of a policy debate. This is an example of:
Answer: One-sided presentation / lack of balance
Presenting only one perspective without acknowledging opposing views is a form of bias that limits the audience's ability to evaluate the issue fully.
What is the primary purpose of a media outlet's editorial board?
Answer: To set the publication's opinions and positions on issues
An editorial board shapes the publication's official stance and writes opinion pieces, distinct from the newsroom's reporting function.
Which of the following best illustrates 'manufactured consent' as described by Noam Chomsky?
Answer: Mass media shaping public opinion to align with elite interests
Chomsky's concept describes how media can subtly guide public opinion to support policies favored by powerful institutions without overt censorship.
A graphic shows a bar chart where the y-axis starts at 95 instead of 0, making a small difference appear large. This technique is called:
Answer: Truncated axis manipulation
Truncating the y-axis exaggerates visual differences between data points and can mislead audiences about the actual magnitude of change.
When analyzing a sponsored social media post from a celebrity, a media-literate viewer should primarily consider:
Answer: Whether the post is clearly labeled as paid advertising
FTC guidelines require paid endorsements to be clearly disclosed; identifying sponsored content is essential to understanding the speaker's motivation.