Mass Comm Bachelor of Communication Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Mass Comm Bachelor of Communication facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which element is part of the 'Five Ws' foundational to news reporting? → Why
2. Which of Hofstede's dimensions measures the degree to which people in a society accept unequal distribution of power? → Power Distance
3. A designer creates a poster where text and images alternate in a predictable pattern. This is an example of which principle? → Rhythm
4. Which Supreme Court case established that the government faces an extremely heavy burden to justify prior restraint of the press? → Near v. Minnesota (1931)
5. What is 'uses and gratifications theory' in communication research? → Audiences actively choose media to satisfy specific needs
6. In a given situation, what does our role indicate based on our position? → What we do
7. What kind of design element are single or groups of dots? → Point
8. What is 'content analysis' as a research method? → Systematic coding and analysis of media content to identify patterns
9. Which countries implemented media literacy requirements in their basic education systems before the United States? → Australia, Canada, and Great Britain.
10. What does 'agenda-setting theory' propose? → Media tells the public what to think about, not what to think
11. What is 'native advertising'? → Paid content designed to match the look and feel of the surrounding editorial content
12. A communication student plagiarizes a portion of their thesis from a published article. Beyond academic dishonesty, this also violates: → The ethical principle of attribution and intellectual honesty
13. A tech company holds an exclusive pre-launch briefing with five top journalists before a product announcement. This practice is called: → A media embargo briefing
14. Which of the following is NOT one of the four factors courts consider in a fair use analysis? → The profit motive of the original copyright holder
15. What is 'A/B testing' in social media content strategy? → Comparing two versions of a post to determine which performs better
16. A media outlet publishes a story based on a single unnamed source. The primary ethical problem is: → Insufficient verification and lack of accountability
17. A designer uses a triangle, circle, and square to represent different product categories. This is an example of which semiotic concept? → Symbolic signs
18. Which framework categorizes national cultures along dimensions such as individualism, masculinity, and long-term orientation? → Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Theory
19. What is 'creative brief' in advertising production? → A document outlining the strategy, target audience, and objectives to guide ad creation
20. What is the design word for a "continuous" or "moving" dot? → Line
21. What is 'positioning' in advertising strategy? → How a brand occupies a distinct place in the consumer's mind relative to competitors
22. A communications professional uses a real person's name and likeness in an advertisement without permission. This violates: → The right of publicity
23. In research methodology, what is the difference between qualitative and quantitative research? → Qualitative explores meaning and experience; quantitative measures numerical data
24. A way to keep track of, evaluate, and solve problems. The organization is able to predict new problems and deal with them before they get out of hand. → Issues management
25. In web design, what does 'responsive design' primarily accomplish? → Adapts layout and content to different screen sizes and devices
26. Which FTC rule requires advertisers to disclose material connections with endorsers? → The Endorsement and Testimonial Guidelines
27. Which concept describes the ethical responsibility of advertisers to ensure their messages do not exploit psychological vulnerabilities of target audiences? → Duty not to manipulate
28. What function does the Fill Light serve in a standard three-point lighting setup? → Fill in the unappealing shadows created by the key light. (Correct Answer)
29. What does 'accessible design' mean in the context of visual communication? → Design that can be used by people with a wide range of abilities
30. What distinguishes a sans-serif typeface from a serif typeface? → Sans-serif lacks the small finishing strokes found on serif fonts