Croteau&Hoynes: Media/Society, 5th Edition
Chapter 7: Media Influence and the Political World
Test Bank
1. The idea that American media and culture are so powerful that they subjugate other cultures is called
____.
2. The following are some major tenets of a mass media theory; The media are often successful in telling
their audience what to think about. The media decide which issues are important and which are not.
What is this theory?
3. Which of the following media effects theory assumes the strongest media impact on individuals?
4. The media industry:
5. The media’s influence on political life affects:
6. Which president used early broadcast media in delivering “fireside chats” via the radio?
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7. The growing importance of television in American political campaigns has led to:
8. Which of the following is not associated with the rise of television?
9. Political candidates have the most control over their own image in:
10. The growth in the influence of media in political life has been reinforced by:
11. The media theory that argued for the direct and immediate influence of media was:
12. Which of the following is not one of the significant influences on news content, according to Herman
and Chomsky’s “propaganda model”?
13. The belief that repeated, long-term exposure to violent programs may desensitize some people to
the effects of violence is an example of:
Croteau&Hoynes: Media/Society, 5th Edition
14. Mass society theory argued that the decline of personal bonds in modern society was accompanied
by the rise in:
15. Which of the following is not associated with the minimal effects model?
16. Agenda-setting refers to the ability of:
17. According to cultivation theory, people who watch a great deal of television tend to:
18. Indymedia efforts refer to:
19. Media “framing” refers to:
20. Which of the following is not a discrediting technique sometimes used by media against social
movements?
Croteau&Hoynes: Media/Society, 5th Edition
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21. When it comes to rebellious new forms of music, mainstream music corporations:
22. The cultural imperialism thesis argues that:
23. Which of the following media content tends not to cross international boundaries well?
24. The famous photo of a Chinese demonstrator in front of a tank near Tiananmen Square illustrates
how:
25. The two-step flow model of communication asserts that mass media messages flow from ____ to
______.
26. Among the major media effects theories discussed in the reading and class—hypodermic model,
limited effects model, agenda-setting theory, cultivation theory—which one do you think best explains
media’s impacts on individuals today? Why?
27. The emergence of new media, including Web 2.0, social networking, and blogging, has been
changing our social interactions. What do you think their impacts are on politics and democracy? Do
you believe these new media help politics and promote democracy? Why or why not?
28. We often hear criticism that today’s politics is image-based. What does that mean? And what
would be the impact of image-based politics on today’s political processes?
29. The cultural imperialism thesis argues that the dominant American media and culture subjugate the
local cultures of other nations. Do you agree with this thesis? Why or why not?
30. Overall, many observers say that today’s citizens are alienated from politics: Young people today
seldom vote; people do not belong to political parties anymore; people shun political conversation.
31. “Hyperreality” in postmodern theory refers to big corporations’ dominance of cyberspace.
32. “Spin” refers to a form of propaganda involving the creation and diffusion of a specific interpretation
of an event, with the aim of creating consensus and public support.
33. The hypodermic media effects model assumes minimal effects of media on individuals.
34. The “Mass Society” of the early 20th century is characterized by interpersonal isolation.
35. In the Two-Step Flow of Influence model, the media transmit information to opinion leaders, who
then relay the information to the less-engaged general public.
36. President Ronald Reagan used “fireside” radio chats to reach voters.
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37. Agenda-setting theory assumes minimal effects of media.
38. In priming, media attend to certain aspects of an issue, thereby increasing the sensitivity of
audiences to the significance of such information.
39. In the “propaganda model,” ordinary citizens set media’s agenda.
40. Entertainment media do not have any political significance.