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Baran Book Cover
Introduction to Mass Communication, 2/e
Stanley J. Baran

Media Freedom, Regulation, and Ethics

Multiple Choice Quiz



1

The absolutist position of media freedom
A)rejects government control over media expression.
B)assumes that media have an absolute right to pursue profit.
C)assumes that government has an absolute right to regulate media in the public interest.
D)is a relatively modern development.
2

In individual First Amendment cases, balancing of interests means that
A)a media organization's performance must be balanced against its need for profit.
B)several factors should be weighed in determining how much freedom the press is granted.
C)people's interest in the given content must be weighed.
D)all of the above
3

The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees
A)freedom of press and speech.
B)the pursuit of happiness.
C)broadcasters freedom from government regulation.
D)the right to a fair trial.
4

Libel
A)is the false and malicious publication of material that damages a person's reputation.
B)is applied to both print and broadcast media.
C)is not protected by the First Amendment.
D)all of the above
5

Which of the following DOES NOT grant potentially libelous or slanderous expression First Amendment protection?
A)truth
B)privilege
C)fair comment
D)economic necessity
6

The Supreme Court case known as Miller v. The State of California
A)determined that sex and obscenity were not synonymous.
B)determined that television cameras in the courtroom were not inherently damaging to fairness.
C)established the legal definition of obscenity.
D)established the FCC concept of safe harbor.
7

The famous Supreme Court NBC Decision
A)permitted NBC to use the peacock as its logo. b. c. d.
B)limited the FCC's regulatory role to overseeing only broadcasting's technical rules.
C)granted the FCC the power to evaluate all aspects of broadcasters' performance.
D)gave the public the right to reply to personal attacks.
8

Normative theory explains
A)how people develop their norms or values for media consumption.
B)how media should ideally operate in a given system of social values.
C)how media have the power to make even the most outrageous behaviors the norm.
D)how complete media freedom has become the norm.
9

Applied ethics are
A)a culture's fundamental values.
B)employed when media practitioners put their ethical values into action.
C)usually clear cut and easily determined.
D)embodied in codes of ethics.
10

A reporter's right to maintain a sourceís confidentiality in a court of law
A)is federally protected by a shield law. b. c. d.
B)must be decided on a case-by-case basis.
C)is protected in some states but not others.
D)is only protected if the source would be put in danger through disclosure.