JLMC 101 – Test #2 Question Pool
Chapter 5 – True/False
Due to competition among media, radio became obsolete after the arrival of
television. FALSE
The first entrepreneurial vision of wireless telegraphy was as point-to-point
communication and not as a one-to-many mass medium. TRUE
In its entrepreneurial phase, radio was marketed as a ship-to-shore
communication device. FALSE
The British Marconi Company had trouble developing as a business after
World War I in part because the U.S. Navy and U.S. commercial interests did
not want foreigners to own new radio technologies. TRUE
The Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was formed after World War I to give
the United States an early worldwide monopoly over radio broadcasting.
TRUE
During the 1920s, the United States was the only country that allowed
commercial interests to control broadcasting. TRUE
Network radio helped modernize America by deemphasizing local in favor of
national programs. TRUE
Under the Radio Act of 1927, broadcasters were allowed to own their radio
channels. FALSE
The Radio Act of 1927 created the Radio Corporation of America. FALSE
By the 1960s, most radio listening was done outside the home. TRUE
RCA delayed the deployment of FM radio for many decades because it was
more concerned with the development of television. TRUE
By law, nonprofit broadcasters are allocated 25 percent of all the broadcast
frequencies in the United States. FALSE
Internet radio stations are those that either stream or simulcast a version of
their on-air signal over the Web, or create a station exclusive to the Internet.
TRUE
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 has resulted in more competition and
less consolidation in U.S. radio. FALSE
The nation's largest radio network is owned by telephone giant AT&T. FALSE
The rise of pirate micropower radio stations in the United States in the 1990s
led the federal government to approve a new class of noncommercial lowpower FM radio stations in 2000. TRUE
While the Radio Act of 1912 tried to address the problem of interference, it
wasn’t until the Communications Act of 1934 that the government had the
power to revoke licenses of stations that did not comply. FALSE
Chapter 5 – Multiple Choice
The telegraph was useless as a means of communicating between ships at sea
or between ships and the shore because it relied on physical wires
The very earliest uses of Marconi's wireless radio were for military and
commercial shipping
The _______ was important to radio technology because it allowed radio signals
to be amplified permitting wireless telegraphy. Audion Vacuum tube
Which event led to the Radio Act of 1912? Sinking of the Titanic
The act that first emphasized that broadcasters did not own their channels but
were granted licenses provided they operated in the “public interest,
convenience, or necessity” was the Radio Act of 1927
What time period is considered the “golden age” of radio? 30s and 40s
Which radio program panicked listeners on Halloween eve in 1938? “War of
the Worlds” by Orsen Welles’s
Which radio program introduced the concept of continuing story lines? Amos
‘n’ Andy
Which of the following technologies caused major changes in the radio
industry? Television
The transistor made radio receivers portable
Some of the advantages and disadvantages of FM radio over AM were the
following: cleaner sound, allows for experimenting with other formats, less
static
Which of the following time blocks are the most important to radio stations
today? Morning drive and afternoon drive
Nonprofit radio today is
-alternative to commercial broadcasting –government subsidized –place for
experimentation –struggling due to budget cuts
Which of the following statements is/are true about the relationship between
the radio industry and the concept of media convergence?
Despite new technologies like personal MP3 players and music online,
traditional radio continues to see billions of dollars in advertising money
because advertisers can target their audience more with radio advertising and
90% of Americans still listen to radio
Which of the following accurately describes the difference between the U.S.
and U.K. models of broadcast media in first half of the 20th century? UK:
government owned, supported by taxes. US: commercial, privately owned,
supported by advertising
How is the development of radio similar to the development of the Internet?
There was no previous model
Which of the following is NOT true regarding the fairness doctrine?
Things that ARE true: -minimizes free speech limitations –gives all sides equal
opportunities to express viewpoints –repealed in 1987 to liberate content
from governmental interference and allow free market competition
Chapter 6 – True/False
Many of the program conventions in television actually came from radio.
TRUE
The Radio Corporation of America (RCA) is credited with transmitting the first
TV picture electronically. FALSE
One strategy of the television networks to pull program sponsorship away
from single sponsors was to invent longer format shows. FALSE
The quiz-show scandals of the 1950s led to a loss of faith in the truth of TV
images. FALSE
As a result of the number and diversity of cable offerings, the major networks
(ABC, CBS, and NBC) have lost a significant portion of the viewer base they had
in the 1960s and 1970s.
Most TV series from the 1950s have survived, and that is because they were
originally shot on film.
The narrative situation and complications in a sitcom are typically resolved by
the end of the episode.
Reality TV shows cost more for networks and cable to make than sitcoms or
dramas.
Few children's programs are aired on network television because most
advertisers aren't interested in reaching that audience. TRUE
Corporate sponsors are now funding 90 percent of public television's annual
budget. FALSE
Concerned that cable television would undermine broadcast television, the
FCC enacted rules limiting cable's growth. TRUE
In the landmark Midwest Video case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the
cable industry was a form of electronic publishing with the rights to control
content. TRUE
The 1996 Telecommunications Act allows cable companies to offer telephone
service, but the phone companies are not permitted to enter the cable TV
business. FALSE
Time shifting refers to the delay of broadcast programs because of different
time zones across the United States.
Third screens typically function as “catch-up services” allowing consumers to
watch TV shows or movies that played earlier. TRUE
The ability to stream TV shows on devices like smartphones and the iPad
haven't changed consumers' viewing habits much. FALSE
After completing its first five television episodes, an independently produced
TV program no longer requires deficit financing to fund its production. FALSE
The term evergreens refers to recently produced TV shows that are popular.
FALSE
Ratings refers to the percentage of households watching a given show out of
all households watching television at a given moment in time. FALSE
Comcast is the nation's largest cable TV system operator. TRUE
Some U.S. cities are challenging privately owned cable giants by building
competing, municipally owned cable systems. TRUE
Chapter 6 – Multiple Choice
In the TV freeze of 1948–1952 There were no new TV licenses given
Which development was a consequence of the quiz-show scandal? Less trust in
TV, fully ended sponsor’s creative control
The computerized nerve center of a cable system is called the headend
One of the ways cable channels are successful is by caters to niche, but
bundles
Broadcasters were threatened by cable because narrow-casting/specialized
programming
In a situation comedy the recurring cast deals with a problem that is resolved
by the end of the episode
Anthologies were replaced by other types of programming in the 1950s
because they were too expensive and advertisers didn’t like them
An effective genre of television program to deal with serious or controversial
social issues would be TV News
In 1965, the FCC established must-carry rules, which required cable
companies to carry local TV broadcasts
What is the difference between a common carrier and an electronic publisher?
Electronic publishers choose what content/channels they carry and Common
Carriers do not have this choise
VHS outsold the technically superior Betamax videocassette format because
porn
Which term best describes the financial arrangement that most TV producers
and movie studios enter into to make prime-time TV shows? Deficit financing
The best way to erase the losses of deficit financing for a TV show is
syndication (giving exclusive rights to air -> re-runs are essential, firt-runs,
evergreens)
Programs that are in off-network syndication are re-runs that are no longer
on primetime (essential for making up deficit financing)
Let's say there are about 100 million TV households in the United States. On a
given Wednesday night, about 50 million of those households have their TV
set turned on to a program. Of that 50 million, 25 million are watching
American Idol on Fox. What is American Idol's share (not rating) estimate?
50%?
Which of the following statements about the three traditional major broadcast
networks (NBC, CBS, ABC) is true?
Which event sparked the then FCC Chairman to declare television a "vast
wasteland?" The Quiz Show Controversy
Chapter 7 – True/False
Only one person at a time watched the first motion pictures. TRUE
To become a mass medium, the early silent films had to offer what books
achieved: the suspension of disbelief and stories that engaged an audience's
imagination. TRUE
The Motion Picture Patents Company was established in 1908 to share film
technology with independent filmmakers. FALSE
Hollywood was the international center of cinema from the very beginning.
FALSE
American studios were able to gain control of the world film industry around
World War I. TRUE
Movie palaces looked beautiful on the outside, but were often very shabby on
the inside. FALSE
Examples of genres include comedy, drama, romance, and action/adventure.
TRUE
Documentaries generally avoid controversial or unpopular subject matter.
FALSE
The Hollywood Ten were studio writers and directors jailed for leaking
military secrets to the Soviet Union. FALSE
With television capturing suburban audiences by the mid-1950s, movie
producers made only family-friendly films to lure that audience back to
theaters. FALSE
Three-dimensional (3-D) movies did little to stem the drop in movie theater
attendance in the 1950s. TRUE
Movie theaters are still the largest single source of revenue for a typical
feature film. FALSE
Between 80 and 90 percent of new movies lose money during their theatrical
release. TRUE
Movie studios can earn significant profit by distributing their films in foreign
markets. TRUE
For creative reasons, film studios have generally resisted making product
placement deals. FALSE
Six studios dominate the U.S. film business. TRUE
The movie industry has largely embraced the Internet's ability to distribute
new films and rentals to consumers. TRUE
Because of high equipment and operating costs, digital technology is not
expected to benefit independent filmmakers for many years. FALSE
Chapter 7 – Multiple Choice
Nickelodeons and the silent films they showed were very popular with turnof-the- century immigrant populations because cheap, no language barrier
Which of the following is one of the methods used by the Trust to control the
film industry? Pooled patents, withheld equipment, controlled flow of movies
to theater owners
What is vertical integration? Controlling all levels – production, distribution,
exhibition
Which of the following is not an element of vertical integration in the movie
industry? Syndication
Adolph Zukor formed the Famous Players Company in 1912 to fight edison’s
trust
Mary Pickford was a famous actress who elevated the financial and celebrity
status of film actors
When a studio engaged in block booking, it must rent new/marginal films
along with the popular films
Which film was the first successful talking motion picture? The Jazz Singer
In commercial filmmaking, who is considered the “author” of a film? Director
What is a typical characteristic of independent films? Picked up by major
studios; important for finding new talent
The Hollywood Ten are famous for blacklisted and boycotted
directors/writers because they were jailed for not speaking when they were
accused of aligning themselves with communist propaganda
_____ demonstrated the Justice Department's attempts at breaking up
monopolies within the film industry. Paramount Decision
Which of the following did not have an impact on Hollywood in the postwar
era (late 1940s, 1950s)? less couples dating/going to the movies, less public
interest, suburbs drew them away from theaters, the TV
In an effort to compete with television in the 1950s, the movie studios began
making content on more serious subjects
Which of the following is not one of the ways studios generate revenue today?
Box office, dvd sales/rentals, pay per view, product placement
Which of the following is not one of the six major film conglomerates of today?
Warner Bros, Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal, Columbia
Pictures, and Disney
Which statement best reflects the current trend in movie viewing? More niche
films and bigger reliance on blockbusters
Which of the following is NOT a type of product placement? Classic, corporate,
evocative, stealth
Which of the following is NOT a way that Star Wars altered the movie industry.
Made blockbusters necessary; brought an end to 70s personal filmmaking; big
budgets with special effects
Chapter 8 – True/False
The first newspaper produced in North America was Public Occurrences, Both
Foreign and Domestic. TRUE
By the penny press era, the average newspaper cost eighteen cents per copy.
FALSE
Joseph Pulitzer's New York World would stage events for the sole purpose of
making news to cover. TRUE
Yellow journalism in the 1890s was the origin of investigative journalism in
the twentieth century. TRUE
The term yellow journalism originated from a New York newspaper in the late
nineteenth century that was printed on yellow-toned paper stock. FALSE?
Journalism is a scientific and objective method of communication. FALSE
The inverted-pyramid news story form is most commonly used with objective
news stories. TRUE
History suggests that objective reporting grew out of an opportunity to massmarket news that would not offend particular groups. FALSE
Literary journalism uses the devices of fiction to construct a portrait of the
real world using nonfictional experiences. TRUE
Online news has contributed to the creation of the 24/7 news cycle. TRUE
According to researchers, most small nondaily papers in the United States are
consensus oriented rather than conflict oriented. TRUE
The phrase underground press refers to newspapers that operate out of major
urban sewer systems. FALSE
Around 2005, large newspaper chains responded to the decline in newspaper
circulation by buying up more newspapers and increasing newsroom staff.
FALSE
Larger newspaper operations overall seem to be more financially stable than
small- town newspapers. FALSE
Online newspaper stories have to be briefer and more streamlined than the
print version. FALSE
Of all our mass media institutions, newspapers have played the longest and
strongest role in sustaining American democracy. TRUE
Broadsides differed from newspapers in that their content was meant to
remain relevant for a longer period of time. FALSE
Embarrassing a public official was often the reason early newspaper owners
were forced to shut down or were even jailed. TRUE
Chapter 8 – Multiple Choice
Penny press newspapers increased news readership, switched to less partisan
tilt for wider advert range
Which of the following eras of journalism best represents the historical arrival
of newspapers as a mass medium? The penny press era
Yellow journalism is sensational, overly dramatic; the root of investigate
journalism
What were the two significant features of yellow journalism? Sensational and
overly dramatic
The two publishers most associated with yellow journalism in the late 1800s
were Pulitzer and Hearst
Modern journalism started to develop in the nineteenth century mainly
because newspapers focus on objectivity/inverted pyramid
Select the correct historical order among the following major eras in
journalism history. Yellow, investigative, objective, interpretive, literary,
contemporary (consensus/conflict)
Name the publication most closely associated with the rise of modern
journalism. The New York Times
Objective journalism as championed by Adolph Ochs and the New York Times
was particularly good at focusing on “just the facts” and balanced reporting
What spawned the rise of interpretive journalism in the 1930s and 1940s?
The complexity of WWI
Besides providing community calendars and meeting notices, _______
newspapers mostly carry articles on local schools, social events, town
government, property crimes, and zoning issues. Non daily, consensusoriented journalism
Which of the following are specific groups of readers targeted by specialized
newspapers? African American, Spanish language, Asian America, Native
American
The newshole is 35 to 50% of the paper space reserved for news
Advertising revenue, the lifeblood of newspaper operations
Which of the following is a way that online journalism is redefining news?
Easy/fast access, more up to date, more space for articles, can publish things
that are unprintable ¼
Which statement(s) is/are true about the relationship between blogging and
traditional newspaper news? Blogging is being seen as a more viable feature
of journalism than before
Worried about the shaky financial underpinnings of print journalism, some
have suggested new business models, including paywalls, operating as
nonprofits, universities as news sources, using internet companies like google
Which is NOT one of the critiques against objective news stories? Critiques –
reporters are too trusting/uncritical, and they have little ability to report
anything beyond the bare/undeniable facts