MCOM 1300 TEST QUESTIONS WITH
100% CORRECT ANSWERS NEW
UPDATE
What was unique about the Pentagon Papers case? - Answer- 1st and only time
Executive branch vote prior restraint on news media
Why do broadcasters complain they do not enjoy the same 1st Amendment right as
publishers? - Answer- Federal Communication Commission has regulation they must
follow
What was the Fairness Doctrine? - Answer- Editorialize; but show the people what you
are countering. You have to get the other side of what people are saying.
What was the Red Lion decision? - Answer- Affirmed right of FCC to regulate what
broadcasters can say.
What does it mean by "the greater the truth the greater the libel"? - Answer-
What did the Zenger decision do? - Answer- Made the regular criticism of public officials
respectful which moved us closer to the revolutionary war.
1. raised the question
2. made criticism respectable
What did the alien & sedition acts do? Why were they passed? - Answer- They were
supposed to suppress criticism of the federalist government, but public unhappiness
allowed the acts to expire.
What is the legal status of the right to report? - Answer- Not as well protected as the law
to print and criticize. Concerns the rights to the news
Can reporters be excluded from congressional committee meetings? Court sessions? -
Answer- Yes if nat'l security
Yes if judges rules so
Where is the right to report most often denied? - Answer- Executive department
, Can a newspaper publish a defamatory statement during a court trial? - Answer- Yes if
it's accurate.
What is the status of open meetings and open records laws in the states? - Answer-
Most states have them.
Freedom of Information Acts - Answer- People's right to know about surveillance; to
declassify secrets
What type of protection do reporters have not to reveal sources? - Answer- None in
federal courts; states have individual shield laws
Can law enforcement agencies raid newsrooms? - Answer- Yes upon prior notice.
Can reporters attend pre-trial hearing over the objections of defendants? - Answer- Yes
What does libel damage? - Answer- reputation
What does a plaintiff have to prove in a libel case? - Answer- Identification, publications,
defamation, fault.
What is fair comment and criticism? - Answer- A defense (a shield) of libel where press
is protected for commenting & criticizing public officials, figures, and citizens who
become involved in public issues.
Opening Statement about Scope. - Answer- Newspapers, Magazines, radio and TV
come as close as possible to clearly communicating
Newspapers: How many dailies? Weeklies? - Answer- 1,337 dailies with circulation of
52 million
7,500 weeklies with circulation of 30 million
How many periodicals? How many general interest? - Answer- 30,000 periodicals; 600
general interest
Which has the biggest audience--AM or FM radio? - Answer- FM
What percent of Americans have a television set in their homes? - Answer- 99%
How many homes wired for cable? - Answer- 5,300 systems in the country. 68% of
homes are wired for cable.
Average family watches TV? - Answer- 6hrs 47 minutes
Define Communication. - Answer- Sharing information, ideas, attitudes. One-on-one
using 5 senses - sight, sound, touch, taste and smell.
100% CORRECT ANSWERS NEW
UPDATE
What was unique about the Pentagon Papers case? - Answer- 1st and only time
Executive branch vote prior restraint on news media
Why do broadcasters complain they do not enjoy the same 1st Amendment right as
publishers? - Answer- Federal Communication Commission has regulation they must
follow
What was the Fairness Doctrine? - Answer- Editorialize; but show the people what you
are countering. You have to get the other side of what people are saying.
What was the Red Lion decision? - Answer- Affirmed right of FCC to regulate what
broadcasters can say.
What does it mean by "the greater the truth the greater the libel"? - Answer-
What did the Zenger decision do? - Answer- Made the regular criticism of public officials
respectful which moved us closer to the revolutionary war.
1. raised the question
2. made criticism respectable
What did the alien & sedition acts do? Why were they passed? - Answer- They were
supposed to suppress criticism of the federalist government, but public unhappiness
allowed the acts to expire.
What is the legal status of the right to report? - Answer- Not as well protected as the law
to print and criticize. Concerns the rights to the news
Can reporters be excluded from congressional committee meetings? Court sessions? -
Answer- Yes if nat'l security
Yes if judges rules so
Where is the right to report most often denied? - Answer- Executive department
, Can a newspaper publish a defamatory statement during a court trial? - Answer- Yes if
it's accurate.
What is the status of open meetings and open records laws in the states? - Answer-
Most states have them.
Freedom of Information Acts - Answer- People's right to know about surveillance; to
declassify secrets
What type of protection do reporters have not to reveal sources? - Answer- None in
federal courts; states have individual shield laws
Can law enforcement agencies raid newsrooms? - Answer- Yes upon prior notice.
Can reporters attend pre-trial hearing over the objections of defendants? - Answer- Yes
What does libel damage? - Answer- reputation
What does a plaintiff have to prove in a libel case? - Answer- Identification, publications,
defamation, fault.
What is fair comment and criticism? - Answer- A defense (a shield) of libel where press
is protected for commenting & criticizing public officials, figures, and citizens who
become involved in public issues.
Opening Statement about Scope. - Answer- Newspapers, Magazines, radio and TV
come as close as possible to clearly communicating
Newspapers: How many dailies? Weeklies? - Answer- 1,337 dailies with circulation of
52 million
7,500 weeklies with circulation of 30 million
How many periodicals? How many general interest? - Answer- 30,000 periodicals; 600
general interest
Which has the biggest audience--AM or FM radio? - Answer- FM
What percent of Americans have a television set in their homes? - Answer- 99%
How many homes wired for cable? - Answer- 5,300 systems in the country. 68% of
homes are wired for cable.
Average family watches TV? - Answer- 6hrs 47 minutes
Define Communication. - Answer- Sharing information, ideas, attitudes. One-on-one
using 5 senses - sight, sound, touch, taste and smell.
