Texas State University
POSI 2310 AP Gov: Chapter 8 (The Media)
Questions and Answers 2026 Latest Update
Mass Media— Ans: Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet,
and other means of popular communication.
Linkage Institutions— Ans: These highlight key public concerns and bring
them to the attention of public officials. The media are one example.
Media Event— Ans: Events that take place solely to receive media attention,
e.g., a speech, a demonstration.
Press Conference— Ans: A meeting in which public officials speak with
news reporters.
Investigative Journalism— Ans: This involves reporters digging deep in the
search for political scandal.
Yellow Journalism— Ans: Tabloid-style reporting that focuses on
sensational and scandalous news in order to sell papers or draw viewers.
Often, this type of journalism distorts the truth.
Print Media— Ans: Newspapers and magazines
Broadcast Media— Ans: Radio and TV (not cable)
Narrowcasting— Ans: A kind of broadcasting that caters to a small, specific
audience rather than a general audience. Some examples include ESPN (for
the sports people) and C-SPAN (for the political nerds).
1960 Presidential Debate: Nixon v. Kennedy— Ans: Emphasized the
differences that various types of media can make. A majority of the people
who listened to the debate over radio thought that Nixon won. However, a
majority of the people who saw the debate on TV thought Kennedy won
(Kennedy looked relaxed and confident while Nixon looked tired and shifty).
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