1. Which concept in media studies describes the practice of producing and consuming media content across multiple platforms?
a) Cross-media ownership
b) Transmedia storytelling
c) Media consolidation
d) Media diversification
Correct Answer: b) Transmedia storytelling
Explanation: Transmedia storytelling involves telling a single story or story experience across multiple platforms and formats, where each piece contributes uniquely to the overall narrative.
2. What does the “public sphere” theory by Jürgen Habermas emphasize in the context of mass communication?
a) The role of media in entertainment
b) The commercialization of media
c) The media’s function as a space for public debate and discourse
d) The impact of digital media on privacy
Correct Answer: c) The media’s function as a space for public debate and discourse
Explanation: Habermas’s “public sphere” theory argues that the media should serve as a forum for public discourse, where citizens can debate matters of common interest, thus contributing to democratic governance.
3. In the context of media effects, what does the term “priming” refer to?
a) The initial stage of media production
b) The short-term effects of media exposure on subsequent behavior or judgments
c) The selection of media content by editors
d) The audience’s preference for familiar media content
Correct Answer: b) The short-term effects of media exposure on subsequent behavior or judgments
Explanation: Priming refers to the process by which exposure to a media stimulus influences how people respond to subsequent stimuli, often affecting judgments or behaviors.
4. What does the term “symbolic annihilation” refer to in media studies?
a) The complete removal of a media product from distribution
b) The underrepresentation or trivialization of certain groups in media
c) The censorship of media content by the government
d) The destruction of media archives
Correct Answer: b) The underrepresentation or trivialization of certain groups in media
Explanation: Symbolic annihilation refers to the absence, misrepresentation, or trivialization of certain groups (such as women or minorities) in media, leading to their marginalization in society.
5. What is the main focus of “media literacy” education?
a) Teaching people how to create media content
b) Developing critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate media messages
c) Promoting the use of traditional media over digital media
d) Encouraging passive consumption of media content
Correct Answer: b) Developing critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate media messages
Explanation: Media literacy education aims to equip individuals with the skills to critically analyze, evaluate, and interpret media messages, fostering informed and engaged media consumption.
6. Which of the following best describes “citizen journalism”?
a) Professional journalists reporting on local issues
b) The public actively participating in the creation and dissemination of news content
c) Government-controlled news outlets
d) News organizations focusing on international news
Correct Answer: b) The public actively participating in the creation and dissemination of news content
Explanation: Citizen journalism refers to the practice where ordinary people, rather than professional journalists, create and distribute news content, often facilitated by digital platforms and social media.
7. What is “framing” in the context of media coverage?
a) The process of choosing which stories to cover
b) The way a news story is presented to influence audience perception
c) The technical aspect of video editing
d) The bias of news anchors during live broadcasts
Correct Answer: b) The way a news story is presented to influence audience perception
Explanation: Framing involves the way media outlets shape and present news stories, emphasizing certain aspects over others, which can influence how audiences perceive and interpret the information.
8. Which communication theory emphasizes the role of media in reinforcing dominant cultural norms and ideologies?
a) Social Learning Theory
b) Critical Cultural Theory
c) Media Dependency Theory
d) Diffusion of Innovations
Correct Answer: b) Critical Cultural Theory
Explanation: Critical Cultural Theory explores how media serves to reinforce and propagate dominant ideologies and cultural norms, often benefiting powerful social groups at the expense of marginalized ones.
9. In media studies, what does “media logic” refer to?
a) The rational decision-making process of media consumers
b) The way media formats and production techniques shape content and social behavior
c) The ethical standards governing media content creation
d) The economic strategies of media corporations
Correct Answer: b) The way media formats and production techniques shape content and social behavior
Explanation: Media logic refers to the influence of media formats, production techniques, and norms on both the content that is created and how audiences interact with it, often shaping social behaviors and perceptions.
10. What does the term “digital divide” refer to in the context of mass communication?
a) The separation between traditional and digital media
b) The gap between individuals or communities with access to digital technologies and those without
c) The difference in content quality between online and offline media
d) The fragmentation of audiences across multiple platforms
Correct Answer: b) The gap between individuals or communities with access to digital technologies and those without
Explanation: The digital divide refers to the disparities in access to digital technologies and the internet, often influenced by factors like socioeconomic status, geography, and education, leading to unequal opportunities for information access and participation in the digital world.
