AP US Government : Portrayal and Image of Public Figures
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Media Influence
A television campaign ad produced by a political candidate may feature all of the following EXCEPT
a substantive discussion of complex political issues.
a distillation of the candidate's image.
an attack against the candidate's opponent.
a short summation of the campaign's major themes.
an appeal to the candidate's political party's key base.
a substantive discussion of complex political issues.
One of the key elements of modern campaigning is the television campaign commercial, which by its very nature has certain attributes. Among these are simplified appeals to a party base, attacks against opponents, simplified messages, and a focus on images. The one thing a short television advertisement cannot do is delve into a substantial discussion of the major issues in the campaign.
Example Question #2 : Media Influence
Which President was the first to prominently employ radio to communicate with the American people?
Ronald Reagan
Harry Truman
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Woodrow Wilson
John F. Kennedy
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s "fireside chats" were deeply important and influential to the people of the United States, particularly during World War Two. It was a means for the President to communicate directly with the American people to keep them informed about the war effort and the state of the economy. Roosevelt realized the great potential for mass media in keeping in contact with the masses, and it was a contributing factor to his overwhelming popularity (although not the greatest contributing factor—recovering economy and war patriotism were far more valuable).
Example Question #3 : Media Influence
Libel refers to __________.
a president who no longer has a popular mandate to carry out his or her policy goals
a campaign ad designed to support a controversial candidate by offering false statements about his or her accomplishments
the publication of slanderous or malicious statements designed to denigrate an individual’s reputation
the fact that the government prohibits the establishment of an official state religion
the government’s policy of protecting the right of workers to strike without fear of losing their jobs
the publication of slanderous or malicious statements designed to denigrate an individual’s reputation
Libel, also known as defamation or slander, is the practice of publishing or communicating false information designed to specifically target and weaken the reputation of another group or individual.
Example Question #1 : Media Influence
Which headline is the the most consistent with the "yellow journalism" approach to reporting?
United States Blocks Spanish out of Cuba!
Pearl Harbor Slowly Rebuilds from the Ashes!
Referendum 9 Passes!
President Grant Exposed as Ringleader of Whiskey Ring!
Frederick Douglass Loses at Supreme Court!
President Grant Exposed as Ringleader of Whiskey Ring!
Yellow journalism focused on sensationalism- violence, romance, patriotism, and exposes of government, politics, business, and society. The four incorrect answers deal with everyday news events, despite the exclamation points at the end. "Yellow journalism" would encourage reporters to investigate any scandals regardless of their validity, and if higher officials could be connected with outrageous headlines would be all the more sensational.
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