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History of American Media

Total questions: 21

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The USS Maine battleship blew up in the Havana harbor in Cuba and helped begin the Spanish-American war because journalists exaggerated the story and did not really know what had happened yet. This exaggerated and gossipy story is because:

a)

Journalists were using Muckracking

b)

Journalists wanted to see what would happen if they lied

c)

Journalists were using Yellow Journalism

2.

Yellow Journalism was a

a)

Time when nobody paid attention to the news

b)

When reporters wrote about social injustices and helped do good things

c)

Bad time for journalists when they faked stories and altered photos

3.

Many original newspapers had the stamp "by authority" and were monitored by the German government. 

a)

True

b)

False

4.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) controls and regulates:

a)

What ratings (G, PG, PG-13, R) of shows can be played or shown on different television stations

b)

Radio and tv stations and what can/can't be said like cuss words

c)

Can fine people and stations if they show or say something (cuss) they shouldn't

d)

all of the above

5.

America's first newspapers were:

a)

bright and colorful

b)

one sheet long with letters and essays

c)

full of advertisements

d)

just like today's papers

6.

It is believed we are a LESS informed society because of the access of digital media and that we have information at any time. Why is this true? 

a)

Most people don't pay attention to what is really important in the news.

b)

Social media tends to be gossipy news and not hard news topics

c)

People have stopped watching the news because it is so negative

d)

All of the above answers are correct. 

7.

Many historians believe there would not have been a revolution without the support of the:

a)

lawyers

b)

press

c)

teachers

8.

There are more AM radio stations than FM stations on the radio. 

a)

True

b)

False

9.

We have TOTAL freedom of speech and can say whatever we want to say anytime, without getting in trouble or having consequences. 

a)

True

b)

False

10.

We are guaranteed our __________ in the First Amendment to the Constitution. 

a)

Freedom of speech

b)

Right to a speedy trial

c)

Right to bear arms

11.

The invention of the _____________ brought about inverted-pyramid writing during the Civil War so that if messages were cut off, the most important thing would be shared first. 

a)

Social Media

b)

Internet

c)

Telegraph

12.

The key invention that helped the radio broadcast was the:

a)

Electricity

b)

Vacuum tube

c)

Wifi

13.

The Penny Press was sold on the street corner for only one penny.

a)

True

b)

False

14.

There are less people reading the newspaper today than ever before. More people are getting their news on television, their phones or the internet.

a)

True

b)

False

15.

Now, major cities have about 15-20 competing newspapers so we get more than one point of view easily. 

a)

True

b)

False

16.

Muckrakers wrote about social injustices (like mental health, racism, child labor laws and animal cruelty) to help bring up issues and create change in people's minds. 

a)

True

b)

False

17.

At the time this newspaper was published, it was considered to be one of the best in the country because it was fair and accurate. 

a)

The Houston Chronicle

b)

The New York Times

c)

The Boston Globe

18.

We are guaranteed our ________ in the First Amendment to the Constitution. 

a)

Right to healthcare

b)

Right to fair wages in work

c)

Freedom of the press

19.

The Associated Press is a news gathering service that:

a)

is a group of middle school journalists who are undercover reporters

b)

keeps everything to themselves and do not sell stories

c)

sells pictures and stories to news stations and magazines and internet sources

20.

We are all journalists because we all spread/share news in some way (talking, writing, social media, posts, etc). 

a)

True

b)

False

21.

BONUS: The _____ court case established truth as a defense in a court of law. He was arrested for sedition or lying about the government but was found not guilty. 

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)

OJ Simpson

c)

John Peter Zenger