Chapter 8: Law and Ethics in Media Writing

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. The Bill of Rights outlines the first ______.

A. 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution

B. 10 amendments to the Declaration of Independence

C. 12 amendments to the U.S. Constitution

D. 12 amendments to the Declaration of Independence

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The First Amendment

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. The ______ Amendment is often viewed as the foundation upon which all the rights and responsibilities of the media reside.

A. Third

B. First

C. Fifth

D. Second

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The First Amendment

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Fighting words, threats, false advertising, and criminal solicitation are ______.

A. sometimes protected by the U.S. Constitution

B. protected by the U.S. Constitution

C. not protected by the U.S. Constitution

D. protected by the Declaration of Independence

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Categorical Limitations

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Broadcast journalism is governed through the ______ because of its use of the public airwaves.

A. federal Trade Commission

B. food and Drug Administration

C. federal Department of Agriculture

D. federal Communications Commission

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Medium-Based Limitations

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. Which of the following would be able to claim fair use on a copyright and most likely win in a court case?

A. news outlets

B. advertisers

C. public relations firms

D. photographers

Learning Objective: 8-5: Outline the rules associated with copyright protection, including the benefits of it and the ways in which copyrighted content can be legally used.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Fair Use

Difficulty Level: Hard

6. Which of the following is a misconception regarding the First Amendment?

A. anyone can stop you from publishing what you want

B. the law applies only to professional media

C. freedom of the press does not protect you from ramifications

D. the rights established in the First Amendment are not absolute

Learning Objective: 8-2: Understand the most common misapplications of the First Amendment and explain why they are incorrect.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Misconceptions Regarding the Amendment

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. When someone disseminates inaccurate information in a mass media outlet, which form of libel has occurred?

A. identification

B. publication

C. falsity

D. defamation

Learning Objective: 8-3: Identify and apply the key elements necessary for proving libel.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Libel

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. What is the ultimate defense against a libel suit?

A. truth

B. privilege

C. hyperbole and opinion

D. defamation

Learning Objective: 8-4: Identify and apply the most prominent defenses against a libel suit.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Truth

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. ______ protects website owners from libel suits based on the comments sections of their websites.

A. The Communications Decency Act

B. Libel

C. Defamation

D. Identification

Learning Objective: 8-4: Identify and apply the most prominent defenses against a libel suit.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Communications Decency Act

Difficulty Level: Hard

10. It is crucial that you ______ so you do not go beyond what you can prove or clearly attribute to an official source.

A. check your facts

B. do not extrapolate

C. reverify your information

D. take good notes

Learning Objective: 8-4: Identify and apply the most prominent defenses against a libel suit.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Do Not Extrapolate

Difficulty Level: Hard

11. Which of the following provides a halfway point for copyright owners who wish to see their work used but only in certain ways?

A. fair use

B. creative commons

C. identification

D. permission

Learning Objective: 8-5: Outline the rules associated with copyright protection, including the benefits of it and the ways in which copyrighted content can be legally used.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Creative Commons

Difficulty Level: Hard

12. The most fragile thing you will deal with on a daily basis in media is ______.

A. copyright

B. libel

C. freedom of speech

D. trust

Learning Objective: 8-7: Understand the basic areas in which ethical dilemmas are likely to occur and how best to deal with them.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Trust and Deceit

Difficulty Level: Easy

13. The most valuable commodity in the field of media is ______.

A. connections

B. money

C. technology

D. comprehension

Learning Objective: 8-7: Understand the basic areas in which ethical dilemmas are likely to occur and how best to deal with them.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Connections

Difficulty Level: Easy

14. A reporter dating a source is an example of ______.

A. plagiarism

B. a conflict of interest

C. libel

D. defamation

Learning Objective: 8-7: Understand the basic areas in which ethical dilemmas are likely to occur and how best to deal with them.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Connections

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. Excerpting large sections of previously published materials without citing the material directly can lead to allegations of ______.

A. defamation

B. libel

C. plagiarism

D. malice

Learning Objective: 8-7: Understand the basic areas in which ethical dilemmas are likely to occur and how best to deal with them.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Plagiarism

Difficulty Level: Easy

16. ______ provide the mutual understanding upon which the goals of the win/win relationship are outlined.

A. Means

B. Values

C. Connections

D. Ethics

Learning Objective: 8-6: Explain the benefits of ethics and how they can vary from media discipline to media discipline.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Ethics and the Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. The Bill of Rights outlines the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The First Amendment

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. The Fifth Amendment has to do with freedom of expression.

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The First Amendment

Difficulty Level: Hard

3. The First Amendment does not protect all forms of expression, despite its broad interpretation by many courts.

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: What It Does and Doesn’t Protect

Difficulty Level: Hard

4. There are no categorical limitations regarding the First Amendment.

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Categorical Limitations

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. Newspapers still receive the broadest possible protection under the First Amendment.

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Medium-Based Limitations

Difficulty Level: Hard

6. The United States licenses people who wish to disseminate information, and as such, the law makes demarcation between professional and amateur journalists.

Learning Objective: 8-2: Understand the most common misapplications of the First Amendment and explain why they are correct.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The First Amendment Applies Only to Professional Media

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. Current rulings regard the Internet as being akin to newspapers in terms of First Amendment protection.

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Medium-Based Limitations

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. Courts do not seek to balance the rights of the public against the rights of those who exercise their free speech rights.

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Time–Place–Manner Limitations

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. People often erroneously assume speech cannot be halted at all.

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: No One Can Stop You From Publishing What You Want

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. Freedom of the press protects you from the ramifications of your actions.

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Freedom of the Press Protects You From Ramifications

Difficulty Level: Medium

11. The rights established in the First Amendment are not absolute.

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Rights in the First Amendment Are Absolute

Difficulty Level: Hard

12. The First Amendment only applies to professional media.

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The First Amendment Applies Only to Professional Media

Difficulty Level: Easy

13. You might be liable if you libel someone.

Learning Objective: 8-3: Identify and apply the key elements necessary for proving libel.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Libel

Difficulty Level: Hard

14. Libel is just a newspaper concern.

Learning Objective: 8-3: Identify and apply the key elements necessary for proving libel.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Libel

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. You can libel someone in a press release, in an advertisement, on a blog post, through a tweet, on a television report, and many other places.

Learning Objective: 8-3: Identify and apply the key elements necessary for proving libel.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Libel

Difficulty Level: Medium

16. The easiest and simplest way to avoid a problem with copyrights is to use the work to generate a profit.

Learning Objective: 8-5: Outline the rules associated with copyright protection, including the benefits of it and the ways in which copyrighted content can be legally used.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Permission

Difficulty Level: Medium

17. In libel cases, information must be sent to someone other than the person who claims to be libeled.

Learning Objective: 8-3: Identify and apply the key elements necessary for proving libel.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Publication

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. In the United States, the law dictates that the plaintiff does not have to prove the statement is false in order for a libel suit to be successful.

Learning Objective: 8-3: Identify and apply the key elements necessary for proving libel.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Falsity

Difficulty Level: Medium

19. In cases of libel, the statements do not have to damage the plaintiff’s reputation.

Learning Objective: 8-3: Identify and apply the key elements necessary for proving libel.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Defamation

Difficulty Level: Medium

20. An example of actual damages is the inability to earn an income or emotional suffering.

Learning Objective: 8-3: Identify and apply the key elements necessary for proving libel.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Harm

Difficulty Level: Medium

21. Ethical guidelines outline the symbiotic nature of the reader–writer relationship.

Learning Objective: 8-6: Explain the benefits of ethics and how they can vary from media discipline to media discipline.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Ethics and the Media

Difficulty Level: Easy

22. It is much easier for politicians, celebrities, and other public figures to win libel cases.

Learning Objective: 8-3: Identify and apply the key elements necessary for proving libel.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Fault

Difficulty Level: Easy

23. Privilege is the ultimate defense against a libel suit.

Learning Objective: 8-4: Identify and apply the most prominent defenses against a libel suit.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Truth

Difficulty Level: Easy

24. Absolute privilege allows officials to make statements in their official roles without fear of libel.

Learning Objective: 8-4: Identify and apply the most prominent defenses against a libel suit.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Privilege

Difficulty Level: Easy

Short Answer

1. What are the key legal defenses against libel?

Learning Objective: 8-4: Identify and apply the most prominent defenses against a libel suit.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Ethical Concerns

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. What are some ways to work through ethical dilemmas?

Learning Objective: 8-7: Understand the basic areas in which ethical dilemmas are likely to occur and how best to deal with them.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: How to Work Through Ethical Dilemmas

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. In what ways can speech be limited?

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: What It Does and Doesn’t Protect

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. What are some misconceptions regarding the First Amendment?

Learning Objective: 8-2: Understand the most common misapplications of the First Amendment and explain why they are incorrect.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Misconceptions Regarding the Amendment

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. What are the key elements for proving libel?

Learning Objective: 8-3: Identify and apply the key elements necessary for proving libel.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Libel

Difficulty Level: Medium

Essay

1. What are the key protections of the First Amendment?

Learning Objective: 8-1: Identify the key protections of the First Amendment and to which forms of media they most directly apply.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The First Amendment

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. What is required to prove libel?

Learning Objective: 8-3: Identify and apply the key elements necessary for proving libel.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Libel

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. What are legal defenses against libel?

Learning Objective: 8-4: Identify and apply the most prominent defenses against a libel suit.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Legal Defenses Against Libel

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. What are the rules associated with copyright protection?

Learning Objective: 8-5: Outline the rules associated with copyright protection, including the benefits of it and the ways in which copyrighted content can be legally used.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Copyright

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. What are some key issues in ethics that all media professionals need to consider?

Learning Objective: 8-7: Understand the basic areas in which ethical dilemmas are likely to occur and how best to deal with them.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Ethical Concerns

Difficulty Level: Medium