Chapter 4: Terrorist Violence and the Role of the Media

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. Regulation of the media in the United States ______.

a. can be undertaken during times of crisis

b. is possible when Executive Orders are issued

c. tends to rely on standards of self-regulation and media gatekeeping

d. “can be undertaken during times of crisis” and “is possible when Executive Orders are issued”

Learning Objective: 4-4: Discuss issues arising from the debate concerning media regulation.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Free Press

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Dissident movements throughout the 20th century relied on which of the following types of media?

a. print media

b. radio

c. internet

d. television

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Print Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. The contagion effect refers to which of the following?

a. the use of biological weapons against porous nodes

b. the spread of disease as the result of terrorist use of toxins

c. the theoretical influence of media exposure on the future behavior of like-minded extremists

d. both “the use of biological weapons against porous nodes” and “the spread of disease as the result of terrorist use of toxins”

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Contagion Effect

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. In ______ regimes, terrorists have no chance to rely on the media to sensationalize their deed.

a. democratic

b. monarchical

c. totalitarian

d. dictator

Learning Objective: 4-4: Discuss issues arising from the debate concerning media regulation.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The State-Regulated Press

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Which of the following media outlets have been used by terrorists?

a. Twitter

b. texting

c. music

d. all of these

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Internet and Social Networking Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Which of the following propositions is most accurate?

a. Societies and violent extremists actively wage “war” on the Internet.

b. The Internet is rarely used by violent extremists.

c. Internet access by violent extremists is prevented by governments and corporations.

d. The Internet is relatively useless for spreading the message of violent extremists.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Internet and Social Networking Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Which of the following statements is most accurate?

a. Violent extremists are indifferent to the attention they receive from the mass media; they are only interested in their revolution.

b. The mass media generally self-censors what they report in order to keep violent extremists from receiving too much attention.

c. Governments generally control how the mass media reports news on violent extremists.

d. Terrorists and their supported use time-honored techniques to attract media attention.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Practical Considerations: Using the Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Which of the following propositions is most accurate regarding the free press?

a. The government actively tries to control the reporting of news concerning violent extremists.

b. The government relies on journalistic self-regulation.

c. The media engage in gatekeeping.

d. both “the government relies on journalistic self-regulation” and “the media engage in gatekeeping”.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Discuss issues arising from the debate concerning media regulation.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Free Press

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. Which of the following propositions is most accurate regarding the state-regulated press?

a. The government actively tries to control the reporting of news concerning violent extremists.

b. The government relies on journalistic self-regulation.

c. The media engage in gatekeeping.

d. both “the government relies on journalistic self-regulation” and “the media engage in gatekeeping”.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Discuss issues arising from the debate concerning media regulation.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The State-Regulated Press

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. How might the contagion effect become a legitimate concern to the global community?

a. Terrorists could spread deadly diseases to mass populations.

b. Terrorists could copy and repeat violence that they perceive as having been successful.

c. The contagion effect is only an unproven theory, and is therefore of no concern.

d. None of these.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Contagion Effect

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. Which of the following descriptions of the contagion effect is most accurate?

a. It is an unproven theory.

b. There is a strong argument that terrorists do engage in “copy-cat” behavior.

c. The global community is vulnerable to terrorists who communicate with each other.

d. None of these.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Contagion Effect

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. Common examples of the New Media include which of the following?

a. television news magazines

b. electronic “town hall” meetings

c. political talk radio

d. all of these

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Mass Communication and the “New Media”

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. Common examples of mass communications include which of the following?

a. social networking media

b. audio broadcasts

c. video broadcasts

d. all of these

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Mass Communications and the Terrorists’ Message

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. Which of the following propositions regarding the media’s use of language is most accurate?

a. If the language reported by the media is not grammatically correct, the public will me misinformed.

b. The language reported by the media must have emotional content in order to keep the attention of the public.

c. The more sensational the language, the less likely the public will give their attention to the report.

d. The language reported by the media can affect our perceptions of terrorists and extremists.

Learning Objective: 4-3: Describe the conflict for manipulating the “spin” of media reporting.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Deciding How to Report Incidents

Difficulty Level: Medium

15. Media-oriented terrorism refers to ______.

a. terrorist denunciations of journalists and other members of the media

b. terrorists intentionally calculating how their acts of violence can be committed to attract media attention

c. the intentional avoidance of attacks that could attract unwanted media attention

d. both “terrorist denunciations of journalists and other members of the media” and “terrorists intentionally calculating how their acts of violence can be committed to attract media attention”

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Problems on the New Battleground: The Risk of Backlash

Difficulty Level: Easy

16. The “news triage” refers to ______.

a. the triangle effect in reporting the news

b. the three-pronged attempt to promote truth, information, and substance

c. the decision by media outlets on which events to report, and how to report selected events

d. both “the triangle effect in reporting the news” and “the three-pronged attempt to promote truth, information, and substance”

Learning Objective: 4-3 Describe the conflict for manipulating the “spin” of media reporting.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Deciding Which Incidents to Report

Difficulty Level: Easy

17. Media “gatekeeping” refers to ______.

a. regulation of the media in state-regulated systems

b. self-regulation by the free press

c. holding the line on reporting terrorist propaganda

d. none of these

Learning Objective: 4-4: Discuss issues arising from the debate concerning media regulation.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Free Press

Difficulty Level: Medium

18. According to the text, which of the following is at the center of most terrorist incidents?

a. weapons

b. symbolism

c. language

d. religion

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Information is Power: The Media as a Weapon

Difficulty Level: Medium

19. Which of the following statements regarding tabloid approaches to the media is most accurate?

a. Tabloid reporting allows for accurate reporting of terrorist incidents.

b. Tabloid reporting has no relevance for reporting terrorist incidents.

c. Tabloid reporting sensationalizes terrorist incidents.

d. Tabloid reporting creates an open news cycle.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Mass Communication and the “New Media”

Difficulty Level: Medium

20. Propaganda refers to which of the following?

a. spreading lies about an opponent

b. strong media gatekeeping

c. applying the contagion effect

d. “spinning” information for political benefit

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Understanding the Role of the Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. New media formats include talk-show models, tabloid (sensational) styles, celebrity status for hosts, among others.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Mass Communication and the “New Media”

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Tabloid approaches to the media allow for accurate reporting of terrorist incidents.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Mass Communication and the “New Media”

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. The state-regulated press has been successful in ending publicity enjoyed by terrorists.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Discuss issues arising from the debate concerning media regulation.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The State-Regulated Press

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. The reporting of terrorist incidents in the “new media” is easily regulated.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Mass Communication and the “New Media”

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Groups like Hezbollah do not intentionally seek media attention.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Case: Hezbollah and the Hijacking of TWA Flight 847

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. TWA Flight 847 is an example of media manipulation by terrorist organizations.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Case: Hezbollah and the Hijacking of TWA Flight 847

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. The contagion effect occurs when terrorists copy each other’s methods.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Contagion Effect

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. Propaganda can incorporate truths, half-truths, and lies.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Understanding the Role of the Media

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. In authoritarian regimes, the media serve to promote the government’s interests and often to disseminate government propaganda.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Discuss issues arising from the debate concerning media regulation.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The State-Regulated Press

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. Al Jazeera is a terrorist propaganda organization.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Reporting Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Easy

Short Answer

1. What is the “new media?” How has it revolutionized the delivery of information to targeted audiences in a terrorist environment?

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Mass Communication and the “New Media”

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. What is media spinning and how does it impact the public’s perception?

Learning Objective: 4-3: Describe the conflict for manipulating the “spin” of media reporting.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Understanding the Role of the Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. What is the meaning, and what are the implications of the phrase “information is power”?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Terrorist Violence and the Role of the Media

Difficulty Level: Hard

4. Why are the use of euphemistic language and labeling important facets in the reporting of terrorist incidents?

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Terrorist-Initiated Labeling

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. What factors influence the news triage?

Learning Objective: 4-3: Describe the conflict for manipulating the “spin” of media reporting.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Deciding Which Incidents to Report

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Should media gatekeeping be regulated in an active terrorist environment?

Learning Objective: 4-4: Discuss issues arising from the debate concerning media regulation.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Free Press

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. Discuss what is meant by “the media as a weapon.”

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Information is Power: The Media as a Weapon

Difficulty Level: Hard

8. Describe how organizations such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah are effective manipulators of media information.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Case: Hezbollah and the Hijacking of TWA Flight 847

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. Briefly discuss the risk of backlash in the reporting of terrorist incidents.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Problems on the New Battleground: The Risk of Backlash

Difficulty Level: Easy

Essay

1. How successful was the United States in winning the war for the “information high ground” in the years following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks? Explain your answer.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Various

Difficulty Level: Hard

2. Discuss the implications of the rise of independent non-Western news outlets such as Al Jazeera.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Reporting Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. What are the implications of government manipulation and control of the reporting of news? Critique government intervention in the “spin” of events by news outlets.

Learning Objective: 4-3: Describe the conflict for manipulating the “spin” of media reporting.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Various

Difficulty Level: Hard

4. How can the contagion effect become a legitimate concern to the global community? What kind of scenarios would lead it to become a legitimate concern?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: The Contagion Effect

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. In your opinion, what kind of news reporting environment is preferable when terrorist incidents occur? Explain your answer.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Discuss issues arising from the debate concerning media regulation.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Various

Difficulty Level: Hard

6. Discuss the effectiveness of terrorism within the contexts of the use of the Internet, the broadcast media, and communications technologies. How have communications outlets been exploited by violent extremists? How have these outlets changed the nature of the terrorists’ impact on audiences? Explain your answer.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Understand the role of the media.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Mass Communications and the Terrorist’s Message

Difficulty Level: Hard

7. Explain the central role of the media in the war on terrorism. Why is the “information battleground” such a key factor from the perspective of victims of terrorism? Why is it such a key factor from the perspective of the terrorists? Explain your answer.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: A New Battleground: The War for the Information High Ground

Difficulty Level: Hard

8. Discuss how the participants in a terrorist environment are affected by the “war for the information high ground.” How are these participants affected by what is reported by the media? Explain your answer.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Explain the perspectives of the media and governments.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: A New Battleground: The War for the Information High Ground

Difficulty Level: Hard

9. To what extent should information be regulated within an active terrorist environment? How should information be regulated under such conditions? What types of information should be regulated? What are the potential dangers of too much, or too little, regulation? Explain your answers.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Discuss issues arising from the debate concerning media regulation.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Various

Difficulty Level: Hard