Press Freedom
When the Press Goes Too Far
The FCC & Broadcasting
Secrets & Transparency
Verity
100
A newspaper publishes a completely false story claiming that a local business owner committed a crime, intending to damage his reputation. This is an example of what?
What is libel?
100
This five-member federal agency regulates radio and television broadcasters and can impose fines for certain violations.
What is the Federal Communications Commission?
200
This amendment protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press, making a free media an important part of American democracy.
What is the First Ammendment?
200
Passed in 1966, this law allows citizens to request records from the federal government, although certain sensitive information can remain classified.
What is the Freedom of Information Act?
300
In this 1971 case, the Supreme Court ruled that the government could not easily stop the New York Times and Washington Post from publishing classified information about the Vietnam War.
What is the Pentagon Papers case?
300
Thanks to this 1964 Supreme Court case, a public official generally has to prove that the media acted with "actual malice" to successfully sue for libel.
What is New York Times v. Sullivan?
300
Mark Felt secretly provided information to Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein during their investigation into this political scandal.
What is Watergate?
400
The media investigates government corruption and exposes wrongdoing. This represents the media's traditional role as this animal rather than focusing on celebrities' personal lives.
What is a watchdog?
400
A television station gives Candidate A 30 seconds of campaign advertising. Under this rule, the station generally must offer the other candidates in the race an equivalent opportunity.
What is the equal-time rule?
500
This term describes the government stopping the media from publishing information before it is published, a power the Supreme Court has said is extremely limited.
What is prior restraint?
500
This former FCC policy required broadcasters to present opposing perspectives on controversial issues. It was repealed in this decade.
What is the Fairness Doctrine, and what is the 1980s?
500
In this 1972 Supreme Court case, the Court ruled that journalists do not have an absolute First Amendment right to refuse to reveal confidential sources when legally compelled to testify.
What is Branzburg v. Hayes?
500
This yellow-faced, smiling friend is known for his knowledge about Minecraft.
Who is Verity?
