Question 1

Radio soap operas got their name because they were a "clean" form of entertainment that lived up to the social and moral codes of the time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

Guglielmo Marconi is credited with creating FM radio.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

Since the 1950s, in what ways could the radio industry be said to have experienced convergence with other media?

Accepted Answer

Since the 1950s, the radio industry has experienced convergence with other media in several significant ways:

1. Television and Visual Media: With the advent of television, radio had to find new ways to maintain its audience. This led to the convergence of radio content with visual media. Music videos, for instance, became a staple on television, and radio stations often aligned their playlists with what was popular on music video channels. Additionally, radio programs started to be broadcast on television, either as simulcasts or as visual radio shows.

2. Digital Platforms and Streaming: The rise of the internet and digital media has had a profound impact on radio. Radio stations now stream their content online, making it accessible worldwide. This convergence has also led to the creation of internet radio stations and services like Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music, which combine radio-like features with on-demand streaming.

3. Podcasting: The podcasting phenomenon is a direct offshoot of radio, but it converges with digital media. Podcasts often feature radio-style content, including talk shows, interviews, and storytelling, but they are distributed via the internet and can be consumed on-demand, making them a flexible alternative to traditional broadcast schedules.

4. Social Media: Radio has embraced social media platforms to engage with listeners, promote content, and extend the reach of their broadcasts. Social media allows for real-time interaction between radio hosts and their audience, which has transformed the listening experience into a more interactive and communal event.

5. Satellite and HD Radio: The development of satellite and HD radio has allowed for a convergence of high-quality digital audio broadcasting with traditional radio. This technology provides listeners with more channels, better sound quality, and additional information like song titles and artist names on their radio displays.

6. Synergy with the Music Industry: Radio has long been a promotional tool for the music industry, but the relationship has deepened with the convergence of record labels, artists, and radio stations working together to promote new releases, concerts, and events. This synergy often extends to online platforms and social media.

7. Multimedia Newsrooms: In the realm of news, radio stations have converged with print and television media to create multimedia newsrooms. Journalists now often produce content that is distributed across radio, television, and online platforms, maximizing reach and efficiency.

8. Mobile Technology: The proliferation of smartphones and mobile devices has allowed radio to converge with mobile technology. Radio apps enable listeners to tune into their favorite stations from anywhere, integrating radio listening with other mobile activities.

9. Voice-Activated Technology: The integration of radio with voice-activated devices like smart speakers (e.g., Amazon Echo, Google Home) is another form of convergence. Users can now access radio content through simple voice commands, blending radio with the Internet of Things (IoT).

10. Cross-Promotion and Branding: Radio stations often engage in cross-promotion with other media outlets, such as television networks or online platforms, to create brand partnerships and integrated marketing campaigns. This convergence helps radio stations to expand their brand presence and attract new audiences.

In summary, the radio industry has adapted to the changing media landscape by converging with various forms of media, technology, and platforms. This has allowed radio to remain relevant and to continue to reach audiences in innovative ways.

Question 4

Which of the following statements about the news/talk/information radio format is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  From 1987 until 2014, the number of stations with this format rose from just under 200 to more than 2,000.
B)  It is more expensive to produce than a music format.
C)  It appeals to advertisers looking to target working- and middle-class adult consumers.
D)  It tends to appeal to listeners over thirty-five years old.
E)  All of the options are correct.

Question 5

Which of the following best sums up the advantages and disadvantages of FM radio versus AM?

Accepted Answer

A)  FM included less static, had better sound fidelity, but traveled for shorter distances.
B)  FM included less static, could travel longer distances, but had uneven results with pitch.
C)  FM was an older, cheaper technology but did better with stereo sound.
D)  FM was much better suited to the spoken voice because music sounded clearer on AM.
E)  None of the above options is correct.

Question 6

The Titanic sank in 1912, resulting in the loss of about fifteen hundred lives; had it not been for radio, seven hundred additional lives would have been lost.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Inventor Lee De Forest developed a vacuum tube capable of detecting and amplifying radio signals.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Why was the development of the telegraph important in media history?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why was the development of the telegraph...

Question 9

Will Internet radio mean the end of traditional radio? Why or why not? How are traditional radio stations and networks responding to this latest round of technological change?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Will Internet radio mean the end of...

Question 10

How and why did radio networks develop?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How and why did radio networks develop?...

Question 11

The rise of pirate micropower radio stations in the United States in the 1990s led the federal government to approve a new class of noncommercial low-power FM radio stations in 2000.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

What has been the defining feature of public debate regarding radio as a natural resource?

Accepted Answer

A)  Broadcasting companies are eager for questions on their financial arrangements.
B)  Public debate is vigorous and intense over the role of radio.
C)  There is little public debate over the issue.
D)  Record companies want to encourage debate in order to create the best environment for artists to grow on the airwaves.
E)  All of the options are correct.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about the relationship between the radio industry and the concept of media convergence is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  The convergence between radio and the recording industry was just the earliest instance of radio overlapping with another form of mass media.
B)  Radio has heavily converged with the Internet with things like podcasts and streaming audio.
C)  Internet stations are able to negotiate royalty rates directly with the music industry.
D)  Internet radio harkens back to the early days of radio, with its large variety of stations, and to the transistors of the fifties, with its portability.
E)  Internet radio only includes existing stations that simulcast over the Web.

Question 14

As a new network, CBS was able to compete with NBC by ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  charging affiliates less for its programs
B)  paying affiliates to broadcast its programs
C)  being the first network to broadcast in high fidelity
D)  advertising its programs on billboards
E)  being the first to offer musical programs and quiz shows

Question 15

What time period is considered the "golden age" of radio?

Accepted Answer

A)  1960s
B)  Early 1900s
C)  1920s and 1930s
D)  1890s
E)  1990s

Question 16

Under the Radio Act of 1927, broadcasters were allowed to own their radio channels.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

How did broadcasting come to be federally regulated?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How did broadcasting come to be federally...

Question 18

Why were AT&T and GE able to undercut Marconi's influence with the U.S.Navy, even though Marconi was the best company?

Accepted Answer

A)  The U.S.Navy wanted to use government-owned companies over private companies.
B)  The U.S.Navy was concerned about a foreign-controlled company having so much power over their communications.
C)  The U.S.Navy wished to promote international relations by using foreign companies.
D)  The U.S.Navy was dissatisfied with the way American Marconi was being run.
E)  None of the above options is correct.

Question 19

The most popular music format on U.S.radio today is ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  country
B)  contemporary hit radio
C)  urban contemporary
D)  top 40
E)  adult contemporary

Question 20

In the late 1990s, hundreds of radio stations shifted from individual to chain ownership.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 5: Popular Radio and the Origins of Broadcasting

Radio soap operas got their name because they were a "clean" form of entertainment that lived up to the social and moral codes of the time.

Guglielmo Marconi is credited with creating FM radio.

Since the 1950s, in what ways could the radio industry be said to have experienced convergence with other media?

Which of the following statements about the news/talk/information radio format is true?

Which of the following best sums up the advantages and disadvantages of FM radio versus AM?

The Titanic sank in 1912, resulting in the loss of about fifteen hundred lives; had it not been for radio, seven hundred additional lives would have been lost.

Inventor Lee De Forest developed a vacuum tube capable of detecting and amplifying radio signals.

Why was the development of the telegraph important in media history?

Will Internet radio mean the end of traditional radio? Why or why not? How are traditional radio stations and networks responding to this latest round of technological change?

How and why did radio networks develop?

The rise of pirate micropower radio stations in the United States in the 1990s led the federal government to approve a new class of noncommercial low-power FM radio stations in 2000.

What has been the defining feature of public debate regarding radio as a natural resource?

Which of the following statements about the relationship between the radio industry and the concept of media convergence is false?

As a new network, CBS was able to compete with NBC by ______.

What time period is considered the "golden age" of radio?

Under the Radio Act of 1927, broadcasters were allowed to own their radio channels.

How did broadcasting come to be federally regulated?

Why were AT&T and GE able to undercut Marconi's influence with the U.S.Navy, even though Marconi was the best company?

The most popular music format on U.S.radio today is ______.

In the late 1990s, hundreds of radio stations shifted from individual to chain ownership.