MSCP Exam UPDATED KEY Questions And
Correct Answers
System - CORRECT ANSWERS methodological tool, used for comparative research
Four major dimensions of media systems - CORRECT ANSWERS the development of media
markets, political parallelism, the development of journalistic professionalism and the degree and nature
of state intervention in the media system
Political parallelism - CORRECT ANSWERS the link between political actors and the media as
well as the extent to which the media reflect political divisions
External pluralism - CORRECT ANSWERS pluralism achieved at the level of the media system as
a whole, through the existence of a range of media outlets/organisations reflecting the point of view of
different groups or tendencies in society (separate broadcasting companies represent different social
groups; high level of political parallelism)
Internal pluralism - CORRECT ANSWERS pluralism achieved within each individual media outlet
or organisation. Media organisations try to avoid institutional ties to political groups and attempts to
maintain neutral and 'balance' content (attempt is made to represent different organised voices of the
society within a single org; low level of political parallelism)
Government model - CORRECT ANSWERS public broadcasting is controlled directly by the
government or political majority
Professional model - CORRECT ANSWERS broadcasting is largely protected from political
control and run by broadcasting professionals (eg BBC)
Parliamentary/proportional representation - CORRECT ANSWERS control over public
broadcasting is divided among the political parties by proportional representation
, Civic/corporatist model - CORRECT ANSWERS control of public service broadcasting is
distributed among various social and political groups but extends representation of other 'socially relevant
groups' (eg trade unions, business associations, religious organisations)
Politics-over-broadcasting system - CORRECT ANSWERS government model/polarized pluralist
Formally autonomous system - CORRECT ANSWERS professional model/liberal
Politics-in-broadcasting system - CORRECT ANSWERS parliamentary and civic
model/democratic
Liberal system - CORRECT ANSWERS government should not intervene in media (freedom of
speech)
Welfare state - CORRECT ANSWERS healthy media are a responsibility of the state. The state is
expected to intervene in media markets for political diversity, quality of democratic life, racial harmony,
maintenance of language and culture
Consensus democracy - CORRECT ANSWERS power sharing; multiparty system; proportional
representation; compromise and cooperation between opposing forces
Majoritarian democracy - CORRECT ANSWERS winning party concentrates power; 2-party
system; plurality voting system; clear distinction between government and opposition
Individual pluralism - CORRECT ANSWERS individual citizens with multiplicity of special
interests try to influence politics; a competitive and uncoordinated pluralism of independent groups (eg
USA)
Organized pluralism - CORRECT ANSWERS political representation is organized in social groups;
strongly institutionalized social groups, representing different segments of the population (eg NL)
Correct Answers
System - CORRECT ANSWERS methodological tool, used for comparative research
Four major dimensions of media systems - CORRECT ANSWERS the development of media
markets, political parallelism, the development of journalistic professionalism and the degree and nature
of state intervention in the media system
Political parallelism - CORRECT ANSWERS the link between political actors and the media as
well as the extent to which the media reflect political divisions
External pluralism - CORRECT ANSWERS pluralism achieved at the level of the media system as
a whole, through the existence of a range of media outlets/organisations reflecting the point of view of
different groups or tendencies in society (separate broadcasting companies represent different social
groups; high level of political parallelism)
Internal pluralism - CORRECT ANSWERS pluralism achieved within each individual media outlet
or organisation. Media organisations try to avoid institutional ties to political groups and attempts to
maintain neutral and 'balance' content (attempt is made to represent different organised voices of the
society within a single org; low level of political parallelism)
Government model - CORRECT ANSWERS public broadcasting is controlled directly by the
government or political majority
Professional model - CORRECT ANSWERS broadcasting is largely protected from political
control and run by broadcasting professionals (eg BBC)
Parliamentary/proportional representation - CORRECT ANSWERS control over public
broadcasting is divided among the political parties by proportional representation
, Civic/corporatist model - CORRECT ANSWERS control of public service broadcasting is
distributed among various social and political groups but extends representation of other 'socially relevant
groups' (eg trade unions, business associations, religious organisations)
Politics-over-broadcasting system - CORRECT ANSWERS government model/polarized pluralist
Formally autonomous system - CORRECT ANSWERS professional model/liberal
Politics-in-broadcasting system - CORRECT ANSWERS parliamentary and civic
model/democratic
Liberal system - CORRECT ANSWERS government should not intervene in media (freedom of
speech)
Welfare state - CORRECT ANSWERS healthy media are a responsibility of the state. The state is
expected to intervene in media markets for political diversity, quality of democratic life, racial harmony,
maintenance of language and culture
Consensus democracy - CORRECT ANSWERS power sharing; multiparty system; proportional
representation; compromise and cooperation between opposing forces
Majoritarian democracy - CORRECT ANSWERS winning party concentrates power; 2-party
system; plurality voting system; clear distinction between government and opposition
Individual pluralism - CORRECT ANSWERS individual citizens with multiplicity of special
interests try to influence politics; a competitive and uncoordinated pluralism of independent groups (eg
USA)
Organized pluralism - CORRECT ANSWERS political representation is organized in social groups;
strongly institutionalized social groups, representing different segments of the population (eg NL)
