Ceist Eile

Ceist Eile is in development. Features, questions and prices may change while we refine it.

Subjects · Leaving Cert Politics & Society

Leaving Cert Politics & Society: Media, press freedom & democracy

How often Media, press freedom & democracy comes up on the Politics & Society papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 6 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

OL Asked on 7 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Media, press freedom & democracy, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Media, press freedom & democracy.

(a)What is Chomsky and Herman's model of the mass media called?
  1. The public sphere model
  2. The propaganda model
  3. The hypodermic needle model
(b)Which is one of the five filters in Chomsky and Herman's propaganda model?
  1. Citizen journalism
  2. Public service funding
  3. Advertising
(c)In Chomsky's propaganda model, what is 'flak'?
  1. Organised pressure punishing unwelcome stories
  2. Reporters relying on official sources
  3. Advertisers paying for favourable coverage
Show the answers

(a) The propaganda model

(b) Advertising

(c) Organised pressure punishing unwelcome stories

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Media, press freedom & democracy.

Higher Level

Asked on 6 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q1b, Q5
2024Q1d, Q1l, Q4
2023Q1i, Q5
2022Q1e, Q1m
2021Q2
2019Not asked
2018Q1j, Q1l

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Media, press freedom & democracy questions

Media, press freedom & democracy, 2 marks

Which filter of Chomsky's model concerns journalists relying on official and corporate spokespeople?

  1. Flak
  2. Ownership
  3. Sourcing
Show the answer

Sourcing

Newsrooms need a steady flow of stories, so they rely on government and business sources. Chomsky argues this lets the powerful frame the news.

Media, press freedom & democracy, 2 marks

The fifth filter in the propaganda model was originally anti-communism. What is it in general terms?

  1. Editorial independence from owners
  2. A common enemy used to rally opinion
  3. Public service broadcasting and its funding
Show the answer

A common enemy used to rally opinion

Herman and Chomsky argued fear of a shared enemy (communism, later terrorism) is used to rally support and marginalise dissent.

Media, press freedom & democracy, 3 marks

What does 'manufacturing consent' mean for Chomsky and Herman?

  1. Media shaping opinion to suit elite interests
  2. Voters signing a petition online to show support
  3. Governments licensing which newspapers can print
Show the answer

Media shaping opinion to suit elite interests

Without formal censorship, market pressures and the five filters lead the media to produce public agreement with elite priorities. Critics say it underrates journalists' independence.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 7 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q1l, Q8
2024Q1q, Q1s, Q6
2023Q1m, Q10
2022Q1p, Q5
2021Q5
2019Q1b, Q1c, Q1o, Q9
2018Q1m, Q1o

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Media, press freedom & democracy questions

Media, press freedom & democracy, 2 marks

What is 'freedom of the press'?

  1. Newspapers must be given out free to everyone
  2. Journalists may print anything they like about anyone, even lies
  3. Media can report without government control or censorship
Show the answer

Media can report without government control or censorship

A free press informs citizens and questions those in power. It is still limited by laws on defamation and privacy, and balanced by social responsibility.

Media, press freedom & democracy, 2 marks

Which thinker described a 'propaganda model' of the mass media?

  1. Thomas Hobbes
  2. Noam Chomsky
  3. Sylvia Walby
Show the answer

Noam Chomsky

In Manufacturing Consent (1988, with Edward Herman) Chomsky argued that ownership, advertising and reliance on official sources filter news so it serves powerful elites.

Media, press freedom & democracy, 2 marks

What does 'social responsibility of the press' mean?

  1. Media should serve the public good and report fairly
  2. Media must be owned and run by the state to protect citizens
  3. Media must avoid reporting on politics at all
Show the answer

Media should serve the public good and report fairly

With freedom comes duty: to be accurate, fair and respect privacy. In Ireland the Press Council and Press Ombudsman deal with complaints about newspapers.

Other Politics & Society topics

All of Leaving Cert Politics & Society